Notable Religious Developments in September 2025
- Redemptorist Order Protests Land Seizure: The Redemptorists publicly objected to government authorities fencing off the L’Accueil property in Hồ Chí Minh City, denouncing the move as an unlawful appropriation of church land.
- Lào Cai Vows to Eliminate Independent Religions: Provincial authorities in Lào Cai announced a campaign to “completely dissolve” all unregistered and independent religious groups.
- Hòa Hảo Buddhist Follower Dies in Prison: An independent Hòa Hảo Buddhist adherent reportedly died in custody under unclear circumstances.
- Authorities Shut Down The Church of Almighty God (Hội thánh Đức Chúa Trời) Nationwide: The government issued orders to terminate all activities of the Church of Almighty God throughout Vietnam.
- Appeal Trial for one Member of “Bồng Lai Temple”: An appellate court heard the case of a member of the controversial Bồng Lai Temple community.
- Harassment of Independent Protestants: Independent Protestant groups reported police harassment during their observance of the International Day of Commemoration for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
Redemptorist Order Protests Government’s Fencing of L’Accueil Property
On Sept. 1, 2025, just one day ahead of Vietnam’s National Day, the authorities in Huế abruptly erected fences and began preparing for construction on the L’Accueil property at 87 Nguyễn Huệ Street, a site that belonged to the Redemptorists of Huế before 1975.
According to the Redemptorist Order, the congregation purchased the L’Accueil estate in 1930. The site, which covers an area of 20,000 square meters, was then a center for religious and cultural activities. The site had been used for several significant historical meetings, including the ones that had Emperor Bảo Đại, Empress Nam Phương, and nationalist revolutionary Phan Bội Châu.
After the Communist takeover in 1975, like many other religious properties, the land was expropriated by the government and has remained under state control ever since.
In 1978, under government pressure, the priest in charge of the property donated a sawmill within the compound to the state on the condition that its workers remain employed. However, the Redemptorists maintain that only the sawmill’s equipment was donated—not the land or other assets located on it.
The order stated that over the years, it has repeatedly submitted petitions arguing that it never relinquished ownership of the property.
Over nearly five decades, the site has been transferred through various government hands—from a forestry enterprise to a movie theater, a vocational school, and, most recently, the Huế City Youth Cultural Center.
In 2018, the Thừa Thiên–Huế provincial government included the L’Accueil property among 27 French colonial architectural sites designated for preservation.
Since the government’s issuance of Resolution 297/HĐBT on Nov. 11, 1977, many religious institutions’ cultural, educational, and healthcare facilities have been reclassified as state property.
These include schools, government offices, and, in some cases, developments repurposed as hotels or luxury residences. Notable examples, such as the former Apostolic Delegation compound in Hanoi, the Thủ Thiêm convent in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Thiên An monastery in Huế, highlight the ongoing ambiguity between historical religious ownership and state management under the framework of Resolution 297.
As of now, the authorities have issued no public comment regarding the controversy surrounding the L’Accueil property.
On Sept. 24, 2025, an article published by Lào Cai Newspaper reported that provincial authorities had “eradicated” five of the nine independent religious organizations operating in the province. These include: Thiền Tông Tân Diệu (New Zen Sect), the Dương Văn Mình group, The Church of Almighty God, Giê Sùa (Jesus Church), and Bà Cô Dợ.
The descriptions for these religions are as follows:
Thiền Tông Tân Diệu (New Zen Sect)A Buddhist-based movement founded by Nguyễn Nhân in Long An Province, advocating a unique interpretation of Zen that blends modern science and spirituality. The group has been banned by the government since 2019 for allegedly spreading “superstitious” teachings, though it continues to attract online followers.
Dương Văn Mình GroupAn independent Hmong Christian-inspired community founded by Dương Văn Mình in the early 1990s in northern Vietnam. The group promotes simplified funeral practices and self-reliant community living; its members have long faced state persecution, and Dương Văn Mình himself died in prison in 2021.
The Church of Almighty God (Giáo hội Đức Chúa Trời Toàn Năng)Also known as Eastern Lightning, this movement originated in China in the 1990s and teaches that Jesus has returned as a Chinese woman. The group is banned in both China and Vietnam, where authorities classify it as an “evil cult,” though it maintains an underground presence.
Giê Sùa (Jesus Church)A small evangelical Christian house-church network active in northern and central Vietnam, known locally under its Vietnamese transliteration “Đạo Giê Sùa.” It operates independently of the state-recognized Protestant Church, leading to frequent police harassment and accusations of unauthorized religious activity.
Bà Cô DợThis is a local folk-religious movement rooted in northern Vietnam, which blends elements of ancestor worship, shamanism, and Christianity. The authorities regard it as an unregistered sect, and its followers—mostly from ethnic minority communities—have faced repeated crackdowns and re-education campaigns.
According to the article, over the past five years, the authorities have persuaded more than 400 followers of Bà Cô Dợ to abandon unregistered religious groups and have confiscated over 900 documents, 500 keychains, and various related materials and equipment.
In July 2025, Lao Cai officials reportedly prevented two followers of Falun Gong and The Church of Almighty God from proselytizing.
Earlier, in July 2024, the provincial government declared the complete dissolution of the Bà Cô Dợ and Dương Văn Mình sects.
