Do you want to visit a synagogue in Vietnam? Vietnam is a country with many religions and cultures blended together. Many expats live in Vietnam, meaning that there are more religions than those practiced by the Vietnamese. But are there any Jewish synagogues in Vietnam?
Yes, there are a few synagogues in Vietnam. You can find a synagogue at the Chabad of Ho Chi Min City, Hanoi, and Hoi An. Judaism isn’t a state-recognized religion in Vietnam, which is why there aren’t as many synagogues as there are catholic cathedrals.
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Are There Any Synagogues In Hanoi?
There is a synagogue in Hanoi located at the Chabad. You can find Hanoi’s Chabad at House 4, Alley 11, To Ngoc van Street, Tay Ho District. You can also find other Jewish services at the Chabad, including a Kosher restaurant and a library. In addition, the Chabad has lighting ceremonies open to Jews throughout the day.
There aren’t any other synagogues in Hanoi apart from the Chabad. Judaism isn’t a state-recognized religion in Vietnam, which is why there aren’t as many synagogues or buildings for Jewish people in the country. Nevertheless, Jews are free to practice their religion in Vietnam and may visit the Chabad as they please.
Are There Any Synagogues In Ho Chi Minh City?
There is one synagogue in Ho Chi Minh City, which you can also find at the Chabad. The Chabad has a synagogue, library, and kosher restaurant. The restaurant also delivers food to your restaurant if needed, so you can feel comfortable eating kosher food wherever you are.
The synagogue in Ho Chi Minh City is located at Villa 5A, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Dakao ward, District 1. The synagogue in Ho Chi Minh City also has daily services, lighting ceremonies, and Minyanim services. There is also a Mikvah in Ho Chi Minh City, which you can find near Chabad.
Where Else Are There Synagogues In Vietnam?
According to the website for synagogues in Vietnam, the only other city with a synagogue is located in Hoi An City. The synagogue in Hoi An City is also located at the city’s Chabad, which you can find at 570 A, Cua Dai Street.
There is little information about the Chabad of Hoi An City, so you can email them to find more information at [email protected]. The Chabad at Hoi An City offers the same services as the other Chabad houses, including a Kosher restaurant and daily prayer services.
There aren’t any other synagogues listed for Vietnam, but there may be smaller synagogues in other cities and perhaps even a few in rural areas.
If you are looking for information about synagogues in Vietnam, visit the local information center, or join a Facebook group for Jews in Vietnam to find out where you can locate the nearest synagogue.
Are There Kosher Restaurants In Vietnam?
There are a few kosher restaurants in Vietnam. Most kosher restaurants are found at the Chabad houses in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Hoi An. If you are curious if the food at a restaurant is kosher, it’s safer to order vegetarian meals, as they won’t contain bone broth or dairy products.
Finding certified kosher restaurants in Vietnam can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are many vegetarians in Vietnam since Buddhism has a large following in the country. As a result, you can often find vegetarian meals and restaurants in Vietnam, which should be safe to consume if you cannot find other kosher food.
Contact the nearest Chabad to your location to request information about kosher restaurants or restaurants suitable for Jews in your city.
How Many Jewish People Live In Vietnam?
The Jewish population in Vietnam is tiny. In fact, there are less than 500 Jews who permanently reside in Vietnam. Almost all of these Jews are expatriates, and there are very few, if any, Vietnamese Jewish converts.
The Jewish population in Vietnam has always been tiny. There were double as many Jews in Vietnam before the start of WWII.
Today, Jews comprise only about a handful of the Vietnamese population. They are primarily located in larger cities where they have access to a Chabad and synagogue. Despite not being recognized as an official state-recognized religion, the Jews were free to practice their religion openly in Vietnam.
Can Anyone Visit The Synagogues In Vietnam?
The Jewish synagogues in Vietnam are open to visitors, whether you are Jewish or not. There aren’t tours of the synagogues in Vietnam like those of the Buddhist temples, but anyone is welcome to attend the services and participate in the prayer meetings.
Suppose you are concerned about being denied entry. In that case, you can call the Chabad house before visiting to ask about the requirements. When visiting a Jewish synagogue, dress conservatively and ensure you aren’t wearing offensive clothing.
You can find information about the service times on the website for each Chabad or by calling the Chabad to confirm which times the daily lightings or prayers are.
When Did Jews Arrive In Vietnam?
There isn’t a specific record of when the first Jews arrived in Vietnam, but they likely arrived after Vietnam was colonized by the French in the late 1800s. The Jews called Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) their first home in Vietnam.
The Jewish people established small communities throughout Vietnam, and many of them worked with France to ensure stability within the colony. It’s mentioned that there were an estimated 1000 Jews in Vietnam at the start of WWII.
Many of these Jews held government positions or were merchants and successful businessmen. It’s not clear why the Jews came to Vietnam in the first place, but it is clear that there was never a significant Jewish community in the country.
How Did WWII Affect The Jews In Vietnam?
During the Second World War, Vietnam was still a French colony. Before the Second World War started, there were many high-ranking Jews in the country, and many held government positions. However, as the war progressed, Jewish people were fired from these positions and had to take other, less important jobs.
The Jews in Vietnam were segregated from other communities, but there are no records of Jewish internment camps in Vietnam. Since there weren’t as many Jews in WWII, there wasn’t a need for such extreme action. Having said that, Jewish children weren’t allowed to occupy more than 2% of schools at the time.
Why Aren’t There As Many Jews In Vietnam?
At the end of WWII, there were approximately 1500 Jews across Vietnam. But many Jews left with the French when they retreated from the country in 1954 after their colonial reign ended. So when the Jews left Vietnam, they took their Jewish communal structure.
This is why there aren’t many synagogues in Vietnam today and why the Jewish communities are primarily situated in large cities. Most Jewish synagogues were dismantled during WWII, so the Jewish communities left over in Vietnam after the French colonialists retired had to rebuild.
As of yet, there aren’t any Jewish schools in Vietnam, as the Jewish community isn’t big enough to justify one. If you’re looking to relocate to Vietnam as a Jew, you will have the most accessibility to Jewish communal structures in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
