Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said in Vietnam, no one is discriminated against on the basis of religion or belief, and the activities of religious organisations are ensured in accordance with the law, she affirmed.
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam rejects unobjective and inaccurate assessments of its actual situation contained in the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)’s Vietnam update report issued on December 9, stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on December 19.
Hang made the statement while responding to reporters’ questions regarding the USCIRF’s Country Update: Vietnam.
She stressed that Vietnam’s consistent policy is to respect and guarantee the right to freedom of belief and religion.
In Vietnam, no one is discriminated against on the basis of religion or belief, and the activities of religious organisations are ensured in accordance with the law, she affirmed. This is enshrined in the 2013 Constitution and legal system of Vietnam, and is respected in practice, the spokesperson emphasised.
She added that Vietnam’s policies, efforts and achievements in ensuring human rights, including freedom of belief and religion, have been recognised and highly appreciated by many countries.
“We have been working and will continue to discuss with the US on issues of mutual concern in a frank, open and mutually respectful spirit, contributing to the promotion of the Vietnam–US comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development,” Hang stated./.
Vietnam’s development trajectory shows that human rights extend beyond slogans to concrete improvements in living standards, development opportunities, and the commitment to leaving no one behind.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) held a conference in Hanoi on December 18 to review human rights affairs in 2025 and outline priorities for 2026, reaffirming Vietnam’s strong political commitment to promoting and protecting human rights in line with the Constitution, domestic laws and international obligations.
Based on assigned tasks and functions, ministries, agencies and local authorities are required to develop their own implementation plans for the Decision, which should be sent to the Ministry of Justice by March 1, 2026, for coordination and monitoring.
Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu expressed his belief that relevant agencies will continue to make efforts to basically complete organisation- and service-related preparations by December 31, ensuring readiness for the final rehearsals ahead of the opening of the 14th National Party Congress.
Vietnam has consistently upheld a people-centered approach, considering the protection of migrants’ security, safety, and lawful rights and interests as a top priority in policy formulation and implementation.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that to make a substantive contribution to national development, the industry and trade sector must also achieve double-digit growth, generate new jobs, strengthen traditional growth drivers such as export and consumption, and accelerate emerging engines of growth, including the green, digital, circular, knowledge-based and sharing economies.
Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Vice Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Lieutenant General Do Van Banh, Political Commissar of the National Defence Academy were promoted to the rank of Senior Lieutenant General at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 19.
The strong political relationship provides a solid foundation for Vietnam and Indonesia to further expand cooperation in the economy, culture and tourism.
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
The General Secretary urged the sector to focus on providing strategic advice to ensure that the Party maintains political direction, upholds the goal of national independence linked with socialism, and safeguards the Party’s ideological foundation and the country’s future—viewing this as a vital, ongoing, and long-term task.
They highly valued the effective and substantive cooperation results achieved by the Supreme People’s Procuracies of Vietnam and Laos in recent years, and called on both sides to continue enhancing coordination, stepping up exchanges of delegations at all levels, sharing professional and technical experience, and maintaining and expanding training and capacity-building programmes for officials.
Following the three nationwide simultaneous ground-breaking and inauguration ceremonies in 2025, the country has 564 projects and works with an accumulative investment of 5.14 quadrillion VND, of which private capital accounts for the majority, with over 3.8 quadrillion VND (74.6%), while state capital stands at 1.3 quadrillion VND (25.4%).
The hybrid event connected with municipal and provincial Party committees, along with communes, wards, and special zones nationwide, with Party General Secretary To Lam in attendance and delivering a keynote address.
The Ministry of Construction has reported that among these, there are 148 projects starting construction and 86 projects being inaugurated and technically cleared, including 38 projects from ministries and agencies, 39 from corporations and state-owned enterprises, and 157 managed by local administrations.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
Six journalists and groups of authors from the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) won the awards, including a top prize.
The NA leader expressed his confidence that in 2026, journalists will continue to uphold their responsibility, report objectively and from multiple perspectives, accompany the NA in conveying its activities promptly and comprehensively, and identify shortcomings in law-making and legal enforcement to help people-elected agencies operate more effectively and efficiently.
Receiving Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides further strengthen economic connectivity, coordinate closely and share development experience for the tangible benefit of the two peoples.
The top legislator requested that the two sides continue to work closely together to effectively implement the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement, the intergovernmental cooperation agreement, and bilateral cooperation programmes, thereby contributing to preserving and developing the bilateral special traditional friendship.
President Cuong praised the Presidential Office for its great efforts in the past year in overcoming difficulties and working closely with relevant agencies to manage a heavy workload of routine and urgent tasks, supporting the State President and Vice President in effectively performing their responsibilities.
During the consultation, in a spirit of special trust, the two officials reviewed recent cooperation between the two Parties, countries and foreign ministries. They also discussed future cooperation orientations and held in-depth exchanges on regional and international issues of common concern.
On global and regional issues of shared concern, the two leaders voiced concern over escalating tensions between Cambodia and Thailand. They called on Cambodia and Thailand to exercise restraint, refrain from the use of force, conduct dialogue and settle disputes through peaceful means.
The introduction of special mechanisms for technology transfer in key railway projects, the opening of the Vietnam International Gifts and Housewares Expo 2025, and VinSpeed’s deal on high-speed rail development with Siemens Mobility GmbH are among news highlights on December 18.
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