US religious freedom report makes biased assessment of Vietnam

Hang made the statement on June 8 while answering reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s response to the report.

She affirmed that Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring citizens’ rights to freedom of religion and belief, which has been clearly in the country’s 2013 Constitution and legal system, and has been enforced and respected in reality.

Over the past few years, Vietnam has spared no effort in completing its legal system and policies on belief and religion, the FM spokesperson said, adding that the country has adopted the Law on Belief and Religion, and decrees guiding the enforcement of the law.

The people’s religious and belief practices have been guaranteed with thousands of festivals and religious and belief activities annually, she stated.

Vietnam acknowledges that the US Department of State’s report has mentioned the country’s certain progress in ensuring and facilitating religious and belief practices, but regrettably, the report continued to make partial assessment and cited incorrect information on Vietnam, Hang said.