The 2006 International Religion Report of the US Department State gave a positive assessment of the current religious situation in Vietnam, particularly in the Central Highlands, based on the implementation of the Government Prime Minister’s Decree No 01 on Protestantism. Despite this fact, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently recommended that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice put Vietnam back on the list of “countries of particular concern” (CPC) for religious freedom. Such a groundless recommendation is utterly unacceptable.


It must be said that in Vietnam, freedom of belief and religion is protected by law. In reality, Vietnamese people enjoy the right to follow or not to follow any belief or religion that they choose. Those who have taken interest in Vietnam or have gained an intimate knowledge of the country share objective views that Vietnam supports the development of religious freedom as it has held a series of frank and open dialogues with the US on issues related to the right to enjoy freedom of belief and religion.

At the recent 12th round of human rights dialogues held by the two countries in Washington on April 24, Vietnam informed the US of its policies regarding freedom of belief in recent times and received a positive response from the latter.

Over recent years, the Party and State’s consistent policies on religion and religious activities have been strictly implemented in the Central Highlands. Life in areas inhabited by religious people has been remarkably improved.

This is due to the fact that local administrations always create every favorable condition for people to practise belief and religion. Many places of worship have been rebuilt or upgraded, including pagodas, churches and oratories destroyed by US bombs during the war.

With regards to Protestantism alone, by September 2006, there were 301,200 protestants belonging to 15 different sects, of which 283 came from ethnic minority people and 57,300 from 50 chapters under the Southern Vietnam Protestantism Church whose religious activities had been recognised officially and legally. Their requirements for ordainment, dignitary training, refresher courses on theology and places of worship were resolved step by step by local administrations in accordance with the law.

Followers of all religions are now free to practise their religions at churches, pagodas and chapels. For instance in Gia Lai province, there are 13 Party members and more than 1,000 youth union members following Protestantism. They vary in position from Vice Chairman of the Communal People’s Committee to a member of the Protestantism Executive Board. Due to all religious and political activities being guaranteed and protected by law, religious people in the Central Highlands feel very happy to engage in boosting production activities and making their lives worthy of being God-respecting and patriotic religious practitioners. Many of them have become outstanding labourers or good entrepreneurs.

It is worth mentioning that in Vietnam, there is no discriminatory treatment, religious repression or detainment for religious belief as hostile and reactionary forces have claimed. In Vietnam, only those who violate the law, commit acts of sabotage against the administration or deliberately go against communal and national interests will be dealt with under law. The trial of Nguyen Van Ly in central Thua Thien Hue province is an example of this.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)'s recent recommendation for putting Vietnam back on the list of "countries of particular concern" (CPC) for religious freedom is utterly groundless and unacceptable as it is out of tune with the real religious situation in Vietnam and the fine development of Vietnam-US relations.