US embassy cable - 05HANOI580

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 HANOI 000580 
 
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TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, KJUS, KIRF, VM, HUMANR, RELFREE 
SUBJECT: TEXT OF THE IMPLEMENTING DECREE FOR VIETNAM'S 
ORDINANCE ON RELIGION 
 
Reftel 04 Hanoi 2009 
 
1. Below in paragraph 2 is an unofficial Embassy translation 
of the implementing decree for Vietnam's Ordinance on Belief 
and Religion (reftel).  Although the decree is dated March 
1, it was not released to the public until late March 7. 
Embassy and ConGen Ho Chi Minh City will report septel our 
and our religious contacts' impressions of the implementing 
decree. 
 
2. //Begin text// 
 
Hanoi, March 1, 2005 
No. 22/2005/ND-CP 
 
Government Decree 
Guidance on implementing a number of articles in the 
Ordinance on Belief and Religion 
 
The Government 
 
Based on the Law on the Organization of the Government dated 
December 25, 2001; 
 
Based the Ordinance on Belief and Religion dated June 18, 
2004; 
 
As requested by the Chairman of the Government Committee for 
Religious Affairs 
 
 
Chapter 1 
 
General Provisions 
 
Article 1.  Object and scope of regulations 
 
This Decree is to regulate the organization of festivals for 
religious beliefs, religious activities by believers, 
religious officials and religious organizations and the 
responsibilities of state agencies in implementing the 
management of belief and religious activities. 
 
Article 2.  Citizens' freedom of belief and religion 
 
The State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam respects and 
ensures its citizens' right to freedom of belief and 
religion and the right to follow or not follow a religion. 
No one is permitted to violate these freedoms. 
 
Acts to force citizens to follow a religion or renounce 
their faith, the abuse of the right to freedom of belief and 
religion to undermine peace, independence and national 
unity; incite violence or to wage war; disseminate 
information against prevailing State law and policies; sow 
division among the people, ethnic groups and religions; 
cause public disorder; do harm to other people's lives, 
health, dignity, honor and property; hinder people from 
exercising their rights and public obligations; spread 
superstitious practices and commit acts to breach the law 
are not allowed. 
 
Chapter 2 
 
Religious Festivals 
 
Article 3.  Religious Festivals 
 
Religious festivals are a form of organized religious 
activity, showing respect, memory and appreciation for those 
who have rendered great services to the country and the 
community; activities to worship divinities and traditional 
symbols as well as other folklore belief activities that 
represent fine historical, cultural, moral and social 
values. 
 
Article 4.  Organization of festivals 
 
1. There must be consent by the People's Committees of 
provinces and centrally controlled cities (hereinafter 
called the provincial level People's Committees) for the 
organization of the following religious festivals in their 
localities: 
 
a) Religious festivals to be organized for the first time; 
 
b) Religious festivals to be resumed after many years of 
interruption; 
 
c) Religious festivals that are organized periodically but 
with the content, time or venue changed. 
 
2. For the organization of those religious festivals which 
are not regulated by Item 1 of this Article, the organizer 
shall have the responsibility to notify the People's 
Committees of communes, wards or towns (hereinafter called 
People's Committees at the commune level) in writing about 
the time, venue, content and the names of the festival 
organizing board members 15 days in advance.  In the event 
that natural disaster, epidemic, security issues, public 
disorder or that the organization of the festival might have 
a negative impact on the social life of the localities, the 
commune level People's Committees shall consider, make a 
decision and promptly notify the festival organizing board. 
 
Article 5. Process, procedures, deadline for consent 
1. For the organization of those religious festivals 
regulated under Item 1 of this article, the organizer shall 
have the responsibility to send in application forms to the 
provincial level People's Committees 30 days in advance 
 
2. The application packet includes: 
 
a) A proposal concerning the festival organization, which 
clearly states the festival's historical origin, size, time, 
venue, plan, program and content; 
 
b) The names of the festival's organizing board members. 
 
3. Within 10 days of the receipt of a complete application, 
the provincial level People's Committee shall have the 
responsibility to consider and make a decision; in case of 
disapproval, the response must be in writing with clearly 
stated reasons. 
 