According to Luat Khoa Magazine’s reporting, numerous independent religious movements have developed rapidly in Vietnam’s northern mountainous provinces. Authorities frequently label these groups as “heresies,” “superstitious,” or “reactionary organizations” to justify repression and prevent followers from engaging in religious activities.
Independent Hòa Hảo Buddhist Follower Dies in Prison
On Sept. 3, 2025, a Hòa Hảo Buddhist, Vương Ngọc Thảo, reported that her father, Vương Văn Thả, an independent Hòa Hảo Buddhist follower, had died at An Phước Prison in Bình Dương Province (now part of Ho Chi Minh City) while serving a 12-year sentence for “conducting propaganda against the state.”
According to the authorities, before his death, Thả experienced fatigue and shortness of breath and was taken to Bình Phước General Hospital for emergency treatment, but did not survive. However, his family disputes this account.
To date, the family has not received a death certificate, has been denied permission to bring his body home, and was forced to bury him in the prison cemetery.
According to BBC News Vietnamese, during the six years of his imprisonment, Thả was not allowed family visits because he refused to plead guilty and would not wear a prison uniform. His health condition was known only through fellow inmates, who reported that he was in good health before his sudden death. The family also insists he had never shown any signs of suicidal intent.
In 2013, Thả was sentenced to three years in prison under Article 258 of the Penal Code. In 2018, he was convicted again under Article 88, sentenced to a 12-year sentence.
According to the BBC, Thả is the fifth political prisoner in recent years reported to have died in custody under unclear circumstances, following the deaths of Đỗ Công Đương, Đào Quang Thực, Đoàn Đình Nam, and Huỳnh Hữu Đạt.
While state media accused Thả of defamation, inciting separatism, and displaying the yellow flag with three red stripes, the national flag of the Republic of Vietnam, international human rights organizations regard him as a religious prisoner of conscience. His death once again raises serious questions about prison conditions, accountability within the penal system, and the broader state of religious freedom in Vietnam.
Government Terminates Nationwide Activities of the Church of Almighty God
On Sept. 10, 2025, the Department of Domestic Security under the Ministry of Public Security announced that the authorities of the former Bình Hưng Hòa A Ward in Hồ Chí Minh City had revoked the certificate of religious activity registration previously issued to the Church of Almighty God led by Nguyễn Văn Hóa. As a result, all religious gatherings organized by this group must cease immediately.
This is reportedly the last officially registered congregation of the religious group. The revocation of its registration effectively marks the termination of the church’s operations nationwide.
According to the authorities, the revocation was carried out because the organization had violated registration terms, unilaterally changed its leadership, and illegally proselytized, thereby “disrupting social order and community life.”
Officials further accused the group of “operating illegally under the guise of religion” and of “exploiting faith to spread fear, destroy family relationships, and undermine social morals.”
To date, the government continues to accuse the Church of Almighty God of distorting religious doctrine, deceiving believers, and violating traditional cultural values.
Appeal Trial Held for Member of Bồng Lai Temple
On Sept. 15, 2025, the authorities of Tây Ninh Province held an appeal hearing for Lê Thanh Nhất Nguyên, a member of Bồng Lai Temple, on charges of fraud and appropriation of property under Article 174 of the Penal Code.
Bồng Lai Temple (Tịnh Thất Bồng Lai) is an independent Buddhist-affiliated community in Long An Province, later renamed to Thiền Am Bên Bờ Vũ Trụ (The Meditating Temple Near the Side of the Universe). The temple is known for raising orphaned children and operating outside the state-recognized Buddhist system. Its members have faced repeated prosecution, raising concerns over religious freedom and judicial fairness in Vietnam.
At the hearing, the court sentenced Nhất Nguyên to eight years in prison, reducing his initial sentence by one year after taking into account mitigating factors, including efforts to remedy damages and compensate the victims.
According to the indictment, between 2018 and 2021, Lê Thanh Nhất Nguyên allegedly posted false information on social media, posed as a monk, and solicited donations purportedly to support and raise children. The authorities identified at least three complainants who accused him of appropriating approximately 365 million đồng ($13,854), while six additional complaints were filed but deemed insufficient to establish criminal conduct.
In July 2022, the Long An Provincial Court sentenced several members of Bồng Lai Temple to a combined 23 years and six months in prison under Article 331 of the Penal Code. Nhất Nguyên received a four-year sentence in that case. During the trial, he claimed to have been subjected to coercion and ill-treatment while in detention, though he lacked evidence to substantiate the claim.
In May 2025, the Long An authorities once again prosecuted Nhất Nguyên under Article 174 for fraud and appropriation of property.
On Sept. 23, 2025, International Christian Concern(ICC) reported that the Boat People SOS (BPSOS) organization had accused the Vietnamese authorities of harassing several independent Protestant communities in the Central Highlands, particularly in Đắk Lắk Province, during the observance of the International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
According to the report, from August to September 2025, local commune officials in Đắk Lắk repeatedly visited, wrote reports, and ordered independent Protestant groups to dissolve and join the Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam, the only Protestant denomination officially recognized by the state.
Followers who refused often faced interrogation, pressure to sign written pledges, and even threats of losing social welfare benefits.
These actions underscore that the Vietnamese government grants operating permits only to a limited number of recognized religious organizations, leaving independent Protestant groups vulnerable to ongoing harassment and repression.