Vietnam publishes first white book on religion

The 130-page book, issued by the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, includes basic information about religion in Vietnam, the Communist Party’s stance on religion, the definition of religious freedom as described in Vietnam’s Constitution, as well as Vietnam’s achievements and priorities in ensuring religious freedom.

Nguyen Tien Trong, deputy head of the committee, said Vietnam has around 26.5 million religious followers, accounting for 27% of the population, and around 29,600 religious facilities. Thousands of religious groups can be found in Vietnam, including a variety of congregations within the expat community, he added.

According to Trong, Vietnam has consistently improved how its legal system handles religion. These improvements have been implemented to meet the people’s demands and develop the country with democracy, fairness and civility. The country’s religious situation has been improving, with several religious activities attracting followers and passersby alike.

The state has recognized 36 religious organizations and approved registration certificates for religious activities for four groups, he said.