Zentourism: A new direction for VN’s blooming tourism industry
VGP – As a nation with a 2,000-year-old Buddhist tradition, more than a half of population as Buddhist followers, and a lot of beautiful pagodas, Việt Nam is really a promising and attractive destination of Zentourism.
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Dâu Pagoda in Bắc Ninh Province – the first Zen Buddhist center in Việt Nam |
Zen, a school of the Mahayana Buddhist sect, was introduced in Việt Nam around 580 CE. It vigorously flourished under the dynasties of Lý–Trần (11th-14th centuries) and Trịnh–Nguyễn (17-18th centuries).
Zen emphasizes dharma practice and experiential wisdom—particularly as realized in the form of meditation—in the attainment of awakening, often simply called the path of enlightenment. As such, it de-emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and the study of religious texts in favor of direct, experiential realization through meditation and dharma practice.
It helps people reinforce their body resistance, ease pressure, and create balance for their body. Moreover, it serves to refresh central nervous system, heart beat, respiration and blood pressure.
Zentourism is vigorously developing in Asian nations in general and Buddhism-dominated countries in particular. In Japan, the industry generates great revenue. In Thailand, big Zen monasteries have lured millions of visitors yearly.
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Zentourism programs target to introduce visitors to Buddhism architectures, daily lives of monks, and Zen arts, including flower arrangement, tea ceremony, ornamental plant (bonsai), and gastronomy.
Potential Zentourism in Việt Nam
In Việt Nam, Zentourism has been emerging with various tours to pagodas and pilgrimage festivals.
Some Zen cafes, Zen tea shops, Zen parks and Zen spas are mushrooming in Việt Nam’s big cities.
With a culture and lifestyle imbued with Zen philosophy, together with a nationwide system of Zen monasteries, Việt Nam owns huge opportunities to develop this kind of tourism.
By Hương Giang