Chapter 3 
 
Religious organizations 
 
Section 1 
 
Registering activities and recognition of religious 
organizations 
 
Article 6.  Registration of religious activities 
 
1. For religious activities, the organization shall have the 
responsibility to submit its application to the competent 
state agency as regulated under item 3 of this article. 
 
2. The application packet includes: 
 
a) A registration form stating clearly the organization's 
name, origin, development process in Vietnam, principles, 
goals, scope of activities, number of believers at the time 
of registration, possible venue for office and place of 
worship; 
 
b) A summary of religious tenets; 
 
c) A list of possible heads of the organization who must be 
Vietnamese citizens and who have sufficient capacity of 
civil status and prestige in the organization. 
 
3. Registration authority 
 
a) The Government Committee for Religious Affairs grants 
licenses for an organization to operate in multiple 
provinces and centrally run cities; 
 
b) Provincial level committees for religious affairs grant 
licenses for an organization operating in a single province 
and centrally run city. 
 
4. Deadline for response: 
 
a) Within 60 days of the receipt of a complete application, 
the Government Committee for Religious Affairs shall have 
the responsibility to grant a license for the organization; 
in case of refusal to grant the license, a response must be 
in writing with clearly stated reasons. 
 
b) Within 45 days of the receipt of a complete application, 
the provincial level committee for religious affairs shall 
have the responsibility to grant a license for the 
organization; in case of refusal to grant the license, a 
response must be in writing with clearly stated reasons. 
 
Article 7.  Religious operations of an organization after a 
license is granted 
 
1.  Organizations that have already registered their 
religious operation are entitled to: 
 
a) Organize religious services, conduct ceremonies, carry 
out missionary work and preach at registered religious 
establishments; 
 
b) Elect the organization's heads and open classes to 
refresh knowledge of religious tenets; 
 
c) Repair, renovate and upgrade facilities belonging to the 
belief and religious establishments; 
d) Conduct charitable and humanitarian activities 
2. While conducting religious activities regulated by Item 1 
of this article, the organization shall obey the regulations 
of this decree and other related legal documents. 
 
Article 8.  Recognition of religious organizations 
 
1. Registered organizations shall submit their applications 
to the competent state agency as regulated under Item 2, 
Article 16, of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion. 
 
2. The application packet includes: 
 
a) A proposal for the recognition of the religious 
organization which clearly states the organization's name, 
number of believers, scope of activities at the time of the 
proposal, main venue of the organization; 
 
b) The organization's tenets and canons; 
 
c) The organization's charter and regulations; 
 
d) The organization's registration for religious operation 
issued by the competent state agency; 
 
e) Certification of stable religious operation by the 
provincial level committee for religious affairs where the 
organization's main venue is located.  The time of stable 
religious operation is counted from the date of the 
organization's registration for operation, and is stipulated 
as follows: 
 
20 years for organizations present in Vietnam after the 
effective date of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion. 
 
One year for organizations present in Vietnam up to 20 years 
before the effective date of the Ordinance on Belief and 
Religion. 
 
For those organizations present in Vietnam for less than 20 
years by the effective date of the Ordinance on Belief and 
Religion, the stable time for religious operation includes 
the time from the organization's formation to the effective 
date of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion, as well as the 
time between the organization's registration and the 
achievement of 20 years of stable activity. 
 
3. Deadline for response 
 
a) Within 90 days of the receipt of the legitimate 
application papers, the Prime Minister shall consider for a 
decision to recognize the organization as stipulated under 
Point a, Item 2, Article 16, Ordinance on Belief and 
Religion; in case of refusal to recognize, the response must 
be in writing with clearly stated reasons. 
 
b) Within 60 days, from the receipt date of the legitimate 
application papers, the chairman of the provincial level 
people's committee shall consider a decision to recognize 
the organization as stipulated under Point b, Item 2, 
Article 16, Ordinance on Belief and Religion; in case of 
refusal to recognize, the response must be in writing with 
clearly stated reasons. 
 
Section 2 
 
Establishing, splitting and merging subordinate 
organizations 
 
Article 9.  Conditions for establishing, splitting and 
merging subordinate organizations 
 
1. The establishment of subordinate organizations must meet 
the following conditions: 
 
a) The organization to be established must be in the system 
of religious organizations accepted by the State; 
b) The number of believers in the locality meets the 
conditions stipulated under the religious organization's 
charter and regulations. 
 
