The latest statistics show that 95% of Vietnamese people have religious beliefs and 24 million people, one fourth of the population, are followers of some religions. There are 25,000 places of worship and 45 religious schools in Vietnam. The figures show that Vietnam is a multi-religion nation.

Latest survey on freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam

The US, which used to have an unfriendly assessment of Vietnam’s religious freedom, in its annual report on religious freedom in 2013 acknowledged that Vietnam’s Constitution and laws contain clear regulations on religious freedom. In its report, released on July 31, the US State Department said the Vietnamese government has issued licenses for additional religious organizations and offered favorable conditions for religions to conduct humanitarian activities and hold mass rituals for over 100,000 participants. The US State Department said American officials have met regularly with Vietnamese religious dignitaries and held dialogues with Vietnamese leaders on religious freedom.

Freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam is confirmed

Religious activities are regularly organized in Vietnam in association with social events. Every year approximately 8,500 religious festivals are held. Religious dignitaries have been trained in Vietnam or abroad in the US, France, Italy, and India. Religious representatives have attended religious dialogues and discussed their dogmas at international forums such as the Asia-Europe Meeting and ASEAN.

Vietnam successfully hosted the UN Vesak Day in 2008 and 2014 and the World Buddhist Summit in 2010. Vietnam has maintained good relations with the Vatican since 1989. The Vatican has assigned to Vietnam a non-resident representative who since 2011 has made 20 visits to 60 of Vietnam’s 63 cities and provinces.

A unilateral, distorted voice

It is an undeniable fact that Vietnam protects and guarantees the religious freedom of its citizens. There is no evidence that “religious freedom in Vietnam is only in documents, not in reality” or that Vietnam discriminates against any religious followers. That is a one-sided, unfriendly view.

It is important to clearly distinguish between religious freedom and taking advantage of religion to violate the law. Vietnamese law states that all people are equal before the law. A law violator, no matter if he is religious or non-religious, will be punished by the law.

The Vietnamese government has always ensured that all people are equal in religion, equal in civil and religious rights and obligations, and equal in the law.  Freedom of religion and belief is guaranteed in harmony with historical and cultural values, national defense, and national sovereignty. The Vietnamese policy is to respect and generate the best conditions for all people to exercise religious freedom, ensure equality among religions, and protect religious organizations and activities by law.