Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(VNA)  Foreign and domestic reporters have made a field trip to the northwestern province of Dien Bien to inquire into the facts of the case related to social disorder in its border district of Muong Nhe as reported by the press earlier this month.

(This article appeared in The Hill, Dec ,2010)

The annual debate over the State Department’s human rights report brings with it a series of resolutions and bills trying to punish – or at least spotlight – certain countries for violations of U.S. standards. Vietnam regularly receives attention for religious rights violations. This year, on top of sanctions bills, the Congressional Human Rights Commission held a hearing on a dispute in the central Vietnamese village of Con Dau that pitted Catholic villagers against riot police.

Spokeswoman of Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Nguyen Phuong Nga answered question regarding on the information that Viet Nam forced about 400 followers of the Plum Village to leave the Bat Nha Monastery, Lam Dong province:

First of all, I would like to make it clear that there is absolutely no such thing as ‘Viet Nam forced 400 Plum Village followers to leave Bat Nha Monastery.’ The information saying that there have been clashes between the authorities and the "monks" and "nuns" at Bat Nha Monastery, causing several wounded and many others detained, is totally false.

A Vatican delegation led by Monsignor Pietro Parolin, Vatican ’s Under-secretary of State for Relations with States, concluded their week-long annual working visit to Vietnam on June 15.

President Nguyen Minh Triet on November 8 received Chris Seiple, President of the US’s Institute for Global Engagement (IGE), who arrived in Viet Nam to attend a seminar on religion and rule of law in Ha Noi.

During the visit, running form Nov. 1-9, the delegation – the third from IGE to visit Viet Nam in the framework of informal Viet Nam-US dialogue on religion - toured Lao Cai province to learn about the implementation of the Party and State’s religious policy there.

Vietnam will always respect the rights of the individual to enjoy freedom of religion, belief and worship, and is adamant that all favourable conditions must be created so all religions feel welcomed within the country.
That was the clear message delivered by State President Nguyen Minh Triet as he met with world renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and his French-based entourage, in Hanoi, on May 5.

More than 2,500 Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns attended the 7th Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha, which was held at Pho Quang Pagoda from April 24-26.

The congress also saw the attendance of representatives from Buddhist Sanghas of 34 provinces and cities and other religions in the country.

Speaking at the plenary session on April 26, Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Head of the Executive Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha, emphasised the need to reform activities of the Sangha under the motto of “Dharma-Nation-Socialism.”

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s second trip to Viet Nam in recent months is evidence that the country is a place of free and diverse religions.

Nguyen The Doanh, leader of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs said in an exclusive interview with Viet Nam News Agency.

“It is also proof of warm feeling among peers and compatriots, both at home and abroad,” he added.

A Vatican delegation led by Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Under-Secretary of State for Relations with States, paid a working visit to Vietnam from Mar. 5 to Mar. 11.