Bát Nhã Temple

Following 39 years in exile, the widely known Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh returned to Vietnam in 2005.

[1] Initially, the group had government approval,[1] and his return raised expectations that religious restrictions would be relaxed in Vietnam.

[2] During this visit, Nhat Hanh's followers were invited by Abbot Duc Nghi, a member of the official Buddhist Church of Vietnam, to occupy Bat Nha monastery and continue their practice there.

[4] During a later visit to Vietnam in 2007, Nhat Hanh suggested ending government control of religion to President Nguyen Minh Triet.

[1] A provincial police officer later spoke to a reporter about this incident, accusing Nhat Hanh of breaking Vietnamese law.

[1] Over the next two days mobs wielding sledgehammers, rocks, and feces raided the monastery, threatened the monks and nuns, and damaged buildings.

[5] The government continued to represent the issues at Bat Nha as an ‘internal’ matter among clergy,[5] and the deadline passed quietly.

It stated, “Plum Village association has abused the religious policies of the party and state to sabotage the regime and oppose the Buddhist Church of Vietnam.” The memo claimed that Nhat Hanh's followers were breaking the law by being in the monastery and strongly encouraged local communist groups to convince the clergy to leave.

[1] Early on September 27, 2009 an angry mob of police and apparent villagers broke windows and bashed in the doors of the monastery.

Everything is smashed.”[2] When contacted by the press that morning the head of the provincial government, Huynh Duc Hoa, denied the incident and refused to answer questions.