Transformations Of The Folk Beliefs Of The Chinese Community In Hanoi: The Case Of The Guangdong Assembly Hall

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of folk-belief practices at a Chinese assembly hall in Hanoi, a topic that has received limited scholarly attention. Using ethnographic fieldwork methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews, retrospective inquiry, and secondary source analysis, the study identifies key changes in these practices, analyzes the dynamics of Sino-Vietnamese cultural acculturation, and explains the underlying causes of such transformations. The article contributes a concrete case study to research on the transformation of folk beliefs among minority communities in
urban Vietnam, sheds light on mechanisms of cultural acculturation in multi-ethnic urban settings, and expands the theoretical framework for understanding the evolution of folk beliefs in the context of modernization and state policies on culture, religion, and folk belief.