Chương I Luật tín ngưỡng, tôn giáo 2016: Những quy định chung

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope and regulated entities

1. The Law provides for the right to freedom of religion or belief; religious activities, practices of folk beliefs; religious organizations; rights and obligations of the agencies, organizations and individuals concerning religious activities and practices of folk beliefs.

2. This Law applies to the agencies, organizations and individuals that maintain and exercise the right to freedom of religion and belief.

Article 2. Terminology

In this Law, the following words and expressions shall bear the following meanings:

1. Folk belief represents the human’s faith manifested through rituals in connection with traditional custom to bring about individual and communal spiritual peace.

2. Practice of folk beliefs means the activities of worshiping ancestors and sacred symbols, of commemorating and honoring people with meritorious contributions to the country or a community; and folk rituals typical of historical, cultural, ethical and social values.

3. Folk belief festival is a congregational practice of belief(s) that proceeds with traditional rites to gratify a community’s spiritual aspirations.

4. Folk religious establishment is a place where a community practices folk beliefs, such as communal house, temple, shrine, ancestral house and similar establishments.

5. Religion represents the human's faith whose existence is accompanied by a system of notions and activities encompassing the objects of worship, tenets, religious law, rites and organization.

6. Follower means an adherent who professes a religion and is admitted by such religion.

7. Monastic is a renunciate who regularly exercises an exclusive way of life in adherence to a religious organization's tenets, religious law and rules.

8. Dignitary is a follower who is ordained by a religious organization or is selected to hold a hierarchical rank in such organization.

9. Sub-dignitary is appointed, elected or selected by a religious organization, a religious affiliate or an organization with certified registration of religious activities to operate religiously to hold a position in such organization.

10. Religious practice means the manifestation of a religious faith, the exercise of religious tenets and law, and the performance of religious rites.

11. Religious activities comprise the missionary work, the practice of religion and the management of the organization of a religion.

12. Religious organization is a multitude of followers, dignitaries, sub-dignitaries and monastics organized under a certain structure that the government acknowledges to carry out religious activities.

13. Religious affiliate is an institute that belongs directly to a religious organization and is established under the charter and regulations of such religious organization.

14. Religious establishment refers to a pagoda, church, chapel, holy temple, cathedral, office or legitimate facility of a religious organization.

15. Legitimate location means a land lot, residential house or building that an organization or individual has the lawful right to use pursuant to the law.

16. Representative is a person who represents and assumes liability to the law for the practice of folk beliefs, congregational practice of religion and religious activities of a congregation or organization for which that person acts.

Article 3. Responsibilities of the government for maintaining the right to freedom of religion and belief

1. The government respects and protects the right to freedom of religion and belief of every person and maintain the equality of religions before the law. 

2. The government upholds and defends the virtuous and cultural values of folk beliefs, religions, worshiping of ancestors and honoring of individuals with meritorious contributions to the country or the public to gratify the people’s spiritual pursuits.

3. The government protects folk religious and religious establishments and their legitimate assets.

Article 4. Responsibilities of Vietnam Fatherland Front

1. Assemble practicing and non-practicing compatriots as a congregation of great national unity to develop and defend the country.

2. Present promptly the people’s opinions, desires and recommendations on religion and folk belief to competent government authorities.

3. Participate in drafting legislative documents on folk belief and religion; provide social counsels against the government’s drafts of legislative documents, plans, programs and economic - social development projects that concern folk belief and religion as per the law.

4. Participate in propagandizing and exhorting dignitaries, sub-dignitaries, monastics, followers and practitioners of religions and folk beliefs, religious organization and the people to abide by the legislation on folk belief and religion.

5. Supervise the activities of bodies, organizations, elected representatives, state officials and state employees in relation to the implementation of policies and legal regulations on folk belief and religion.

Article 5. Prohibitions

1. Discriminate or differentiate on the pretext of religion or folk belief.

2. Coerce, entice or obstruct people to or not to practice a religion or folk belief.

3. Insult a religion or folk belief.

4. Practices of folk beliefs or religious activities:

a) That encroach on national security, national defense, national sovereignty, social order and safety, environment;

b) That violate social ethics or people's body, health, life, assets or dignity;

c) That obstruct the exercise of a citizen’s rights and obligations;

d) That sow divisions among the people or religions; between practicing and non-practicing people; and among the followers of different folk beliefs or religions.

5. Abuse the practice of folk beliefs or religious activities for profiteering.