A delegation from Vietnam's Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, led by Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang, visited the United States from October 13 to 19, 2026, holding meetings with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), Samaritan's Purse, the US Department of State and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), as well as other relevant American organizations and individuals.

The delegation also included representatives of the Department of Internal Security under Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security and three pastors representing three Protestant churches in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese delegation was welcomed by Reverend Franklin Graham, president of BGEA, along with leaders and staff of the association and Samaritan's Purse.

Graham hosted the delegation in a warm and friendly atmosphere at the Samaritan's Purse headquarters in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The facility also serves as a logistics and emergency relief center and was involved in humanitarian assistance to Vietnam following the devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi in 2024.

Both sides shared their perspectives on promoting religious freedom within their respective roles and responsibilities. They agreed to maintain regular exchanges and strengthen cooperation based on friendship, mutual respect and understanding, with the aim of promoting the positive contributions of religion to society and fostering closer ties between Vietnam and the United States.

On behalf of the delegation, Minister Khang expressed appreciation for Graham's goodwill and the practical assistance that organizations under his leadership have provided to Vietnam. He also thanked Graham and BGEA for their warm, respectful and thoughtful hospitality throughout the visit.

The minister invited Graham to visit the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and join him for a Vietnamese meal during his next trip to the country. Graham and BGEA are expected to return to Vietnam in March 2027 at the invitation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) for the "Hanoi Season of Love" evangelistic program.

Earlier, Minister Khang and his delegation visited the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they met with BGEA representatives.

In Washington, DC, the minister and his delegation held meetings with the US Department of State, USCIRF and the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE). Vietnam's Ambassador to the United States Nguyen Quoc Dung also attended the meetings.

At the State Department, Assistant Secretary of State Michael George DeSombre and his colleagues received the Vietnamese delegation, listened to its views and exchanged information on Vietnam's religious freedom policies.

At USCIRF headquarters, the minister, ambassador and delegation held discussions with a large group of commission leaders and members. The meeting was chaired by Executive Director Erin Singshinsuk, with USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood, Vice Chair CeCe Heil and Commissioner Rachel Lase participating online.

The discussions were conducted in a frank and constructive atmosphere, emphasizing openness, mutual respect, active engagement and the importance of building trust.

During both meetings, Minister Khang reaffirmed what he described as the consistent policy of Vietnam's Party and State to respect and protect freedom of belief and religion.

He also provided updates on the implementation of religious policies and legislation, highlighting efforts to improve the legal framework, accelerate digital transformation and reform administrative procedures to better serve the legitimate religious needs of organizations and individuals.

According to the minister, Vietnam has streamlined administrative procedures and reduced the total processing time for administrative matters by 50.3%. Government agencies have also assumed responsibility for retrieving information from national databases, reducing paperwork and administrative requirements for religious organizations and individuals.

He said the reforms were intended to make administrative procedures and decision-making processes more transparent, including by ensuring the rights of religious organizations and individuals to seek explanations, lodge complaints and challenge administrative decisions through legal proceedings.

Against this backdrop, Minister Khang called on the US Department of State to remove Vietnam from its Special Watch List (SWL) concerning religious freedom. He also urged USCIRF to conduct an objective and comprehensive assessment of religious freedom in Vietnam.

The minister proposed more frequent dialogue to strengthen mutual understanding and ensure that people in both countries benefit from the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

He also expressed Vietnam's willingness to welcome relevant US agencies, organizations and individuals interested in visiting the country to learn firsthand about religious freedom and its implementation.

According to the Vietnamese delegation, the State Department and USCIRF acknowledged Vietnam's achievements and ongoing changes and expressed their commitment to expanding dialogue and gaining a better understanding of how religious policies and laws are implemented in practice.

During the meetings, Minister Khang presented the State Department and USCIRF with an unofficial English translation of Vietnam's 2026 Law on Belief and Religion, which is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

At a separate meeting with the Institute for Global Engagement, both sides reviewed the organization's 25-year history of activities in Vietnam. They also exchanged ideas on religious freedom policy training and projects examining the role of religion in social life.

Beyond the official meetings, the delegation visited the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, where it donated six editions of the Bible in Dao, Muong, Ede, Gia Rai and Co Ho, as well as a bilingual Vietnamese-English edition.

The delegation also visited an Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to learn about the community's religious beliefs and cultural identity.

In Texas, Minister Khang and his delegation met Bill Holmes, founder and operator of Vietnamese Bible Inc., an organization involved in Bible printing.

They also visited the Texas State Capitol to learn about the state's history of independence and its legislative and judicial systems. A meeting with the mayor of Midland provided an opportunity to discuss religious life among different segments of American society.

The visit marked the first series of meetings between Vietnam's Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and US agencies and organizations concerned with religion's role in society since the ministry was established in March 2025.

It was also Nguyen Dinh Khang's first official working visit to the United States as minister.

The trip underscored Vietnam's stated commitment to cooperation and dialogue with relevant American institutions and organizations on religious freedom, while seeking to strengthen trust and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Trong Tu