Bechert, J., and D. Gombrich. The World ofBuddhism. London: Thames & Hudson, 1991.
* This text examines all of The Buddhist doctrine. It dedicates a large chapter to the spread of Buddhism to Vietnam. There is also a lengthy discussion of Taoism, Confucianism and local religions in Vietnam. There is an emphasis on the Chinese influenced theology, and when it began to flourish in Vietnam and Korea during the tenth century.
Cadiere, Leopold. Religious Beliefs and Practices of the Vietnamese. Trans. Mabbett, Ian W. Victoria: Centre of South East Asian Studies,1989.
* This text is a very good asset to a student who has a background in Buddhism and would like to learn specifics concerning Vietnamese Buddhism. It goes into depths of issues concerning: myths of the Buddhist introduction to Vietnam, description of a pagoda, and an in depth look at the way Buddhism is practiced in Vietnam. This text also addresses the importance of spirituality in Vietnam and worshipping one's ancestors.
Fitzgerald, Frances. Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam. New York: Vintage books, 1972.
* This is an awesome text. Fitzgerald's understanding of the people of Vietnam and the religion which governs the nation is excellent. Fitzgerald describes the religion of Vietnam as "a blend of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism sunken into a background of animism." (pg. 18) With her understanding, Fitzgerald addresses the Vietnam War very thoroughly and covers Buddhist issues such as: protest movements, self-immolation, nationalism, peace movement of1970, and several other issues concerning Vietnamese Buddhists. For anyone interested in learning about the Vietnam war, this is an excellent source.
Harvey, Peter. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices. New York: Cambridge University Press,1990.
* This is a great text in that it goes into great depths of Buddhism in many different areas. It also has an in depth list of resources and suggestions for further readings according to area and topics within Buddhism. Specifically addressing Vietnamese Buddhism ,it touches on the spread of Buddhism throughout Asia, includes a map with the approximate population of Buddhists throughout Asia, and briefly covers the Buddhist protests of the Vietnam War on page 203.
Herring, George C., America's Longest War: The United States and Vietnam 1950-1975. Second Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1986.
* This is a good text for anyone who wants to learn about the Vietnam war. It touches on Buddhism in a matter-of-fact way as it addresses the Buddhist protests, but it never seems to address it as a religion. It is fairly dry reading, but the author does show a very thorough understanding of the war and the effects that it had on the United States. It lacks an understanding of how the war devastated Vietnam. This text is superior to other texts due to its list of references to other related sources.
Nhat Hanh, Thich. The Miracle of Mindfulness: A Manual of Meditation. Massachusetts: Beacon Press, 1975.
* This is a great text for those who want to find peace through meditation. I would not recommend it for instructing students, but as personal reading, it is well worth the time, and written by one of Vietnam's experts.
Nhat Hanh, Thich. Present Moment Wonderful Moment: Mindfulness Verses for Daily Living. California, Parallax Press, 1990.
* This is a great text for those who have a thorough understanding of Buddhism or who practice Buddhism. Basically it is a book of verses which takes our daily routine and puts it into an appreciative perspective. The text also reveals the serenity and peacefulness of meditation and the importance of feeling happy and peaceful.
Nhat Hanh, Thich. Walking Meditation. Trans. Hoang, jenny, Anh Huong, Nguyen. Connecticut: Eastern Press, 1985.
* This is another great text for those who want to learn how to walk and live a peaceful life. Nhat Hanh seems to share his experiences with the reader as a way of encouragement. It is a great resource for those who are practicing Buddhism or who have a thorough background in its beliefs.
Rutledge, Paul. The Role of Religion in Ethnic Self Identity. New York: University Press of America, 1985.
* Rutledge examines the Vietnamese community in the United States. He discusses both the traditional roots of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism in Vietnam as well as how it has changed and developed in the United States. It is an excellent account of the influence of religion on the world view of Vietnamese nationals.
