Religion cannot be above or outside the law.

Vietnam is a multi-religious country. The consistent stance of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese State is to always respect and guarantee the freedom of religion and belief of its citizens. This includes the right of people to follow or not follow a religion, ensuring equality and non-discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, and protecting the activities of religious organizations through law.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presided over the conference to commend religious organizations for their contributions to the cause of national construction and defense. (Photo: VGP)

The freedom of belief and religion, and the freedom from belief and religion, of Vietnamese citizens is clearly stipulated in the Constitution and guaranteed in practice, recognized by all people of conscience in the country and around the world. Article 24 of the 2013 Constitution stipulates the right to freedom of belief and religion of citizens, specifically as follows: “Everyone has the right to freedom of belief and religion, to follow or not follow any religion. Religions are equal before the law; the State respects and protects the right to freedom of belief and religion; no one shall infringe upon the freedom of belief and religion or exploit belief and religion to violate the law.” Along with this affirmation in the Constitution, the National Assembly and the Government of Vietnam have enacted laws and decrees, especially the Law on Belief and Religion, to institutionalize the guidelines and policies on belief and religion, ensuring that citizens exercise their right to freedom of belief and religion within the legal framework.

In Vietnam, most major religions are present, with a large number of followers, clergy, and religious practitioners. Religion in Vietnam has always been intertwined with the country's development. Currently, Vietnam has 43 organizations belonging to 16 religions that have been recognized and registered by the State, with over 26 million followers, accounting for approximately 27% of Vietnam's population. Along with the recognition of legal status and the expansion of places of worship, religious organizations in Vietnam are building progressive operational guidelines in the spirit of: being closely associated with and accompanying the nation, conducting religious activities in compliance with the law, and supporting and actively contributing to the renovation, construction, and protection of the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

The individuals mentioned by some websites hostile to Vietnam were not arrested or tried for religious reasons, but rather they hadExploiting religion and freedom of belief and religion.to undermine the Party, the State, and the people.

The Viet Tan organization and RFA (Radio Free Asia) frequently distort the religious situation in Vietnam.

It is important to reiterate that, not only in Vietnam but in every country in the world, religious followers are first and foremost citizens. Before following the teachings of God, Buddha, and the supreme beings, they have a duty to implement and abide by the Party's guidelines, policies, and resolutions, and the State's laws and regulations. No one is allowed to exploit religion for political activities against the Vietnamese Party and State. Religion cannot stand above or outside the law. Religious followers are first and foremost citizens; all Vietnamese citizens are equal before the law. When committing crimes stipulated in the law, regardless of whether that citizen follows a religion or not, or what religion they follow, they will all be punished equally by the law. Religious freedom cannot be confused with those who exploit religion to commit illegal acts. In Vietnam, there is no persecution for religious reasons; only those who violate Vietnamese law are punished.