2. Splitting subordinate organizations must meet the 
following conditions: 
 
a) There is the religious organization's request to split; 
b) The number of believers of the subordinate organizations 
is large and the area is a difficult one in which to manage 
and organize religious activities; 
 
c) After the organization is split, it still belongs to the 
organizational system as regulated in the charter and 
regulations accepted by the State. 
 
3. Merging subordinate organizations must meet the following 
conditions: 
 
a) There is the religious organization's request to merge; 
 
b) After the organization is merged, it still belongs to the 
organizational system as regulated in the charter and 
regulations accepted by the State. 
 
Article 10.  Process, procedures on establishing, splitting, 
merging subordinate organizations 
 
1. Request from the religious organization is needed for 
establishing, splitting or merging subordinate 
organizations. 
 
2. Request for establishing, splitting and merging 
subordinate organizations must state clearly the following 
contents: 
 
a) Name of the subordinate organization to be established; 
name of the subordinate organization before it is split or 
merged and possible name of the subordinate organization 
after it is split or merged; 
 
b) Reasons for establishing, splitting or merging: 
 
c) Number of current believers and number of believers 
before and after it is split or merged; 
 
d) Scope of religious activities; 
 
e) Facilities, the organization's headquarters 
 
3. Deadline for response. 
 
a) Within 60 days from the receipt of a complete and 
accurate application packet, the Prime Minister shall 
consider, decide and respond to the religious organization 
as stipulated by Item 3, Article 17, Ordinance on Belief and 
Religion; 
 
b) Within 45 days from the receipt date of a complete and 
accurate application packet, the provincial People's 
Committee shall consider, decide and respond to the 
religious organization as stipulated by Item 2, Article 17, 
Ordinance on Belief and Religion; 
 
Section 3 
 
Registration of religious congregations, orders, monasteries 
and similar forms of collective religious practice 
 
Article 11.  Registration of religious congregations 
 
1. Congregations established by religious organizations 
purely for the purpose of religious rites shall not have to 
register their activities with the competent State agency. 
 
2. Religious congregations that do not fall in the category 
specified in Item 1 of this Article shall have their 
activities registered with the competent State agency as 
stipulated by Item 2, Article 19 of the Ordinance on Belief 
and Religion. 
 
3. Application packet includes: 
 
a) Registration form that includes name of the religious 
organization to which the congregation belongs, name of the 
congregation and names of the individuals responsible for 
activities conducted by the congregation; 
 
b) List of persons involving in leading the congregation; 
 
c) Regulations on the activities of the congregation that 
provide specifications of goals, organizational structure 
and management system. 
 
4. Forty five days after turning in a complete and accurate 
application packet, and if the competent State agency does 
not have any other opinions, the congregations are allowed 
to operate according to the registered plan. 
 
Article 12.  Registration of religious orders, monasteries 
and other forms of collective religious practice 
 
1. The head of a religious order, monastery [or] another 
form of collective religious practice shall have the 
responsibility to send a packet to a competent state agency 
specified at Item 2 of Article 19 of the Ordinance on Belief 
and Religion. 
 
2. The packet includes: 
 
a) An application for registration that specifies the name 
of the religious order, monastery [or] the other form of 
collective religious practice, head office or work address, 
the name of the head of the religious order, monastery [or] 
the other form of collective religious practice; 
 
b) List of religious officials; 
 
c) Operation rules, regulations or charter, specific guiding 
principles, operation purposes, organization and management 
structure, material conditions, social activities, [and] 
international activities (if any) of the religious order, 
monastery [or] the other form of collective religious 
practice. 
 
3. Within 60 days from the date of receipt of a complete and 
accurate packet, the competent state agency specified in 
Item 2, Article 19 of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion 
shall have the responsibility to issue a registration 
certificate to the religious order, monastery [or] the other 
form of collective religious practice, [or] in case where it 
refuses [issuing a registration certificate], reply in 
writing specify reason(s) for such refusal. 
 
