Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Viet Nam on Feb. 1 released a white paper on religion, affirming that it has consistently implemented an unswerving policy of great national unity without any discrimination on the basis of belief or religion.

Nguyen The Doanh, Standing Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religion, said at a press briefing that followers of religious sects make up an integral part of the entire nation and the Government has worked out relevant policies to meet their spiritual needs..

The White Paper on Religion and Policies regarding religion in Viet Nam is expected to make people both at home and abroad, especially the international community, to better understand the real situation on religious practice and the Government's policies on this issue, Doanh said.

He quoted the paper as saying that the Government's policy on great national unity with a goal of a prosperous people, strong country and an equal, democratic and civilised society has created a firm ground to mobilise people of different religious sects around the common cause.

He admitted that due to gaps of development between geographical areas and a lack of proper understanding about religion among local authorities, policies on religion have not yet been fully observed in some places and at some moments in Viet Nam.

The Government Committee on Religion has held thousands of training courses for local authorities and clerics on religious policies and issued hundreds of thousands of publications explaining these policies, including those published in languages of ethnic minorities such as Khmer and Hoa.

These efforts have contributed to gradually solve the problem, said the Government official on religious affairs.

He also cited two other documents on religion, namely an ordinance on belief and religion which came into force on Nov. 15, 2004 and a decree guiding the implementation of the above-mentioned ordinance as evidence for the Government's respect for the right to freedom of belief and religion of citizens.

These documents have clearly determined the rights and obligations of individuals and religious organisations as well as responsibility of State management agencies in ensuring the former's rights and obligations.

The three-chapter document presents an overview of beliefs and religions in Viet Nam and Government policies and guidelines regarding religion. The book highlights President Ho Chi Minh's thought about religion and the Party's relevant stand, which all confirm the Government's policies to respect and guaranttee citizens' rights to freedom of religion and worships.

Also in the paper are Vietnamese achievements in implementing relevant policies and laws, thus managing to encourage religious followers to contribute to national development.

The paper also reflects the Vietnamese Government's positions on international relations of religions and achievements recorded by local religions in expanding ties with foreign partners.

Viet Nam now boasts six religious with around 20 million believers. Buddhism makes up half of the religious population. Other sectarian populations include 6 million Catholics and almost 66,700 Muslims.

Protestanism arrived in the late 19th century, the latest out of four foreign religions brought to Viet Nam. The religion now has almost 6,400 followers.

Caodaism and Hoa Hao Buddism were founded in Viet Nam in the early and middle 20th century, respectively. Caodaism now has almost 2.3 million followers and Hoa Hao Buddhism, over 1.2 million followers.

Doanh added that the Government is to recognise two more religious this year, the Pure Land Buddhist Home-Practice Association and the Tu An Hieu Nghia religion, with a combined over 2 million followers.

VNA

Full Text of The White Paper on Religion and Policies regarding religion in Viet Nam