Vietnam does not bring happy memories to Americans. There a long, interminable war was the first loss for America on the global stage. A period of collectivization of the former South Vietnam begun in 1978 resulted in hundreds of thousands of “boat people” fleeing the country by sea, with an unknown number perishing on the seas. As has happened with other communist regimes, economic liberalization, or “Doi Moi” begun in the late 1980s stabilized the economy. The current new party leader, To Lam, seems intent on substantial administrative reforms in his country.
But as with all communist dictatorships, there cannot be real religious freedom, as the state’s ideology is hostile to religion. The 2024 country report from Open Doors International discloses that religious persecution in Vietnam arises from several sources, in particular from attempts to enforce communist ideology, and from clan oppression (expulsion of Christian converts from rural communities where folk/animist beliefs are strong).
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