Which agencies shall approve the organization of a ceremony or sermon outside a religious establishment in Vietnam?

Which agencies shall approve the organization of a ceremony or sermon outside a religious establishment in Vietnam?

I have a question. Which agencies shall approve the organization of a ceremony or sermon outside a religious establishment in Vietnam? Thank you!

Answer:

According to the law in Vietnam,

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

+ 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.

Pursuant to Clause 3 Article 46 of the Law on religion and folk belief in 2016, the authority to approve the organization of a ceremony or sermon outside a religious establishment or legitimate location:

+ People’s Committee of a district shall be responsible for responding in writing to the organization of a ceremony or sermon solely in the district in 25 days upon receiving a valid application. If the application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified.

+ The body specialized in folk belief and religion in (a) province(s) where the ceremony or sermon expectedly occurs shall be responsible for responding in writing to the organization of such ceremony or sermon in multiple districts of the province or in multiple provinces in 30 days upon receiving the valid application. If the application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified.

As regulations above, the authority to approve the organization of a ceremony or sermon outside a religious establishment or legitimate location shall be People’s Committee of a district and the body specialized in folk belief and religion in (a) province(s) where the ceremony or sermon expectedly occurs.

Is it compulsory for religious establishments in Vietnam to submit annual activities program to People’s Committee?

Is it compulsory for religious establishments in Vietnam to submit annual activities program to People’s Committee? Thank you!

Answer:

Pursuant to Clause 1 Article 13 of the Law on religion and folk belief in 2016 stipulating as follows:

The representative(s) or the management of a folk religious establishment shall be responsible for notifying competent government authorities in writing of its organization of a periodic folk belief festival in at least 20 days prior to the occurrence of such festival in the following manner:

- People’s Committee of the commune where the festival occurs shall be responsible receiving notifications of folk belief festivals whose scope is limited to a commune, ward or town (hereinafter referred to as commune);

- People’s Committee of the district where the festival occurs shall be responsible for receiving notifications of folk belief festivals that proceed in multiple communes in a district, township, provincial city or city within a centrally-affiliated city (referred to as district);

- People’s Committee of the province where the festival occurs shall be responsible for receiving notifications of folk belief festivals that proceed in multiple districts in a province or centrally-affiliated city (referred to as province).

As regulations above, the representative(s) or the management of a folk religious establishment shall be responsible for notifying competent government authorities in writing of its organization of a periodic folk belief festival in at least 20 days prior to the occurrence of such festival based on its scope of the festival.

What are religious establishments in Vietnam?

Hello Lawnet. My name is Ngoc Tuong. I'm living and working in Binh Phuoc. I am learning about regulations on religion and folk belief. I have a question. What are religious establishments in Vietnam? Which document stipulates this issue? Thank you!

Answer:

On 18/11/2016, the National Assembly promulgated the Law on religion and folk belief in 2016. This 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. 

Pursuant to Clause 14 Article 2 of the Law on religion and folk belief in 2016 stipulating as follows:

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

Please refer to the Law on religion and folk belief in 2016 for further information.

Best regards!