Congressman Smith obviously distorted the truth about freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam by saying that Vietnam discriminated between religions and didn’t recognize the right to freedom of worshiping for some religious organizations. Smith, who has unrealistic views, has several times slandered freedom of religion in Vietnam. In a recent speech in the US Congress, Smith cited a story which occurred long ago in Con Dau, Da Nang calling it religious oppression. According to the Congressman, Priest Nguyen Van Ly, who was imprisoned for violating Vietnamese law, was detained for exercising the right to freedom of religion. Smith, with a narrow, biased viewpoint, has long held a one-sided view of the freedom of religion in Vietnam.

Religious freedom stipulated in Vietnamese Constitution and law

Vietnam has several times declared before the international community its policy on freedom of religion and belief, which are stipulated in the Vietnamese Constitution and law. The 2013 Constitution affirms Vietnamese’s consistent stance on respecting and ensuring human rights and citizens’ rights including the right to freedom of religion and belief. The Constitution clearly stipulates that everybody has the right to religious and non-religious freedom. All religions are equal before the law. The State respects and protects the right to freedom of religion and belief. Nobody is allowed to violate religious freedom or abuse religion or belief in violation of the law. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung addressed a recent meeting of representatives of religious organizations in Vietnam: “The Vietnamese Party and State always pay attention to and respect citizens’ right to freedom of religion and belief and believes that the ethics of religious freedom are relatively similar to traditional morality. In fact, religious followers are always supported and encouraged to contribute to national development”.

Religious freedom ensured in reality

In Vietnam, all religions are equal under the law and none of them are prohibited if they obey the law. All Vietnamese people are free to practice or not to practice a religion. People’s right to freedom of religion and belief is always respected and protected by the Vietnamese State. In Vietnam, the number of religious followers and religious organizations officially recognized is increasing. Places of worshiping have been built to allow religious followers to practice their religions. Religious books and bibles have been published here and religious education and training has been strengthened. External activities relating to religion have been boosted. Nguyen Van Thua is a religious follower in Da Ton commune, Gia Lam district, on the outskirt of Hanoi: “It’s up to somebody to follow a religion. But it is important to harmonize religious matters with those of the nation because religions can only develop peacefully in a peaceful country. The Vietnam Episcopal Church pursues a stance of respecting God, loving the country and participating in national development. Religion can only grow if the nation grows”.

Vietnam’s freedom of religion internationally recognized

Many international human rights and religious organizations have visited Vietnam and acknowledged Vietnam’s improvements in ensuring human rights including the right to religious freedom. Congressman Smith, in holding a hearing in the US Congress, must have forgotten about the Vietnam visit of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom led by Vice Chairman Michael Lewis Cromartie, who said freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam has expanded and progressed. Senator Jim Webb, during a recent visit to Vietnam, said that despite some individual viewpoints on some specific cases, improvement in freedom of religion in Vietnam is undeniable. Vietnam received a majority vote to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term. This reflects international community’s recognition of Vietnam’s policies, efforts and achievements in promoting human rights including the right to religious freedom, clear evidence that all religions are equal in a peaceful and integrated Vietnam.