Chua Vietnam

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Chua Viet Nam, meaning Vietnamese temple, is a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Aikawa Town, Aikō District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 2006 and the current building was finished in 2017. It is one of the largest Vietnamese temples in Japan.

The temple was founded by Vietnamese monk Thích Minh Tuyền (1938–2017). Born in Bình Thuận province in Vietnam, he studied at a Buddhist school and worked as abbot in Ho Chi Minh City. He came to Japan in 1971, decided to stay to study, and helped many Vietnamese refugee families. He organized Buddhist activities during major holidays and Vietnamese festivals for Buddhists in exile and wanted to build a temple for the Vietnamese community in Japan.

In 2006 Tuyền bought a house in Aikawa, renovated it into a temple, and later expanded the site to the current location. The groundbreaking for the new building was in 2010 and construction finished in 2017. To fund the project, Tuyền traveled to several countries to seek support from the Vietnamese community, including investments.

Aikawa was chosen for its affordable land, natural surroundings with rivers and mountains, and a sizable foreign community. The temple became a spiritual center where people offer prayers to ancestors, pass on Vietnamese culture to children, and seek guidance from monks.

Today, Chua Viet Nam attracts many visitors, including non-Buddhists who come to learn about its customs. On Sundays and during events, Vietnamese residents from nearby cities and even Tokyo and Nagoya gather there; New Year celebrations can bring about 1,000 people. The monks work to connect with the local community, learning Japanese and addressing concerns like noise and parking as crowds grow. There is talk of offering meditation classes in Japanese to welcome locals.

In Vietnam, Buddhism has a long history and coexists with other beliefs; in Japan, Vietnamese Buddhist temples exist alongside churches. Chua Viet Nam is an important site for the Vietnamese community in Japan, joining other foreign temples in Aikawa.