Harmony in Vietnam: Its Opportunities and Challenges

A Foundation of Harmony


The Vietnamese people are deeply spiritual. They value harmony within their communities in all things. This core value is strongly influenced by a blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Roughly 50% of the nation’s population officially identifies as Buddhist, while the other half, although non-religious, is still heavily shaped by it. 


Philosophy, thought, and practice about all things in daily life stem from these religions. Flowing from this belief system is also a deep devotion to family and ancestors. Many local homes include shrines dedicated to honoring family lineage.


Because of this mindset, Vietnamese people are not hostile to the gospel. Rather, they are often open to learning, or at the very least, willing to listen as an act of respect toward others. Spiritual matters are viewed as significant, which allows Christians to share openly about their faith in Jesus. The teachings of the Bible, when shared, are generally seen as good, meaningful, and valuable.


This warmth toward spiritual conversations creates genuine open doors for missionaries and local believers to step into.


Exclusive Devotion to Christ


One of the main challenges in sharing the gospel begins with the reality of true conversion. Because of their desire to maintain harmony with others, many Vietnamese people may see the gospel as simply another message to incorporate into their lives, instead of one that calls for exclusive devotion.


The life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ is not merely about moral teachings that can be added to one’s life. Rather, becoming a Christian involves surrendering all else to follow Jesus fully. This naturally creates hesitation for someone who highly values harmony with family and community. While peace and harmony are also Christian values, the gospel cannot be blended with ancestor worship or a Buddhist worldview.


Choosing a different spiritual path can feel like stepping away from deeply rooted traditions. It's rarely just a personal decision. For many new believers, it means navigating tension, or even outright rejection, from family and community.

Guiding people toward an understanding of sin, repentance, and faith in Christ is essential, but in many cases, it can feel unfamiliar, complex, and even unsettling for the Vietnamese people.


Dreams for the Future


Through slow, consistent discipleship and faithful prayer, God is softening hearts and drawing Vietnamese people to repentance and faith in Him alone.


SEND missionaries Mark and Rebecca are filled with hope and anticipation as they consider how God might use them to bring the Vietnamese people to faith.


During their first season in Vietnam, they identified college students as a key focus for ministry. In their vibrant city of roughly 8 million people, there are over 700,000 college and university students. This educational hub attracts not only local residents but also students from rural and remote regions.


Education is expensive, and families often pool their resources to send one student to the city. Once there, unfortunately, students can easily be influenced in negative ways if they lack a strong and supportive community. Mark and Rebecca have a vision to establish campus clubs—spaces that offer encouragement, guidance, and positive influence—across more than 50 institutions. Reaching students during this pivotal season of life has the potential to spark generational change.


The nation’s growing desire to become officially bilingual by 2045 offers another meaningful opportunity. For many in the West, speaking English is simply a natural part of life. However, in countries where it is a second or third language, it is a highly sought-after and valuable skill. Teaching English creates opportunities for connection, relationship-building, and trust, opening the door for deeper and more intentional conversations. This is one avenue Mark and Rebecca hope to pursue, while also inviting other English speakers to join in the work.


While not everyone is called to serve as a long-term missionary, everyone can participate through committed and faithful prayer. Within the nation’s desire for harmony, Christians can see clear pathways to share their faith. As the gospel of Christ is proclaimed, God continues to soften hearts and draw people to salvation. Will you pray for Vietnam today?


---


Interested in seeing more work like this happen?

GIVE

Additional Posts

Choosing a Missions Organization

By SEND media Team • August 4, 2026
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?

Georgia: Tradition & Transformation

By SEND Media • May 11, 2026
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!

Spiritual Hunger in the Himilayas

By SEND Media • May 11, 2026
Explore Suresh's journey in Nepal, where SEND empowers local leaders to spread faith and education amidst challenges. Join us in this mission.
Show More