Buddha Avalokiteshvara

Pure Land Buddhism and the Shin path are the most widely practice form of Buddhism in Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan and Singapore. The Pure Land tradition has the largest adherents of any type of Buddhism in the world. Moreover, Shin Buddhism, a branch of Pure Land, is the world's largest Buddhist denomination with tens of millions of adherents. (http://buddhistfaith.tripod.com/pureland_sangha/id72.html)

The methods of Pure Land Buddhism are perhaps the most widespread within Vietnam. It is common for practitioners to recite sutras, chants and dharanis looking to gain protection through bodhisattvas or Dharma-Protectors. It is a devotional practice where those practicing put their faith into Amitabha Buddha (V. A Di Đà Phật). Followers believe they will gain rebirth in the Pure Land by chanting Amitabha’s name. The Pure Land is where one can more easily gain enlightenment since suffering does not exist. Many religious organizations have not been recognized by the government however in 2007, with 1.5 million followers, The Vietnamese Pure Land Buddhism Association (Tịnh Độ Cư Sĩ Phật Hội Việt Nam ) received official recognition as an independent and legal religious organization. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Vietnam)