(VOVworld) – Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has wished Catholic and Protestant dignitaries, monks and nuns and followers in Ho Chi Minh city a merry Christmas. During his visit to the city’s archdiocese and the Protestant Church of Vietnam’s southern branch on Saturday, Phuc praised the city’s religious followers’ contributions to building national unity. He expressed his hope that Pham Minh Man, archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City, and Phan Vinh Cu, Head of the Protestant Church of Vietnam’s southern branch, will continue to encourage followers to implement the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies to lead a good secular and religious life and to be a good citizen. Phuc said these efforts will help consolidate national unity and national construction and defense.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan visits Hue archdiocese (Photo: VGP)

On Saturday morning, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan visited and presented gifts to representatives of Catholic followers and dignitaries in Hue city’s archdiocese. Nhan informed archbishop Le Van Hong of Vietnam’s socio-economic development issues and acknowledged the active contributions by Thua Thien Hue’s religious dignitaries and followers.

On the occasion of Christmas and New Year 2014, leaders of Tra Vinh province’s Fatherland Front sent 10 delegations to pay Christmas visits to Catholic followers and places of worshipping in the province.