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Islam in Vietnam
Posted on October 9, 2009 by Akhbar Navees

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The exact dates of Islam’s spread in Indo-

China is not known for certain. However, generally speaking, Islam arrived in Indo-China before it reached
China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was introduced by merchants from the Muslim world who sailed
along the coastal cities.
The following is a map and a quote from “Arab Seafaring” by George F. Hourani:
“After the passage through the Malacca Strait, known to the Arabs by its Malay name of Salaht (”Strait”), a
call was made at Tiuman Island. Next cutting across to Indo-China, they stopped at ports in Sanf, the
Champa kingdom in the eastern coastal, then at an island off the coast, known as Sanf Fulaw (corrupted in
our texts to “Sandar Fulat”). From there vessels might coast round the Gulf of Tongking to Hanoi, known as
Luqin, before they made for their final destination, Canton, which was called Khanfu.”
Arab Sea Farers George Hourani: In this classic work George Hourani deals with the history of the sea trade of the
Arabs in the Indian Ocean from its obscure origins many centuries before Christ to the time of its full extension to
China and East Africa in the ninth and tenth centuries. The book comprises a brief but masterly historical account
that has never been superseded. The author gives attention not only to geography, meteorology, and the details of
travel, but also to the ships themselves, including a discussion of the origin of stitched planking and of the lateen
fore-and-aft sails. Piracy in the Indian Ocean, day-to-day life at sea, the establishment of ancient lighthouses and
the production of early maritime guides, handbooks, and port directories are all described in fascinating detail.
Arab Seafaring will appeal to anyone interested in Arab life or the history of navigation. For this expanded edition,
John Carswell has added a new introduction, a bibliography, and notes that add material from recent
archaeological research
What is known for sure is that by the 11th century, Islam was already in Vietnam due to recent discovery of
two gravestones belonging to the Champa Muslims, dated from the early 11th century. Before we proceed
further, we need to understand the historical background of the Champa people. The kingdom of Champa
was found in the 2nd century and lasted until the 17th century. Their land stretched along the Central coast
of what is now modern Vietnam from Hoành S½n massif (Müi Ròn) in the north to Phan Thiªt (Müi Kê
Gà) in the south. The people is of Malayo-Polynesian stock with indianised culture.
When Islam came, few Champa people adopted it. However, some time between 1607 and 1676, the king of
Champa became Muslim thus precipitating most of his people to enter Islam also.
Throughout the century, the Champa provinces were slowly annexed one by one until finally, by the 17th
century they were completely absorbed by the ÐÕi Vi®t(vietnamese). During the reign of the Vietnamese
king, Minh MÕng, the Champa were severly persecuted. As a consequence, the last Champa Muslim
king, Pô Ch½n, decided to gather his people (those on the mainland) and migrated south to Cambodia.
Whereas those on the coastline, they migrated to Trengganu (Malaysia). The area where the king and the
mainlanders settled is still known to this day as Kompong Cham. They were not concentrated in one area
but were scattered along the Mekong river in Vietnam, forming 13 villages along it.
Throughout the years, their children were sent to Kelantan (Malaysia) to learn Qur’an and Islamic studies.
Once studies were completed, these children then return home to teach others in these 13 villages. Also,
another factor which helps them to preserve the true teaching of Islam was the interaction between them
and the Malaysian Muslim traders who sailed through the Mekong river.

Defined as the region of land between India to the west, China to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the east,
Southeast Asia today comprises 10 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand (Siam), and Vietnam.
Not all the Champa Muslims migrated with the king. A group stayed behind in Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Phan
Rí, and Phan Thiªt provinces (Central Vietnam). With their increasing isolation with other Muslims, they
began to mix Islam with Buddhism, Hinduism and Bà La Môn. Hence, their descendents became lost to the
true teachings of Islam. In 1959, these descendents came into contact with the Champa Muslims in Châu
Яc(one of the 13 villages in South Vietnam) and also with the Muslims community in Saigon (Ho Chí Minh
city).
 The Muslim community in Saigon, mainly consisted of

Indians, Pakistanis, Malaysians, Indonesians and Arabs. (See “Who are the Vietnamese Muslims?”) As a
result of this interaction, the descendents who had lost Islam began to return to true Islam. Furthermore, with
the help of the Muslims community in Saigon, mosques were built in Vån Lâm, An Nh½n, and Phѽc Nh½n
(Central Vietnam).
Apart from the Champa Muslims, there are also two groups of

Vietnamese Muslims which will be discussed in the article “Who are the Vietnamese Muslims?” After April
30th 1975, while the majority of Vietnamese Muslims remain in Vietnam under the communist regime, a
sizable number of them managed to escape to other countries. The majority of them settled in America,
France, Malaysia, India, Canada and a handful in Australia.
 Who are the Vietnamese Muslims?

There are three types of Vietnamese Muslims in Vietnam:

1. The Champa Muslims
These are one of the indigenous people of Vietnam and they form the majority of Muslims.
2. The Inter-Racial Muslims
These are descendents of mixed marriages between local Vietnameses and Muslim traders such as the
Arabs, Indians, Indonesians, Malaysians and Pakistanis. Throughout the ages, these descendents also
either married local Vietnameses who converted to Islam or Muslims from other countries. They make up the
second largest group of Vietnamese Muslims.
3. The Vietnamese Converts
Throughout the ages, the local Vietnameses interacted with Muslim traders who lived in Vietnam. They were
drawn to the teaching of Islam and therefore they embraced Islam. For example, there is an entire Tân BØu
village in Tân An province which converted to Islam

source : http://www.angelfire.com/vt/vietnamesemuslims/hstry.html