Prominent Tibetan Lama Dies in Vietnam, Official Account Questioned

Tibetan Buddhist leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche has died in Vietnam, with authorities citing natural causes. However, inconsistencies in the official report have raised questions about the circumstances. The spiritual figure, also known officially as Waxi Longre, was found dead on March 28, 2025. His body was discovered in an apartment at VinHomes Central Park, a high-profile residential complex in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese authorities state the lama died from natural causes. Yet, details from the government report contain contradictions that have not been explained. The lama was a recognized *tulku*, a term meaning a reincarnated teacher in Tibetan Buddhism. He had previously defied China's authority over religious appointments by independently identifying a child as a reincarnated lama.