Temples and pagodas
Everywhere I went, there were temples and pagodas. Most are Chinese Buddhist, but I also visited a Hindu temple, a Catholic cathedral (en restaro!) and there is a Hindu mosque.
According to estimates by the Pew Research Center in 2010, most of the Vietnamese people practiced (exclusively) folk religions (45%). 16% of the population were Buddhists, 8% were Christians, and about 30% were unaffiliated to any religion. Officially, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an atheist state, as declared by its communist government.
Most of the temples I saw were Buddhist, coming from Chinese origins, but very different to Buddhist temples I have seen elsewhere. In particular there were very few statues of Buddha himself and lots of the gods they prayed to are “scary” images.
Ong Bong Temple
This gentleman and his assistant were preparing incense circles to burn all day. Note the little red offering slips from people who have paid for them.
One of many lists of benefactors at the Ong Bon Temple.