Section 4 
 
The establishment and dissolution of schools and the opening 
of classes to train religious officials 
 
Article 13.  Establishment of schools to train religious 
officials. 
 
1. Religious organizations wishing to establish schools to 
train religious officials shall forward the application 
packet to the Prime Minister. 
 
2. The packet includes: 
 
a) Application for the establishment of the school; 
 
b) Project for the establishment of the school, which 
provides the following clarifications: name of the religious 
group wishing to establish the school; tentative name of the 
school; tentative venue for the school as part of the to be 
attached file on property; financing guaranty; facilities; 
goals, functions, tasks, size, curriculum, draft operations 
regulations, draft enrollment regulations, number of 
potential students, potential leadership of the school 
(personal files should be attached), and potential 
lecturers. 
 
c) Comments in writing from the provincial People's 
Committee. 
 
3. The subjects of Vietnamese history and laws are among the 
major subjects in the curriculum.  The Ministry of Education 
and Training provides specific stipulations concerning 
teachers of those subjects and contents of the subjects. 
 
4. Within 60 days from the receipt of a complete and 
accurate packet, the Prime Minister considers, makes 
decisions and responds to the religious organization. 
 
Article 14.  Dissolving schools to train religious 
officials. 
 
1. Religious organizations wishing to dissolve their schools 
to train religious officials shall forward to the Prime 
Minister documents that provide clarification on the reasons 
for the dissolution and a plan to do so. 
 
2. Property and assets belonging to the school shall be 
dealt with according to current legal provisions. 
Article 15.  Opening of classes to train religious officials 
1. Religious organizations wishing to open classes to train 
religious officials shall forward application packets to the 
Chairman of the People's Committee of the province where the 
class is opened.  The packet shall include class name, 
venue, demand, length, contents, curriculum, potential 
attendees and teachers. 
 
2. Within 30 days from the receipt of a complete and 
accurate packet, the Chairman of the provincial People's 
Committee considers, makes decisions and responds to the 
religious organization. 
 
Section 5 
 
Bestowal of religious titles, appointment, election, 
nomination, and discharge of religious officials 
 
Article 16.  Registration on the bestowal of religious 
titles, appointment, election, and nomination of religious 
officials 
 
1. Religious organizations have the responsibility to 
register the bestowal of religious titles and the 
appointment, election and nomination of religious officials 
with the Government Committee for Religious Affairs. 
Registration include memberships to the Buddhist Sangha 
Council and Executive Council and the bestowal of titles of 
Most Venerable, Venerable, Superior Nun and Senior Nun; 
memberships to the Catholic Church's Episcopal Council 
Standing Board as well as Heads of Episcopal Council 
subordinate Committees, and the bestowal of the title of 
Cardinal and the appointment of archbishops, coadjutor 
archbishops, bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, 
administrators, heads of the Catholic orders; memberships to 
the central Management Board of the Protestant Church; 
memberships to the Cao Dai Holy See's Management Council, 
Church Council, and Executive Council, archbishops and the 
equivalent titles; memberships to the Hoa Hao Buddhism's 
Central Management Council; heads of schools to train 
religious officials; and those who hold equivalent positions 
of the other religious organizations. 
 
2. Religious organizations have the responsibility to 
register with the provincial People's Committee the bestowal 
of religious titles and the appointment, election, and 
nomination of religious officials that do not fall in 
category stipulated at item 1 of this Article. 
 
3. Application packet includes: 
 
a) Registration form that includes name, title, 
responsibility and domain of the religious officials. 
 
b) Curriculum vitas of the religious officials with 
certification of the People's Committee of the commune where 
the religious officials reside. 
 
c) Working background of the religious officials. 
 
4. In cases in which a foreign element is involved, the 
bestowal of religious titles and the appointment, election 
and nomination of religious officials must obtain agreement 
in advance from the Government Committee on Religion. 
 
5. Deadlines: 
 
a) After 45 days from turning in a complete and accurate 
application packet, and the Government Committee for 
Religious Affairs does not have any other opinions, the 
religious officials are allowed to conduct their activities 
under the registered titles. 
 
b) After 30 days from turning in a complete and accurate 
application packet, and the provincial People's Committee 
does not have any other opinions, the religious officials 
are allowed to conduct their activities under the registered 
titles. 
 
