Buddhism and Spiritual Repatriation in the Later Life of Vietnamese Australians

Abstract

This study focuses on the phenomenon of Vietnamese Australians returning to Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, to practice Buddhism after years of living abroad. Over the past decade, a considerable number of individuals who have acquired Australian citizenship and reached retirement age (55–60 years old) have chosen to repatriate to their homeland in search of a spiritual life. While they do not take full monastic vows, they primarily maintain the role of lay Buddhists, with a profound attachment to Buddhist teachings reflected in their daily practices. The research was conducted through qualitative interviews with these individuals, aiming to explore their motivations, the spiritual values they pursue, and the ways they apply Buddhist teachings to create meaning and peace in later life. The findings reveal that Buddhism plays a vital role as a source of spiritual support, fostering connected communities while offering a sense of fulfillment and serenity to returnees. This phenomenon clearly reflects the transnational dynamics of religion within the Vietnamese diaspora and contributes to enriching the contemporary landscape of Buddhism in Vietnam and simultaneously opens new directions for further research on lay Buddhist groups in the context of globalization.