Hanoi (VNA) – The International Religious FreedomReport for 2016 recently released by the US Department of State again does notreflect correctly the real religion and belief situation in Vietnam as well asthe country’s achievements in ensuring the right to freedom of religion.

Although the report acknowledges progress Vietnam has madein ensuring the right to freedom of religion, it still sticks to the out-of-dateviewpoint and one-sided and subjective assessments about Vietnam’s religionsituation.

The right to freedom of religion and belief is clearlystipulated in Vietnam’s Constitution and safeguarded by its laws. The legalfoundation on religion and belief freedom in Vietnam has also developedremarkably. Together with the 2013 Constitution, the 2004 Ordinance No.21 onbelief and region and the 2012 Decree No.92 on the enforcement of OrdinanceNo.21, the National Assembly passed a new Law on Belief and Religion inNovember 2016 which is scheduled to officially take effect on January 1, 2018.

To date, Vietnam has recognised and granted licences to 39religious organisations with over 24 million followers, or 27 percent of thecountry’s population. The country has nearly 53,000 religious dignitaries, and28,000 worshipping facilities.

All religious practice activities have been held normally,without any obstruction, while religions’ festivals have been organised inaccordance with religious norms and attracted the participation of manyfollowers.

In addition, the training of dignitaries and monks has beenmaintained and expanded. Many dignitaries and monks have been sent to receive trainingin the US, France, Italy and India. Religious representatives have also attendedreligious and belief dialogues and discussions at major international forumssuch as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN).

Vietnam established its relations with the Vatican in 1989, withthe latter having assigned a non-permanent representative in Vietnam since2011. International religion and human rights organisations have visited andmade fact-finding tours to Vietnam many times, and then acknowledged thecountry’s efforts to ensure human rights, including the right to freedom ofreligion and belief.

Notably, Vietnam was elected to the United Nations HumanRights Council in the 2014-2016 tenure with the highest votes, reflectingthe  world’s acknowledgement of thecountry’s policies and efforts in ensuring human rights, including the right tofreedom of religion and belief.

The Vietnamese Party and State always respect the right tofreedom of religion and belief of all citizens, but do not allow any one to abusethe freedom of belief and religion or take advantage of a belief or religion inorder to violate the law.

Vietnam is determined to fight and prevent all activitiesthat violate the law, take advantage of a religion or belief to cause socialdisorders, disunite the great national unity, undermine the Party and State,hurt the nation’s interests and hinder its development and internationalintegration.

Like all other nations around the world, including the US,the Vietnamese State does not allow any religions to be outside the law. In theUS itself, many states clearly stipulate in their laws anti-government actsalong with corresponding punishment. Any individuals or organisations whoassemble forces illegally or incite terrorism and violence in the name ofreligion are punished as regulated by US law.

Therefore, it is time for the US Department of State to takea comprehensive and objective view and respect the truth about the religionsituation in Vietnam, in accordance with fine development of the two countries’relations.-VNA