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Vietnam has historically been a hotbed of struggle. The communists had a foothold in North Vietnam and took over all of Vietnam in 1975.

Religion: Buddhist 54.14%, non-Religious 21.80%, Christian 8.16%, Traditional ethnic 8.10%, Cao Dai/Hoa Hoa 5.60%, Chinese 1.10%, Muslim 0.70%, and Baha’i 0.40%. Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom are meaningless, as government policy controls all religious movements, including Buddhism.

Ideological Influence: Communism

Head of State: President Tran Duc Luong

Persecution: Believers are harassed, beaten and imprisoned for illegally preaching or organizing evangelistic activities. Persecution is especially harsh for unregistered and ethnic minority churches. Seeing the role of Christianity in the demise of communism elsewhere, the regime has attempted to either control or wipe out believers. Government efforts have intensified as churches respond to persecution with growth and outreach. Believers see church registration as compromise. Failing to register churches is seen as illegal in the eyes of the government, forcing the church underground. In May 2005, the Vietnamese government promised the U.S. it would begin to allow greater religious freedom. But little has changed since the agreement. Only a handful of Christians have been released from prison, and many have been forced to renounce their faith.

Missionary Opportunity: Instead of being weakened by persecution, the faith of Vietnamese Christians is growing, and the Body of Christ is becoming stronger. A large-scale and sustained turning to Christ is taking place in both the registered and unregistered (underground) church, especially among the mountain tribes of Central and Southern Vietnam. Bible translation is an ongoing task, especially for the ethnic minorities. Christian literature is in great demand but is strictly monitored.

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Assist News Service- Jeremy Reynalds Vietnam -- A Montagnard man has reportedly died in a Vietnamese prison following severe torture. The Montagnards are the indigenous people of Vietnam's Central Highlands. According to a news release from the Montagnard Foundation, Thup died in Trai Ba Sao prison in Ha Nam. Thup was arrested on March 24, 2004, the Montagnard Foundation stated, and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on Feb. 24, 2005 for what Vietnamese authorities reportedly called "public order offences." Unnamed Vietnamese officials, the Montagnard Foundation stated, told Thup’s family he died from abuse on Aug. 30, 2006. According to the Montagnard Foundation, "It was well known (Thup) was severely tortured in prison. His wife and relatives asked officials if they collect his body for burial but were refused this request. On Sept. 1, 2006 his village however, buried his clothes instead and mourned for him according to our customs." The Montagnard Foundation’s Kok Ksor said in the news release, "We as the Degar Montatgnard people would like to appeal to all governments especially the United States who are now dealing with Vietnam in trade and business to please do what they can to prevent our people from dying in prison." Unexpected Amnesty for Prisoners In a related story, the BBC reported that an unexpected amnesty for prisoners has been announced by Vietnam's government. The amnesty will take place just days before crucial votes on trade are held in the U.S. Congress, and ahead of a visit by President Bush to Hanoi. The communist authorities have been under pressure from human rights activists to release all political prisoners before the United States normalizes trade relations. But being released from prison does not necessarily mean freedom for critics of the government, the BBC reported.