The family altar in a Vietnamese home

A Vietnamese ancestor altar (bàn thờ, say "bahn taw") is a raised shelf or table in the home where the family honors its ancestors with photos, an incense bowl, candles or lamps, flowers, fruit and other offerings. It's the spiritual center of many Vietnamese homes, and it's where the family lights incense on special days, holds death anniversaries and shares news with their ancestors.

Here's what you'll typically see on an altar, where it's placed, and how to show respect as a guest.

What is a bàn thờ?

Bàn means "table" and thờ means "to worship" or "to venerate." The family altar reflects ancestor veneration, a tradition followed by many Vietnamese families regardless of religion. Families who are Buddhist, Catholic or not religious at all may still keep some form of altar or memorial space, though practices differ.

What's on the altar?

Every altar is different, but common items include:

• Photos of deceased family members, often parents and grandparents.
• An incense bowl (bát hương in the North, lư hương is also used), filled with sand or ash, where incense sticks are placed. It's considered sacred.
• Candles or electric lamps on either side.
• Flowers, often in a vase on one side.
• A fruit tray, especially the five-fruit tray at Tết. See the five-fruit tray.
• Cups of water, tea or rice wine.
• Ancestral tablets in some families, with the names of ancestors.

Some families also have a Buddha statue or other religious images, usually placed above or separately from the ancestors.

Where is the altar placed?

The altar is usually placed in a respectful, prominent spot:

• High up. It's often on a raised table or a shelf mounted high on the wall, above eye level.
• In a quiet room. Often the main living room, or on the top floor in multi-story homes.
• Facing the front of the house, or a direction chosen with feng shui (phong thủy) in mind.
• Away from bathrooms, bedrooms and cluttered spaces.

In small apartments, families adapt with a wall shelf or compact cabinet.

When are offerings made?

Many families light incense and make offerings on:

• The 1st and 15th of each lunar month (mùng một and ngày rằm).
• Tết, when the altar is cleaned and decorated with fruit, flowers and food.
• Death anniversaries (đám giỗ). See đám giỗ: the Vietnamese death anniversary.
• Important family events, like weddings, births, moving house or exams, to share news with the ancestors.

Some families light incense every day; others only on special days.

Cleaning the altar

The altar is cleaned with care. Many families do a thorough cleaning before Tết, often around the Kitchen Gods' day. The incense bowl is treated with particular respect, and some families avoid moving it at all except on certain days. See Ông Táo: the Kitchen Gods' day before Tết.

Other altars you might see

• Ông Địa and Thần Tài: A small altar on the floor, common in shops and homes, especially in the South, honoring the earth god and the god of wealth. It often has small figurines, water and offerings.
• Kitchen Gods: Some homes honor the Kitchen Gods near the kitchen.
• Buddhist altars: In Buddhist homes, a separate altar for the Buddha.

How to show respect as a guest

If you visit a Vietnamese home with an altar, a few habits help:

• Don't touch items on the altar unless invited.
• Don't take photos of the altar without asking.
• Don't put things on it, like bags or drinks.
• Light incense if invited. Hold the incense with both hands, bow a few times, and place it in the bowl. Watch the family first.
• Keep voices down near the altar during ceremonies.

Why the altar matters

For many Vietnamese families, the altar is a daily reminder of where they come from. Children learn about relatives they never met, and the family keeps a sense of continuity across generations, even across oceans. For many families abroad, setting up an altar is one of the first things they do in a new home.

If you're visiting a Vietnamese home for the first time, just notice where the altar is and keep that area clear and quiet; that small courtesy is noticed.