Ominous New Decree 95 Confirms Vietnam’s Intent to Control Religion  

Shutting down churches will be easier, raising and receiving funds much harder.

(Morning Star News) – Two millennia ago, Jesus of Nazareth said, “Yes, what sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease their burden.” (Luke 11:46, NLT). What Jesus said about the religious zealots of His day could also be said […]

A Year of Bumpy Ups and Downs for Religious Liberty in Vietnam

Despite all efforts, the country again lands on the U.S. Special Watch List.

(Morning Star News) – Vietnam improved from 24th to 35th place in Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List (WWL) of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, but the U.S. government was not so generous regarding its religious freedom record, placing the country on its Special Watch List on Jan. 4 […]

Christians Fear Implication in Attack on Government in Vietnam

Long oppressed Montagnard evangelicals could be targeted.

(Morning Star News) – Ethnic Christians in Vietnam are bracing for potential fallout should they be blamed for recent anti-government violence. In the pre-dawn hours of June 11, four policemen, two government officials and three bystanders were killed by camouflage-clad armed groups. This rare anti-government violence took place in Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes, […]

Hmong Christians in Vietnam Suffering Severe Persecution

Federal authorities do nothing as local officials violate religion law.

(Morning Star News) – Severe persecution of Hmong Christians is underway in Nghe An Province in Vietnam. In the central Vietnam province, officials vying with each other to create “Christian-free zones” operate “with no conscience or humanity,” as if they were in a different country than the one whose religious freedom measures they are violating, […]

Vietnam Floats Draconian New Religion Decrees

Proposed high fines, shutdowns and onerous regulations submitted for feedback.

HANOI, Vietnam (Morning Star News) – When the “Government of Vietnam” posted two draft religion decrees the first week of June, even ranking staff members of the Government Bureau of Religious Affairs were taken by surprise and encouraged religious leaders to strongly object. The decrees with ancillary documents were posted online for input by government departments […]

Christians Questioned in Criminal Investigation of Church in Vietnam

Attorney says intent must be shown for violation of law.

(Morning Star News) – Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam have questioned a pastoral couple and 11 congregation members in the criminal prosecution of a church facing wild accusations of starting a COVID-19 outbreak, sources said. Police in Go Vap District questioned the Rev. Vo Xuan Loan and her husband, the Rev. Phuong Van […]

Mixed Messages in Vietnam amid COVID-19

Following prior anti-church hype, communist government reacts responsibly to outbreak at Bible school.

(Morning Star News) – When several students at the Evangelical Church of Vietnam South’s (ECVN-S) Institute of Bible and Theology in Ho Chi Minh City developed coughs and fevers on July 20, church authorities immediately called the government health department. In rapid tests, some 290 of the 306 students and staff on the campus in […]

Criminal Investigation of Church in Vietnam over COVID-19 Confirmed

Official urges media to make corrections of misleading statements.

(Morning Star News) – The threat of investigating a church for possible criminal activity in the spread of COVID-19 in Vietnam was confirmed in a letter on Friday (June 18) from officials to a recently formed house-church alliance, sources said. In the letter of reply to the Vietnam Evangelical Alliance, made up of 40 house-church […]

Evangelicals Take Brunt of COVID-19 Collateral Damage in Vietnam

Christians fear lasting effects of vilification of REM church.

(Morning Star News) – The vilification of the Revival Ekklesia Mission church in Vietnam has somewhat quieted, but its linking of evangelicals with COVID-19 is feared to have done long-lasting damage. State media, government agencies and the public in social media all reviled the church following the positive COVID-19 tests of two members of the […]

COVID-19 Leads to Prosecution of House-Church Group in Vietnam

Organization’s registration suspended.

(Morning Star News) – A house-church organization in Vietnam is facing government prosecution and community hate due to COVID-19, sources said. A couple who attended the meeting place of the Revival Ekklesia Mission (REM), an independent, charismatic house-church organization headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, went to the Gia Dinh General Hospital on May 26 […]