President To Lam had a meeting with leaders and dignitaries of religious organisations in Hanoi on June 13, praising their contributions to the great national solidarity.

Vietnam always recognises basic principles and standards of human rights, and stands ready to perfect this through the implementation of reasonable international recommendations, a Russian expert has said.

The Vietnamese State always respects and protects the right to freedom of religion or belief for all, and does not discriminate against any based on religion or belief, affirmed Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen Van Ky.

Over the recent past, taking advantage of some Mong ethnic people’s lack of knowledge and credulousness, hostile forces have induced them to join illegal religious groups, including “Gie sua” and “An dien cuu roi”.

The Standing Board of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee held a meeting in Hanoi on July 7 to look into religious solidarity affairs during the first half of 2023.

As a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country with diverse religious and belief life, the Vietnamese State consistently implements a policy of respecting and guaranteeing a citizen's right to freedom of religion and belief, and the right to follow or not follow any religion; ensuring equality and non-discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief; and protecting activities of religious organisations by law, stated the Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on May 18.

The Vietnamese Party, State and Government always pay attention to legitimate aspirations of religious organisations, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang told Franklin Graham, President and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).

Good cultural and moral values and resources of religious organisations will be promoted in environmental protection and climate change response under a programme reached in Ho Chi Minh City on December 29.

Religious organisations and the majority of religious followers in Vietnam have accompanied the nation and played an active role in socio-economic development as well as patriotic emulation movements.

Vietnam is a country with religious and belief diversity. The Vietnamese Party and State have always pursued a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion, and promoting good cultural and moral values and resources of religions in service of national development.

The Muslim community in Ho Chi Minh City on October 8 jubilantly held the Maulid Festival to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

Religions have never had such favourable conditions for their activities in Vietnam like now, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang stressed in a recent writing.

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs has pointed out the need to tighten the management of religious dignitaries and officials in the face of recent law and religious rule violations by some Buddhist monks.

Religious activities on social networks have become increasingly diverse amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution. However, apart from proper practices, some individuals and organisations have taken advantage of the internet to carry out illegal activities, which requires state agencies to take countermeasures.

Throughout the “Doi moi” (Renewal) process, the belief and religious life in Vietnam has changed towards greater freedom and progress, with belief and religious activities taking place vibrantly, and the right to belief and religious freedom better protected, which has been recognised by the international community.

Leaders or representatives of religious organisations, establishments and congregations will be held accountable if their places of worship fail to follow COVID-19 prevention and control rules resulting in virus transmission among dignitaries, followers, and the community, according to the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

Authorities will persuade religious establishments to suspend activities as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, an official has said.

Religious organisations and followers have donated more than 3 billion VND (nearly 130,000 USD) to the fund For the Poor in response to the month For the Poor (October 17-November 18) launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF).

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs on March 20 asked religious organisations and worship places to suspend festivals, conferences and activities for large crowds.

Religious communities in Vietnam have been asked to step up COVID-19 prevention and control measures amid complex developments of the pandemic around the world.