Article 17.  Notification on dismissal of religious 
officials. 
 
Religious organizations have the responsibility to notify 
the competent State management agency mentioned in Items 1 & 
2 of Article 16 of this Decree the dismissal of religious 
officials. 
Article 18.  Notification of the transfer of religious 
officials. 
 
1. The transfer of religious officials shall be reported to 
the People's Committee of the district/town/provincially run 
cities from which the religious officials are transferred at 
least seven days before a decision on the transfer is made. 
 
2. Such notification includes the names, titles, positions 
of the religious officials, reasons for the transfer and the 
locality to which the religious officials are transferred. 
 
Article 19.  Registering the transfer of religious 
officials. 
 
1. Religious organizations have the responsibility to 
register the transfer of religious officials with the 
People's Committee of the district/town/provincially run 
cities to which the religious officials are transferred. 
 
2. Registration packet includes: 
 
a) Registration form that contains information on names, 
titles, positions of the religious officials, reasons for 
the transfer and the locality to which the religious 
officials are transferred. 
 
b) Decision on the transfer. 
 
c) Curriculum vitaes of the religious officials with 
certification of the People's Committee of the commune where 
the religious officials reside. 
 
3. After 30 days from turning in a complete and accurate 
application packet, and the People's Committee at the 
district level does not have any other opinions, the 
religious officials are allowed to conduct their religious 
activities at the registered place. 
 
4. The registration packet concerning the transfer of 
religious officials who have been administratively punished 
by decisions of the Chairman of the provincial People's 
Committee, or those who have been dealt with for their 
violations to Criminal Law, shall have to address the 
Chairman of the People's Committee of the province to which 
the religious officials are transferred.  Pending approval 
from the People's Committee of the province to which the 
religious officials are transferred, the religious officials 
are not allowed to conduct their religious activities at the 
registered place. 
 
Chapter 5 
 
Religious Activities 
 
Article 20.  Registration of the annual plan of religious 
activities of the local religious organizations. 
 
1. Annually, before October 15, the person in charge of the 
local religious organization must forward a registration 
form concerning the religious activities to be conducted in 
the following year to the People's Committee at the commune 
level. 
 
2. The registration form includes information on the 
organizers, the hosts, timing and venues for the activities. 
 
3. After 30 days from turning in a complete and accurate 
registration form, and the People's Committee at the commune 
level does not have any other opinions, the local religious 
organization is allowed to conduct their registered 
activities. 
 
Article 21.  Religious activities beyond those mentioned in 
the annual plan of religious activities of the local 
religious organizations. 
 
1. Religious activities beyond those mentioned in Articles 
18 and 25 of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion shall have 
to follow the following stipulations: 
a) Religious activities with the participation of believers 
from several districts, precincts, towns and cities within 
one province, or from several provinces and centrally run 
cities, must be approved by the People's Committee of the 
province where the activity takes place. 
 
b) Religious activities with the participation of believers 
from one single district, precinct, town and city must be 
approved by the People's Committee of the district where the 
activity takes place. 
 
2. Local religious organizations have the responsibility to 
send an application packet that includes information on 
organizers, the hosts, timing and venues for the activities. 
 
3. Within 15 days from the receipt of a complete and 
accurate form, the competent State management agency 
stipulated in points a & b of Item 1 of this Article has the 
responsibility to respond in writing, and state the reasons 
for not approving (if any). 
 
Section 2 
 
Registration of persons who lead a religious life 
 
Article 22.  Registration of persons who want to lead a 
religious life 
 
1. Within seven days from the admission of individuals into 
places of religious worship in order for them to lead a 
religious life, persons in charge of the places of religious 
worship have the responsibility to register such admittance 
with the People's Committee of the commune where the place 
of religious worship is located. 
 
2. Registration packet includes: 
 
a) List of the persons who get admitted into places of 
religious worship in order for them to lead a religious 
life. 
 
b) Curriculum vitaes of the persons admitted into places of 
religious worship in order for them to lead a religious life 
with the certification of the People's Committee of the 
commune where the place of religious worship is located. 
 
c) Approval from parents or guardians for adolescents who 
want to lead a religious life. 
 
