USCIRF Releases Report on Religious Freedom Condition in Vietnam in 2021

Feb 7, 2022

USCIRF Releases Report on Religious Freedom Condition in Vietnam in 2021

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Vietnam Country Update – This country update provides an overview of religious freedom condition in Vietnam in 2021, and highlights U.S. policy efforts to advance freedom of religion or belief. Despite its notable improvement compared to the previous religious ordinance, the 2018 Law on Belief and Religion (2018 Law) remains restrictive in nature and is plagued by uneven and inconsistent applications throughout the country. Government persecution continues to be a harsh reality facing unregistered independent religious groups, with many of them being designated as “strange, false, or heretical” religions. In addition, authorities continue to subject believers and religious freedom advocates to long-term imprisonment and some reported deteriorating health as a result of ongoing abuse and mistreatment in prison.

In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. government designate Vietnam as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act. Vietnam’s religious freedom conditions was also highlighted in an episode of the USCIRF Spotlight podcast in April 2021.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].