Country Profile

Language: Vietnamese

Vietnam is a country of about 80 million people that struggled under a continuous state of war from 1941 to 1985. The current government policy is managed by the Communist Party in one of the few Communist nations existing today. The Party controls all religious activities, even though the constitution guarantees religious freedom. About 8% of Vietnamese are Christians; over 50% are Buddhists. The 13 million Hmong living in Vietnam are forbidden to read anything in their own language. Other tribal groups are similarly restricted. Underground church meetings have grown as a result of the limitations placed on registered churches. Most persons living in this country were born after the Vietnam War. Feeling that Christianity was a major contributor to the fall of European Communism, Vietnam’s government desires to wipe out this threat from believers in their country. Most churches have been destroyed and evangelism is forbidden. Many pastors have spent time in prison for leading their flock.