The government has full control over the freedom of religion and belief in the country. Religious organizations must register with the government and operate under the management of government-appointed management boards. If they refuse, the government considers them to be ‘evil religions.’ The police keep a close eye on such religious groups, investigate their activities, and sometimes arrest their members by force. The government arrested several Montagnard activists in the Central Highlands in 2025 and gave them long prison sentences for the crime of undermining national unity. The government arrested a 17-year-old Hoa Hao Buddhist for joining an independent religion and expressing dissenting views on the internet. The government claims that all these actions are to protect the national security and social order of the country, but the international community has expressed its concerns over the restrictions imposed by the government on the freedom of religion and has asked the government to respect its international obligations regarding the freedom of religion.

Pray for freedom of religion in Vietnam. Pray for the government to abide by international human rights laws and uphold the rights and freedoms of civilians (The Holy Bible, Psalm 146:7).

Pray for divine protection upon all religious minorities, especially Christians, in Vietnam. Pray for all the religious minorities to have access to worship without any restriction (The Holy Bible, Psalm 14:6).

News Source: Human Rights Watch

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