Abstract

In the contemporary socioeconomic context, religious activities are not exclusively matters of faith and spirituality but are increasingly intertwined with economic services. In major cities such as Hanoi, many Buddhist places of worship serve not only as sites for religious practice and worship but also as cultural tourism destinations and venues for spiritual events, thereby generating various associated service activities. Drawing on an examination of ritual economic activities at selected Buddhist pagodas in Hanoi, this article argues against the discourse that regards traditional religions as obstacles to economic development. Instead, it demonstrates that religion and the economy are not entirely separate in modern society but are dialectically interconnected and mutually supportive.

Keywords: Buddhism, economy, religion, ritual economy.