On December 2, a policy consultation conference on the amendment of the Law on Belief and Religion was held in Ho Chi Minh City. The event was organized by the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and chaired by Vu Hoai Bac, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

Attendees included leaders from ethnic and religious departments, internal affairs departments, and specialized agencies from Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Ca Mau, and An Giang.

The pressure of digital transformation

According to an introductory statement from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, the conference focused on key policy areas: religious activities in cyberspace; decentralization to ensure freedom of belief and religion; state management measures in religious affairs; and administrative reform including digital transformation in the religious sector.

Delegates openly acknowledged that while the current law has created an important legal framework, real-world developments - especially in major cities and online - have presented many situations that the law has not kept up with.

Thai Tran Quoc Bao, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City, shared concerns about the gap between current decentralization regulations and the practical challenges in large urban areas with unique characteristics.

He emphasized that the current law manages based on administrative geography, yet religious activities often far exceed those boundaries.

“There are some belief establishments located within a single commune, but their festivals attract international attention and pilgrims from all over. Assigning commune-level management is overwhelming, but moving it up to the city level faces unclear mechanisms,” Bao said.

Additionally, digital transformation in the religious sector faces technical hurdles. According to representatives from Ho Chi Minh City, online public services require accuracy from the outset, whereas religious affairs often rely on persuasion and consensus.

Ho Chi Minh City is also dealing with complexities in industrial zones where foreign investors set up altars and religious statues inside factories. The boundary between spiritual needs and construction or land-use regulations is increasingly blurred, necessitating tighter inter-agency coordination.

Real-time supervision in cyberspace

The digital environment was acknowledged as a hotspot of emerging issues.

Truong Thi Phuong Thao, Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Tay Ninh Province, cited cases of individuals without clergy status or proper training livestreaming sermons and even organizing large gatherings, spreading misleading information.

“When violations occur, who has the authority to immediately 'cut the signal'? Administrative fines of a few million dong (about 200 USD) aren’t enough deterrent, while the criminal procedure process takes too long,” she expressed, calling for stronger cross-sector coordination.

Echoing this, a representative from Dong Thap likened online state governance to a “race of speed.” He criticized the draft law’s provision of a 24-hour window to rectify violations, arguing that misinformation spreads in seconds. He proposed a real-time monitoring force.

On legislative technique, Nguyen Thanh Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs in Quang Ngai, raised concerns about vague terms in the draft, such as requiring online content to be “clearly identifiable.” He warned that such language is too abstract.

The burden of overstretched personnel

Beyond cyberspace, real-life stories from grassroots management were also examined, especially regarding personnel and property issues.

A leader from the Department of Home Affairs in Quang Ngai pointed out structural flaws using the example of Con Dao, where one official handled seven areas.

Dung noted: “A medical doctor was assigned to handle culture and social affairs, including ethnic and religious matters. Having someone untrained in these specialized areas is highly problematic.”

Sharing the same concern, Mai Quang Vinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Da Nang, admitted that grassroots officials are reluctant to take on religious duties due to high pressure and low incentives.

Another hot issue is religious practice among industrial workers and the ambiguity around religious property.

Officials from Quang Ngai highlighted a real-life problem: Evangelical workers in industrial zones work in shifts and can’t gather at centralized places of worship.

Nguyen Thanh Dung proposed that commune-level authorities be given the power to approve temporary group worship registrations at rented accommodations, allowing better transparency and oversight.

Meanwhile, Dong Thap officials flagged a “gap” in asset management.

In some cases, monetary offerings from followers have been used by religious leaders to purchase land or vehicles under their personal names. If these individuals leave or are disciplined, they may take those assets with them, turning communal property into private assets.

Dong Thap proposed that the revised law must clearly define and safeguard collective religious assets.

Vu Hoai Bac, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, concluded that these insights provide invaluable real-world input.

The Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs will carefully study the feedback to refine the policy framework, ensuring the amended law is not only legally sound but also effectively addresses current bottlenecks in religious life and governance.

Nguyen Hue - Quoc Ngoc