How to bow in a Vietnamese temple: palms together, three bows, prostration

Bowing is the most common act of respect in a Vietnamese temple. It is not worship of a statue: most people explain it as honouring the Buddha, the teaching and the community, and as a way to soften pride. Visitors of any belief, or none, are welcome to bow, to bow slightly, or simply to stand with palms together.

Palms together (hợp chưởng)

This is the base of every other gesture.

Stand upright with your feet a little apart.
Bring the palms together in front of your chest, fingers pointing up, with a small gap between the palms as if holding a bud.
Lower your eyes and let the shoulders drop.
Breathe out slowly.

You can use this gesture alone to greet a monk or nun, an altar or a statue.

The slight bow (vái)

Palms together, bend gently from the waist, then straighten. Use the slight bow to greet monks and nuns, to greet an altar you pass, or when you are unable to kneel. It is always enough.

Bow to the Three Jewels in the main hall

Stand before the main altar, put your palms together and bow three times, once each to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

Stand a few steps back from the altar, on a cushion or mat if one is set out. Do not step in front of someone who is bowing.
Palms together, eyes lowered. Take one calm breath.
Make the first bow. Kneel, place the palms on the floor or cushion, and lower the forehead to your hands (see below). Rise.
Make the second and third bows in the same way, slowly, at your own pace.
Finish with a slight bow and step back. Leave the cushion free for the next person.
If you bow with a group, follow the leader's pace and the sound of the bell or wooden fish.

Three bows stand for the Three Jewels (Tam Bảo): Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. What you think during each bow is up to you; a quiet "I bow to the Buddha, I bow to the Dharma, I bow to the Sangha" is enough.

The full bow (lạy)

The full bow, or prostration, is a deeper bow with five points of the body touching the floor: two knees, two hands and the forehead.

From standing, palms together, lower yourself onto your knees.
Place your hands on the cushion or floor in front of you.
Lower your forehead until it rests on or near your hands.
Pause for a moment, then rise the way you went down.

Details vary by temple and teacher: some keep the palms flat, some turn them up, some bring the palms together on the floor. Many Vietnamese temples add a slight bow after the last prostration. If you are unsure, watch what the people around you do.

If kneeling is hard

Kneeling is not required. If your knees, back or balance make it difficult, you can stand and make a slight bow instead, or bow from a chair. The mind with which you bow matters more than its depth. A bow you can make comfortably is better than one that hurts.

Bowing and the rest of the visit

Bowing comes after you have offered incense and made an offering, and before you ring the bell and sit. See how to pay respects for the whole sequence. The same gestures are used at other altars: Quan Âm in the courtyard and the other altars in the altars page.

Common questions

Do I have to bow? No. Palms together is enough.
Is it worship? Most Vietnamese Buddhists describe it as respect and gratitude, not as asking a statue for favours. Explanations vary; ask a monk or nun if you want to know how your temple sees it.
What should I wear? Clothes that let you kneel and rise: trousers or a long skirt are easiest. See etiquette.
How many bows at other altars? Often one, or three at the main altar. Follow the temple.

Keep reading

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