Section 3 
 
Conferences and Congresses of Religious Organizations 
 
Article 23.  Conferences or congresses of local religious 
organizations. 
 
1. Local religious organizations wishing to convene their 
annual conferences or congresses shall forward an 
application packet to the People's Committee of the district 
where the conferences/congresses take place. 
 
2. The application packet includes: 
 
a) Application form which provide clarifications on reasons 
to conduct the conferences/congresses, possible attendees, 
number of participants, program, timing and venue. 
 
b) Report on the activities of the local religious 
organization. 
 
3. Within 10 days from the receipt of a complete and 
accurate application form, the People's Committee at the 
district level has the responsibility to respond in writing 
and state the reasons for not approving (if any). 
 
Article 24.  Conferences and congresses of religious 
organizations at the national level 
1. Religious organizations wishing to convene conferences 
and congresses at the national level shall send the 
application packet to the Government Committee for Religious 
Affairs. 
 
2. The application packet includes: 
 
a) Application form which provide clarifications on reasons 
to conduct the conferences/congresses, possible attendees, 
number of participants, program, timing and venue. 
 
b) Comments in writing of the People's Committee of the 
province where the event takes place. 
 
c) Report on the activities of the local religious 
organization. 
d) Chapters or Regulations or revised Chapters or 
Regulations (if any.) 
 
3. Within 30 days from the receipt of a complete and 
accurate form, the Government Committee for Religious 
Affairs has the responsibility to respond in writing, and 
state the reasons for not approving (if any). 
 
Article 25.  Conferences and congresses of religious 
organizations not included in Articles 24 & 25 of this 
Decree 
 
1. Application packets concerning conferences and congresses 
of religious organizations not included in Articles 24 & 25 
of this Decree shall be forwarded to the People's Committee 
of the province where the event takes place. 
 
2. The application packet includes: 
 
a) Application form that provide clarifications on reasons 
to conduct the conferences/congresses, possible attendees, 
number of participants, program, timing and venue, and 
others. 
 
b) Report on activities of the local religious organization. 
 
3. Within 30 days from the receipt of a complete and 
accurate form, the provincial People's Committee has the 
responsibility to respond in writing, and state the reasons 
for not approving (if any). 
 
Section 4 
 
Religious ritual festivities taking place beyond the 
enclosure of a religious establishment 
 
Article 26.  Religious ritual festivities taking place 
beyond the enclosure of a religious establishment 
 
1. A religious organization that organizes religious ritual 
festivities beyond the enclosure of the religious 
establishment shall have the responsibility to send a 
written request to the competent state agency specified at 
Article 25 of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion. 
 
2. The written request shall specify the title(s) of the 
religious ritual festivity(ies), the organizer(s), contents, 
program, time, location, scale, [and] participants of the of 
the religious ritual festivity(ies). 
 
3. Within 15 days from the date of receipt of a complete and 
accurate application packet, the People's Committee of the 
district shall have the responsibility to reply in writing 
[the application packet for] the religious ritual 
festivity(ies) specified in Item 1 of Article 25 of the 
Ordinance on Belief and Religion, [and] in case where it 
rejects [the application] specify reason(s) for such 
rejection. 
 
4. Within 30 days from the date of receipt of a complete and 
accurate application packet, the People's Committee of the 
province shall have the responsibility to reply in writing 
[the application packet for] the religious ritual 
festivity(ies) specified at Item 2, Article 25 of the 
Ordinance on Belief and Religion, [and] in case where it 
rejects [the application] specify reason(s) for such 
rejection. 
 
Section 5 
 
Preaching of a religious official beyond the enclosure of a 
religious establishment 
 
Article 27.  Preaching of religious official beyond the 
enclosure of a religious establishment 
 
1. A religious official that preaches beyond the enclosure 
of a religious establishment shall have the responsibility 
to send a packet to the People's Committee of the district 
where the preaching shall be conducted. 
2. The packet shall include: 
 
a) A written request that specifies the reason(s) for 
preaching beyond the enclosure of the religious 
establishment, contents, program, time, location, 
organizer(s), [and] participants [at the preaching]; 
b) A written expression of opinion of the affiliated 
religious organization or the religious organization that is 
directly in charge of the religious official; 
 
3. Within 30 days from the date of receipt of a complete and 
accurate application packet, the People's Committee of the 
district shall have the responsibility to reply in writing, 
[and] in case where it rejects [the application] specify 
reason(s) for such rejection. 
 
