Transformation of Religious Spaces in Hanoi in the Context of Urbanization

Abstract

Located in the Red river delta, Hanoi is the place that
hosts a wide range of structures built to worship supernatural
forces. These structures are called sacred spaces or religious
spaces by the academia. International and national scientists
have recently increased the study of religion through its tangible
and material manifestation. The notable points in these research
works are that through doing research on religious spaces one
can accumulate various valuable information about, thus
enriching common knowledge of, religious life. At the same
time, in the social context conditioned by globalization of
culture, modernization and urbanization, the religious life is
experiencing changes. Religious spaces tend to change
accordingly. In urbanizing Hanoi, what are typical activities
that transform the religious spaces? What are the consequences
of this transformation? What are main actors playing the key
role in that process? This article contributes to clarification of
these issues.