Initial research on the trend of changing from burial to cremation in Vietnam today through the study of method of handling cremated remains in Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

In the background of today's increasingly promoted industrialization and urbanization, especially in urban areas of Vietnam, many social issues such as migration, infrastructure development, change in family culture, etc. have become outstanding. This paper does initial studies about the trend of switching from burial to cremation in Vietnam today. Currently, related to burial methods, especially in big cities, some issues such as environmental pollution due to burial cemeteries, rising cost of graves, etc. become increasingly serious. At the state level as well as for people's awareness, cremation is encouraged as one of the alternative burial methods. This has also been a noticeable research topic today. This paper explores this tendency through the study about the method of handling cremated remains in the relationship with Vietnamese beliefs and religions, especially ancestor worship – a major influential factor to Vietnamese burial culture. The research result shows that cremation is gradually accepted and at the same time, the new form of handling cremated remains such as worshiping remains in pagodas and churches (for Christians) has also been widely practiced. This trend has brought changes in the way of ritual practice and family notions in traditional ancestor worship. Through the study, the author hopes to contribute to the providing of theoretical and practical basis for the study about the status, characteristics, future trend in traditional burial culture in today's changing context in Vietnam.