Section 6 
 
Renovation, upgrades, [and] new construction of religious 
facilities 
 
Article 28.  Renovation, [and] upgrades of religious 
facilities not requiring construction permits 
When the repair [and/or] renovation of a religious facility 
does not alter the architecture, load-bearing structure and 
safety of the facility, it is not required to apply for a 
construction permit, but before doing such repair [and/or] 
renovation, the person in charge of that religious 
establishment must send a written notification to the 
People's Committee of the local commune. 
 
Article 29.  Renovation, [and] upgrades of religious 
facilities requiring construction permits 
 
1. For doing the repair [and/or] renovation of a religious 
facility that does not fall within Article 28 of this 
Decree, or constructing a new religious facility, the person 
in charge of that religious establishment shall have to send 
a construction-permit-application packet to the People's 
Committee of the province. 
 
2. The packet shall include: 
 
a) An application letter for a construction permit; 
 
b) A drawing of the construction design; 
 
c) Documents on land-use rights as required by the 
legislation on land use; 
 
d) Approval in writing of the provincial-level state 
management authority for religious affairs. 
 
3. Within 20 days from the date of receipt of a complete and 
accurate application packet, the People's Committee of the 
province shall have the responsibility to issue the 
construction permit to the religious establishment. 
 
Section 7 
 
Collections organized by [those that run] worship places 
[and/or] religious organizations 
 
Article 30.  Collections organized by [those that run] 
worship places [and/or] religious organizations 
 
1. [Those that run] worship place(s) [and/or] religious 
organization(s) shall have the responsibility to send a 
written notification of their [planned] organization of a 
collection to a competent state agency specified in Item 3 
of this Article 15 days in advance. 
 
2. The written notification shall specify the purpose(s), 
scale, mode [and] time of the collection, [and] the 
mechanism for managing and ways for using the collected 
assets. 
3. State agencies to receive notifications of collections of 
[those that run] worship place(s) [and/or] religious 
organization(s): 
 
a) If a collection is to be organized within the area of a 
commune, the notification shall be sent to the People's 
Committee of the commune where the collection shall be 
organized; 
 
b) If a collection is to be organized beyond the area of a 
commune but within the area of a district, the notification 
shall be sent to the People's Committee of the district 
where the collection shall be organized; 
 
c) If a collection is to be organized beyond the area of a 
district, the notification shall be sent to the People's 
Committee of the province where the collection shall be 
organized. 
4. State agencies that are notified by [those that run] 
worship place(s) [and/or] religious organization(s) of their 
organization of collection shall have the responsibility to 
supervise the implementation in accordance with the notified 
contents. 
 
5. [Those that run] worship place(s) [and/or] religious 
organization(s) that organize a collection must ensure the 
publicity and transparency of the collected amounts, 
including their distribution, [and] must not abuse the name 
of the worship place(s) [and/or] religious organization(s) 
to make collection for their personal interests or illegal 
purposes. 
 
Section 8 
 
International activities of religious organizations, 
believers and religious officials 
 
Article 31.  Inviting foreign organization(s) [and/or] 
individuals to Vietnam 
 
1. A religious organization, believer, or religious official 
that invites foreign organization(s) [and/or] individuals to 
Vietnam for carrying out religion-related international 
cooperation activities shall have the responsibility to send 
an application packet to the Government Committee for 
Religious Affairs. 
 
2. The packet shall include: 
 
a) A written request that specifies the reason(s) for the 
invitation, contents of cooperation activities, tentative 
program, time and location for organizing [the activities]; 
 
b) A brief introduction of major activities of the foreign 
organization(s) [and/or] individuals. 
 
3. Within 30 days from the date of receipt of a complete and 
accurate packet, the Government Committee for Religious 
Affairs shall have the responsibility to reply in writing, 
[and] in case where it rejects [the packet], specify 
reason(s) for such rejection. 
 
