Vietnam’s Buddhist tapestry weaves together Zen’s directness, Pure Land’s devotional warmth, and echoes of Indigenous spirit-cult practices. At its heart sit several key sutras and treatises:

• Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra)
Regarded as the crown jewel of Mahāyāna, its parable-rich pages (“Skillful Means,” “One Vehicle”) inspire both Chanting Hall and meditation cushion alike. Modern Vietnamese temples still host recitations during Vesak, keeping that age-old spark alive.

• Amitābha Sutra & Infinite-Life Sutra (Amitāyurdhyāna-vyūha, Sukhāvatīvyūha)
Pure Land devotees lean on these texts for visualizations of Sukhāvatī’s iridescent lotus pond. Across Hue and Ho Chi Minh City, chanting “Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật” echoes at dawn—proof devotion can move mountains (or at least traffic jams).

• Heart and Diamond Sutras (Prajñāpāramitā Literature)
Two sides of the same coin: the Heart Sutra’s “Form is emptiness” mantra slices through mental chatter, while the Diamond Sutra’s paradoxical Q&As break the mind’s shell. Zen masters in traditional monasteries still commentate these, showing that sometimes less truly is more.

• Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra
Celebrating lay wisdom, its urbane, witty dialogues model how everyday life and awakening go hand in glove—perfect for Vietnam’s bustling pagoda-goers juggling office hours and evening pujas.

• Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch
The legendary Hui-neng’s “mind is Buddha” teaching sits at the core of Vietnamese Thiền (Zen). Annual retreats draw dozens to remote mountain temples, proving the old dog still learns new tricks.

• Indigenous Chants and Commentaries
Local classics—Kinh Địa Tạng, Dược Sư, and folk-Catharsis liturgies—blend with Buddhist canon to soothe ancestral spirits, a practice glowing brighter since 2020’s cultural revival.

In Vietnam’s spiritual mosaic, these texts do more than sit on dusty shelves; they’re living voices, guiding temple lantern festivals, online dharma talks, and neighborhood chanting circles. Across time and tide, they keep the country’s unique fusion humming along—much like a well-tuned đàn tranh under moonlight.