Freedom of Religion and Religious Beliefs through the Constitutions of Vietnam – Continuation and Development

Abstract

Since the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (on September 9, 1945) , up to now, under the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, four Constitutions had been issued one after another. The Constitutions of 1946, of 1959, of 1980 and of 1992. With these four constitutions, the freedom of religion and religious beliefs has been continually recognized, and enriched on the system of citizenship, human rights of the Vietnamese citizen under the leadership of The Communist Party of Vietnam. One may say that freedom of religion and religious beliefs of the citizen as mentioned in the constitutions has been constantly enlarged and deepened over time in its content. After analyzing the development of these rights through each constitution, the author refers to the Ordinance in domains of Belief-Religion newly proclaimed on July 6, 2004. The Ordinance in domains of Belief-Religion is an important step forward to concretize the freedom of religious beliefs and religions answering the aspirations of compatriots with their religious beliefs in Vietnam, asserting that the State of Vietnam since its foundation up to the present time has always respected and ensured the freedom of religious beliefs and religions of its citizens. Full text in Vietnamese Religious Studies 2005/2 pp.1-6