The Government Committee for Religious Affairs released the White Book on religions and religious policies in Vietnam on March 9, 2023. (Photo: Vinh Ha/WVR)

2023 - Highlights from the year

With the focused guidance of the Party and State, the efforts to ensure the rights to freedom of belief and religion in 2023 have seen considerable advancements, spanning legislative, executive, and religious international relations efforts.

Firstly, enhancing the legal framework to safeguard the freedom of belief and religion. After identifying certain limitations and challenges with Decree No. 162, particularly the absence of specific measures for effectively implementing the Law on Belief and Religion, on December 29, 2023, Vietnam promulgated Decree No. 95/2023/ND-CP. This decree, which supersedes Decree 162, addresses practical issues encountered by citizens and believers, such as religious land ownership, religious activities for those under management or detention, ensuring and facilitating legal conditions for competent state authorities and foreign religious activity groups, and the operation of religious organizations and institutions, especially concerning online religious activities.

Secondly, there was a significant emphasis on propagating and disseminating the Party’s guidelines, state policies, and laws on belief and religion. A notable achievement was the issuance of the White Book “Religions and religious policy in Vietnam” in both Vietnamese and English, which not only helps domestic and foreign readers understand fully Vietnam’s religious policy and religious life in Vietnam, but also strongly affirms that all religions in Vietnam are equal before the law and that the State does not discriminate against any belief or religion.

Additionally, other promotional efforts have been intensified to improve the legal compliance and awareness among religious communities, strengthening their faith in the Party and State. Nationwide, 12 conferences were held to disseminate laws on belief and religion to 3,420 delegates, including clergy, religious officials, monks, religious followers, representatives, and managers of religious sites; and 3 training sessions on information and propaganda skills for 750 religious officials and workers across various regions.

Thirdly, religious organizations were afforded all necessary conditions to function in accordance with their Charter, Statutes, and legal regulations. The State has consistently shown interest and facilitated the normal conduct of religious activities and practices across all religions. Notably, significant religious holidays were celebrated on a grand scale, attracting large numbers of participants.

In 2023, the Ministry of the Interior recognized religious organizations for two entities (Hieu Nghia Ta Lon Buddhism, Vietnam Full Gospel Church) and approved the establishment of the Vietnam Baptist Theological Institute.

By December 2023, the State had recognized 38 religious organizations, registered two organizations, and one monastic practice under 16 religions. To cater to the religious activity needs of the populace, in 2023, the Religious Publishing House issued over 690 publishing decisions, with more than 2.4 million printed copies. Several religious texts have been published in English, French, and ethnic languages.

Fourthly, the international relations activities of religious organizations received attention and support, contributing to affirming Vietnam's commitment to ensuring religious freedom to international friends. Over the year, more than 300 religious dignitaries, officials, and monks participated in international conferences, seminars, and training courses on religion; nearly 400 foreigners entered Vietnam for religious purposes.

Religious organizations were facilitated to host and organize major international religious events: The Catholic Church of Vietnam hosted the 2023 Conference of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences; The Buddhist Church of Vietnam hosted the Secretary-General Conference of the Asian Buddhist Peace Forum; the Conference of Buddhist Leaders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; and the Protestant Churches of Vietnam organized the "Spring of Love" Festival.

Fifthly, the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican saw historic progress with the official presence of a Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam.This outcome stems from the efforts of both sides and the visit to the Holy See by President Vo Van Thuong in July 2023.

Pope Francis acknowledged the contributions of the clergy, laypeople, and the Catholic Church in Vietnam to national service and societal development; he expressed that the relationship between Vietnam and the Holy See "is progressing and will continue to progress, through recognizing commonalities and respecting differences," thus "together finding the best path to serve the interests of the Vietnamese nation and the Church."

It is anticipated that in 2024, Pope Francis will visit Vietnam, further solidifying the increasingly positive relationship between the two sides.

President Vo Van Thuong, Pope Francis, and delegates during the visit to the Holy See on July 27, 2023. (Photo: Nguyen Hong/WVR)

Actions for the year 2024

In 2024, while the political and social situation remains stable, the economy continues to face increasing difficulties and challenges: the emergence of new religious phenomena, "heretical sects," "strange religions" continue to attract participants; cross-border and internet-based proselytizing activities..., posing numerous challenges for state management and harboring complexities for security and order; hostile forces continue to exploit religion to undermine the Party and our State…

To further enhance the effectiveness of ensuring and actualizing the right to freedom of religion and belief under the conditions of building a rule-of-law state and integrating into the international community today, a set of comprehensive solutions should be implemented:

First, continue to build, perfect the institutional framework, and concretize the Party's guidelines on belief and religion, ensuring the coherence and effectiveness of the legal system on belief and religion. The amendment and supplementation need to be synchronized among ministries and sectors with the provisions of the Law on Belief and Religion to facilitate religious organizations' participation in social activities, contributing resources to national construction and development.

Pope Francis recognized the contributions of the clergy, laypeople, and the Catholic Church in Vietnam to national service and societal development, expressing the view that the relationship between Vietnam and the Holy See "is progressing and will continue to progress, through recognizing commonalities and respecting differences," thus "together finding the best path to serve the interests of the Vietnamese nation and the Church."

Second, strengthen the propagation and education of knowledge, laws, and the implementation of the right to freedom of belief and religion among law enforcement agencies, clergy, religious officials, monks, believers, and the general populace to better ensure the right to freedom of religion and belief for everyone. Proactively carry out foreign information work; continue to guide and facilitate domestic religious organizations to participate in international religious conferences and seminars abroad, and to host religious events in the country.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam hosted the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) with the theme "50 years of FABC: Reviewing Documents and Application" in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province from June 5 to 10, 2023. In the photo: Deputy Minister of the Interior Vu Chien Thang speaking. (Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Third, continue to innovate and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of belief and religion. Pay attention to guiding, facilitating religious organizations to operate according to their charter, statutes, legal regulations; proactively address legitimate religious activity needs of the religious community and emerging issues; preemptively prevent and resolutely combat actions that exploit belief and religion to divide, destroy the great national unity block, and religious solidarity.

Fourth, intensify the implementation of administrative reform and the application of information technology, digitalization in the field of belief and religion in the spirit of building an electronic government, digital government to improve the effectiveness of state management over religious activities.

Fifth, continue to enhance the effectiveness of religious foreign affairs, proactively engage and meet with countries and organizations interested in Vietnam's religious issues to exchange, provide accurate and comprehensive information, and counter misinformation about the situation of religious freedom and belief in Vietnam.