Schecter, Jerrold. The New Face of the Buddha. New York: Coward-McCann, 1967.
* This book is an examination of Buddhism and Communism. It examines China, Thailand, Burma, and Vietnam in depth. One of the chapters is dedicated to the dissident leader Thich Tri Quang and his influence during the Vietnam conflict. There is also a well written account of the many conflicts that have arisen between the communist government and Buddhist leaders.
Tan Phat, Antoine N., Mahayana Buddhism in Vietnam and its Background in India and China. Diss. University of California, 1981. Ann Arbor: UMI, 1981. 82-00915
* A historical text examining the history of Buddhism in Vietnam. This dissertation is extremely specific and detailed. It is not a text designed to act as an introduction to Buddhism, but it is exceptionally well done. It also takes time to explore the origins of Buddhism in India and China.
Zacharas, Donald. In Pursuit of Peace -- Speeches of the Sixties. Austin: Random House, 1970.
* These are papers and speeches given during the Vietnam era. Some analyze the American perspective of Buddhist dissidence and desire for political freedom. The rhetoric is a study in itself. This text is not a discussion or explanation of the Buddhist doctrine, but it does demonstrate what American political leaders thought about Vietnam and Buddhism.
Dhammananda, Ven. Dr K.Sri. Buddhism and Present Life. Np: Np, Nd.
* This is a good text in that it describes why Buddhism should be considered a religion. It covers the concept of God, The Buddha, faith, miracles, morality, government, and others. Each issue addresses how a society with a Buddhist religion should operate. Overall, it is a great text for those who have a background in Buddhism.
Kalupahana, David J., History of Buddhist Philosophy. Honolulu, University of Hawaii Press, 1992.
* This text focuses on the development of Buddhism and differences in theology. It does not specifically address Vietnam but serves as a valuable reference. Since it was written within the last few years, it does address some of the influences of policies and activism by individual members of the Buddhist community in Tibet, India, and Vietnam.
Snelling, John. Buddhist Festivals: Holidays and Festivals. Florida: Rourke Enterprises, 1987.
* This text is a good book for children or Elementary Schoolteachers. This text ,however, should only be used as a young beginners tool for research, followed by other texts. It is however a good book which goes into some detail of basic Buddhist vocabulary and includes a couple maps showing the spread of Buddhism throughout Asia. Adults doing extensive Buddhist studies should not waste their time, and neither should a researcher looking for specifically Vietnamese studies.
Thomas, Edward J., History of Buddhist Thought. London: Rutledge & Kegan, 1959
* Since this text was written before the United States conflict in Vietnam, this book avoids almost all discussions of politics. It is a deep discussion of theology and schools of thought. None of the information is specific to any country, but it is relevant to any country that is Buddhist. It is a useful text as a companion to amore specific text.
DeBarry, T., ed. Buddhist Tradition in India, China, and Japan. New York: Vintage Books, 1972.
* This text is an historical study of the origins of Buddhism in each of the centers of the religion. Each country is examined in depth with mention made of each significant adaptation from the historical framework of Buddhism. There is also space dedicated to how each country has influenced the other. Since each of these countries were important influences on Vietnamese Buddhism, this work is a good foundation.
Tanaka, Kenneth K., The Dawn of Chinese Pure Land Doctrine. New York: State University of New York Press,1990.
* This is another resource text that addresses one of the major influences on Buddhist thought. Along with Mahayana and Theravada schools, Pure Land doctrine was a fundamental element of Buddhism. It takes an historical approach to the Pure Land and its origins in China and then mentions Vietnam specifically at the end of the text.
Vella, Walter, ed. Aspects of Vietnamese History. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1973.
* While this text talks about Buddhism in broad strokes, the best element of the work concerns Confucianism. Vella argues that this is the most important contributor of the three major religions in Vietnam: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. This is a dissertation text and as such deals with theology at a more advanced level that other introductory works.