Religious Landscape in the Ethnic Minority Areas of Vietnam

Abstract

Freedom of belief and religion is a universal right, irrespective of ethnicity or social class, and is consistently acknowledged and safeguarded by the law. However, ethnic minorities adhering to religious practices often encounter numerous challenges related to policies and their implementation, particularly in the realms of ethnic and religious policies. The religious landscape in the ethnic minority areas of Vietnam is multifaceted; this article elucidates the religious scenario in representative ethnic communities. These encompass the Hmong in the Northern mountainous region, who practice Catholicism and Protestantism; ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and Central Coast highlands, who follow Catholicism and Protestantism; the Khmer people in the South, who adhere to Theravada Buddhism; and the Cham people in the South Central and Southern regions, who observe Brahmanism and Islam.