The Government Committee for Religious Affairs released the White Book on religions and religious policies in Vietnam. (Photo:WVR)

A 132-page book consists of three chapters that provides introduction to basic information about religions in Vietnam, its religious policies as well as achievements, challenges and advantages in ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion.

The book introduces 16 popular religions in Vietnam, including Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Caodaism, and Hoa Hao Buddhism, among others. It also presents the Communist Party of Vietnam's view on beliefs and religions during the renewal period, the right to freedom of belief and religion stipulated in the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, regulations on religious activities in current legal documents.

Published by the Religious Publishing House, the book includes an appendix with some images of religions and religious activities in Vietnam, statistics on religions, a list of religious organisations and registered religious activities, and Article 24 of the 2013 Constitution.

Deputy Head of the Committee Nguyen Tien Trong said Vietnam has a long-standing cultural tradition and is home to 54 ethnic groups with diverse religions. At present, the country is home to over 26.5 million religious followers, or 27% of the population; over 54,000 religious dignitaries and 29,658 places of worship.

The first Constitution in 1946 and its revised editions always affirm that the right to freedom of belief and religion is one of the fundamental rights of human beings. The 2013 Constitution specifies that the right to freedom of belief and religion is a right of all people, he said.

In order to realise the 2013 Constitution, the Vietnamese National Assembly passed the Law on Belief and Religion on November 18, 2016. The Vietnamese Government issued Decree No. 162/2017/ND-CP on December 30, 2017, detailing some articles and measures to enforce the Law on Belief and Religion.

Vietnam has so far recognised 36 religious organisations, issued registration certificates to four religious organisations and one religious sect of 16 religions.