CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHAM MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN VIETNAM

Abstract

Based on the materials collected during the survey in the South Central Coast and Southern provinces, in which the majority of Cham Muslims live, the article generalizes the structure as well as the basic characteristics of this community. The structure of the Cham Muslim community is controlled by two factors: religion (Islam) and ethnicity (matriarchal tradition). The influence of these two factors has led to the characteristics as follows: religion is the dominant factor in the life of the Cham Muslims; religion is also a signification factor in coherent the community; Muslim communities in different regions have different characteristics in terms of the degree of influence of religion, culture, profession, lifestyle, etc.; The Muslim community in Vietnam is good-tempered compared to the other Muslim communities. In recent years, the influence of the Kinh has increased in the Cham Muslim community