According to the Buddhist Information Portal of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, offering to wandering souls is a folk term associated with the "thi thuc" ritual. In Buddhism, the focus of "thi thuc" is giving alms, sharing food with compassion, not performing rituals out of fear or to "borrow" invisible forces.
A guide on the test ritual mentions setting up a table in front of the house, facing outwards. However, this guide is not specifically for apartments. Therefore, residents should not mechanically apply the layout of the ground floor house to the corridor, lobby or common use area.
Having a balcony, should I place a tray of offerings?
According to Article 142 of the 2023 Housing Law, balconies and loggias attached to apartments belong to the owner's private ownership. However, this does not mean that balconies are the location specified for the wandering soul worshiping ritual. Current Buddhist sources have not yet issued rules requiring apartment residents to place offering trays here.
If choosing a balcony, the family needs to check the building's regulations, especially regulations on burning incense, fire source, smoke and fire prevention. If you want to follow a specific Buddhist ritual, you should refer directly to monks and nuns or Buddhist establishments.
Does a house without a balcony have to bring a tray to the hallway?
According to the 2023 Housing Law, corridors belong to the common ownership part of apartment buildings. Apartment building regulations must also stipulate the use of the common ownership part, environmental sanitation and fire prevention and fighting.
Therefore, the fact that the apartment does not have a balcony is not a reason to place tables, offering trays or offerings in front of the door or in the hallway. This can hinder travel, and even affect the escape route.
If there is no suitable space in the apartment, the family should ask the management board about the permitted area or refer to a Buddhist facility to choose the appropriate implementation method.
Is it allowed to bring trays down to the yard, lobby or terrace?
These locations should not be arbitrarily chosen just because they are spacious and airy. According to the 2023 Housing Law, terraces, corridors and many common service areas belong to the common ownership of apartment buildings.
Circular 05/2024/TT-BXD also requires apartment building regulations to regulate the use of common ownership, hygiene, security and order, and fire and explosion prevention. Therefore, if the building has an area for community activities or allows for rituals, residents must comply with the regulations and instructions of the management board.
There is no general rule that allows residents to implicitly bring offering trays down to the lobby, common yard or terrace.
Is it necessary to burn votive paper and burn many incense sticks?
Burning votive paper should not be considered a mandatory requirement of Buddhist rituals. An article on the Buddhist Information Portal in 2026 clearly states that burning votive paper is not a Buddhist ritual and is not recommended. Prayering can use vegetarian food, clean water, combined with chanting, doing good deeds and repentance.
In apartment buildings, fire and smoke sources are also directly related to fire and explosion safety and the lives of surrounding households. Therefore, residents need to check the regulations before burning incense, candles or using fire sources; do not burn votive paper at balconies, corridors, terraces or common areas if not allowed or not ensuring safety.
How to handle rice, salt, and food after worship?
Food should not be thrown or spread on the street, balcony or public area. The Buddhist information portal said that after the food offering ceremony, food can still be used.
In the apartment building environment, spreading rice, salt or throwing away offerings can cause unsanitary conditions, affecting residents and the common area. Ready-to-use food should be collected appropriately; garbage generated from the offering tray needs to be handled according to apartment building regulations.
