There are around 3,000 Muslims in the neighborhood, making it the most-populated diocese among the 16 Islamic dioceses in HCMC.
Haji Kim So, 72, head of the diocese, says the majority of the neighborhood are descendants of those that came from the Mekong Delta Town of Chau Doc and relocated to HCMC in the 1960s.
“Lands in this neighborhood were sold for cheap prices back then, so the first Cham Islamic people [from Chau Doc] gathered here and gradually established a community,” he says.
The Islamic mosque Jamiul Anwar, which was built in 1966 and renovated in 2006, lies in the heart of the neighborhood.
People gather at the mosque to pray five times a day every day. Only the men are allowed to pray here, with the exception of the Ramadan month, when women are allowed to be present.
Haji Kim So prays at home due to his age-related deteriorating health. He says that Muslims have to wash their hands, feet, and face before praying, and can only think of God during their praying sessions.
“We have always respected our religion’s rituals,” he tells VnExpress.
Muslims in the neighborhood are easy to identify as they always wear their traditional clothes. Women have their hijabs on regardless of whether they are at home or outdoors.
Haji Kim So says Islamic women could rarely go out before, unless they were accompanied by their fathers or husbands. Compared to that, current rules are more loose.
Most of the Muslims in the neighborhood operate their small-sized businesses, which sell products of daily needs, specialties of the Cham ethnic, and Halal food.
Muslims can only consume Halal-certified food. They are not allowed to eat dishes originated from pork, and are completely banned from drinking alcohol.
Aysal (far R), 52, started making her living by selling homemade food, including specialties of the Cham ethnic and the Mekong Delta region five years ago, when she relocated to HCMC from Chau Doc. She is now living with her older sister in the neighborhood.
“Life in the city has more hustles and bustles, but it’s easy to make a living,” she says. “I make around VND200,000 (around $8.5) simply from selling these from the morning till noon.”
Ali, 58, has a convenience store at his home. His family is one of the first people residing in this neighborhood, and he still maintains the habit of wearing traditional clothes.
Sakynah, 32, has been living with her father and children in a rented room over the past 10 years. Her family is getting by with her food stall.
“Islamic children have to learn the Cham language in addition to Vietnamese,” she says.
The Cham Islam has blended in with people of other religions and atheists nearby. They are often seen having a coffee with others at local coffee shops throughout the day, especially during early mornings and late afternoons.
There are around 10,000 Cham Islamic people across HCMC, mainly gathering in Binh Thanh District, Phu Nhuan District, District 1, District 6, and District 8. Lies in the heart of each of their dioceses is a Islamic mosque, or Masjid Surau.