Article 32.  Participation in religious activities in 
foreign countries 
 
1. A religious organization that participates in religious 
activities in a foreign country shall have the 
responsibility to send an application packet to the 
Government Committee for Religious Affairs. 
 
2. The packet shall include: 
 
a) A written request that specifies the reason(s), 
purpose(s), program, time, [and] location of the religious 
activities to take place in the foreign country that the 
Vietnamese religious organization [and/or] individual(s) are 
invited to participate; 
 
b) An invitation to participate in the activities in the 
foreign country. 
 
3. Within 30 days from the date of receipt of a complete and 
accurate packet, the Government Committee for Religious 
Affairs shall have the responsibility to reply in writing, 
[and] in case where it rejects [the packet], specify 
reason(s) for such rejection. 
Article 33.  Participation in religious training courses in 
foreign countries 
 
1. A religious official that participates in a religious 
training course in a foreign country shall have the 
responsibility to send an application packet to the 
Government Committee for Religious Affairs. 
2. The packet shall include: 
a) A written request for participating in the training 
course, specifying the reason(s), purpose(s), contents, 
program [and] time of the training; 
 
b) A letter of acceptance for training by the foreign 
religious organization [or] individual [that conducts the 
training]; 
 
c) A letter of approval by the religious organization that 
is directly in charge [of the religious official]. 
 
3. Within 45 days from the date of receipt of a complete and 
accurate packet, the Government Committee for Religious 
Affairs shall have the responsibility to reply in writing, 
[and] in case where it rejects [the packet], specify 
reason(s) for such rejection. 
 
Article 34.  Exit [from Vietnam] of religious officials who 
do not fall within the cases provided in Article 32 and 
Article 33 of this Decree 
 
Religious officials who exit [from Vietnam] in cases that 
are not provide for in Article 32 and Article 33 of this 
Decree shall follow the legislation on entry-exit 
procedures. 
 
Article 35.  Preaching of foreign religious officials in 
Vietnam 
 
1. A religious organization that invites a foreign religious 
official to preach at a religious establishment in Vietnam 
shall have the responsibility to send a written request to 
the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, specifying 
the name of the foreign religious official, nationality, 
name of the foreign religious organization, program, time, 
location, organizer(s), [and] participants [in the 
preaching]. 
 
2. Within 30 days from the date of receipt of the written 
request, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs 
shall have the responsibility to reply in writing, [and] in 
case where it rejects [the application packet], specify 
reason(s) for such rejection. 
 
Chapter V 
 
Implementation Provisions 
 
Article 36.  Responsibility of state management agencies for 
religious affairs 
 
1. The Government Committee for Religious Affairs and local 
state management agencies for religious affairs shall 
exercise their functions, duties, [and] authority of state 
management for religious affairs as provided by the law. 
 
2. In the implementation of the Ordinance on Belief and 
Religion and this Decree, the Government Committee for 
Religious Affairs shall have the responsibility to receive 
application packets, take the lead and coordinate with 
relevant Ministries and agencies in appraising [the 
applications], submit [the applications] to the Prime 
Minister and with authority delegated by the Prime Minister 
give replies to religious organizations.  For cases that 
fall within the authority of People's Committees, state 
management agencies for religious affairs at the 
corresponding levels shall have the responsibility to 
receive application packets, coordinate with relevant 
agencies in appraising [the application packets], submit 
[the application packets] to the People's Committees and 
give replies to religious organizations. 
 
Article 37.  Implementation effect 
 
This Decree takes effect 15 days from the date of its 
publication on the Official Gazette. 
Previous regulations that are contrary to this Decree are 
hereby repealed. 
 
Article 38.  Responsibility for implementation 
 
1. Religious organizations, believers, officials and 
relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for 
the implementation of this Decree and other relevant legal 
regulations. 
2. Ministers, Heads of Ministry-level Agencies, Heads of 
Agencies under the Government, Chairmen of People's 
Committees of provinces and central-level cities are 
responsible for the implementation of this Decree within 
their respective functions, duties, [and] authority. 
 
FOR THE GOVERNMENT 
THE PRIME MINISTER 
(Signed & stamped) 
Phan Van Khai 
//End text// 
MARINE