Rachel Evans
Vietnam has a complex history with Catholicism, which has been present in the country since the 1600s. While Catholics make up a significant minority in Vietnam, accounting for 6% or 6 million believers, they have faced various challenges over the years. The country's unification under a communist regime in the mid-1970s led to a dark decade of brutal anti-Christian actions, with many Catholics ceasing congregational worship and some fleeing the country. Today, Catholics in Vietnam continue to face difficulties, with media sources reporting tensions and disputes between Catholics and authorities in several areas, including land disputes and human rights issues. Despite these challenges, Catholicism has a strong presence in Vietnam, with its roots tracing back to the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics in Vietnam | 6% of the total population (2019 census) or 7% (2020) |
| Number of Catholics in Vietnam | 6 million (2019 census) or 6.5 million (2020) |
| Religious Texts | The Bible has been translated into Vietnamese and other languages, including Chinese, Ede, Jarai, Banar, M’nong, H’mong, C’ho, and English |
| Catholic Priests | Catholic priests have faced restrictions and persecution in Vietnam, particularly in remote areas and those with ethnic minority populations |
| Catholic Parishes | Catholic parishes have faced challenges registering with provincial authorities due to inconsistent application of national laws |
| Catholic-State Relations | Catholics have historically had a complex relationship with the state in Vietnam, facing suspicion and criticism from pro-government groups; there have been recent clashes between Catholics and authorities over land disputes |
| Catholic Migration | There has been significant migration of Catholics within Vietnam, particularly from North to South during the 20th century, and out of Vietnam following the communist takeover |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics make up 6% of Vietnam's population
Catholicism has been present in Vietnam since the 1600s. Jesuit missionaries from Portugal and Spain first brought the religion to the country in the 16th century, and it has grown to become a significant minority group in the country. According to the Vietnamese government's 2019 National Population and Housing Census, there are 6 million Catholics in Vietnam, constituting 6% of the total population. This makes Catholics the largest religious group in the country, with Buddhists accounting for 5% and Protestants making up 1% of the population.
Catholics in Vietnam have faced various challenges throughout history. During the Nguyễn Dynasty, there were persistent rebellions led by Catholic priests attempting to install a Christian monarch. This led to restrictions being placed on Catholicism. In the mid-1970s, North and South Vietnam were unified under a communist regime, which drastically changed the religious landscape. Many Catholics and evangelicals stopped gathering for congregational worship, and some religious leaders were jailed. There were also land disputes and clashes with authorities in several provinces, including Nghe An, where police arrested at least 10 Catholic protestors.
Despite these challenges, Catholicism remains a significant part of Vietnam's religious landscape. The religion experienced rapid growth among the Montagnard and Hmong ethnic minorities in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Additionally, Catholics are represented in local and provincial government positions, and high-ranking officials often send greetings and visit churches during Christian holidays. While there may be tensions between Catholics and the government, the religion continues to have a strong presence and influence in the country.
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Catholicism arrived in Vietnam in the 16th century
Catholicism first arrived in Vietnam in the 16th century, brought by Catholic missionaries from Portugal and Spain. In 1524, a Portuguese merchant named Duarte Coelho arrived in Hội An, central Vietnam, for trade, bringing Catholic missionaries along. A missionary named I-nê-khu arrived in Nam Định, northern Vietnam, in 1533. However, these early missions were not very successful.
It was not until the arrival of Jesuits in the first decades of the 17th century that Christianity began to gain traction among the local populations in the regions of Đàng Ngoài (Tonkin) and Đàng Trong (Cochinchina). These missionaries were mainly Italians, Portuguese, and Japanese. Two priests, Francesco Buzomi and Diogo Carvalho, established the first Catholic community in Hội An in 1615. Between 1627 and 1630, Avignonese Alexandre de Rhodes and Portuguese Pero Marques converted more than 6,000 people in Tonkin.
In the 17th century, Jesuit missionaries including Francisco de Pina, Gaspar do Amaral, Antonio Barbosa, and de Rhodes developed an alphabet for the Vietnamese language, using the Latin script with added diacritic marks. This writing system, called chữ Quốc ngữ or "national language script," is still used today. Meanwhile, the traditional chữ Nôm script was used to convey the Catholic faith to the Vietnamese until the late 19th century.
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, the Catholic Church and French-influenced missionary societies significantly impacted Vietnam's political situation and foreign policies. During the reign of Emperor Quang Trung (1753-1792), some of the highest-ranking government officials were Catholics, and Quang Trung showed a certain level of support for the Catholic Church.
However, the attitude towards Catholics changed with the Nguyễn dynasty (1802-1945), which exhibited hostility towards Catholics. The suppression of Catholic followers during this period, known as the Lệnh Bách Đạo (Order to suppress Catholics), was brutal, with edicts ordering the arrest, torture, and execution of those who refused to renounce their faith. Despite this persecution, Vietnamese Catholics unanimously supported Vietnam's independence during the First Indochina War, initially fighting alongside the communist-led Việt Minh.
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Catholics face restrictions in certain areas
Vietnam has the fifth-largest Catholic population in Asia, with about 7 million Catholics, or 7.4% of the total population. However, despite the long and historical relations between Vietnam and the Catholic Church, Catholics in the country have faced various restrictions in certain areas.
Historically, the Catholic Church in Vietnam has been associated with political rebellions and colonial rule. During the Nguyễn Dynasty, there were persistent rebellions led by Catholic priests who sought to install a Christian monarch. This led to restrictions being placed on Catholicism by Emperor Gia Long and his successor, Minh Mạng, who issued anti-Catholic edicts in 1836 and 1838. The failure of a Catholic-backed revolt in the 19th century had disastrous consequences for Vietnamese Christians, with new restrictions imposed and several missionaries executed.
During the French colonial period, many Catholics collaborated with the colonial government, and in return received preferential treatment in government posts and education, as well as vast tracts of land. After the overthrow of French rule and the division of the country, Catholicism declined in the North, where the Communists viewed it as a reactionary force. In the South, President Ngô Đình Diệm promoted Catholicism as a "bulwark" against the North, giving extra rights to the Church and restricting the practice of Buddhism.
In recent years, the Vietnamese government has continued to impose restrictions on Catholic life. Parishes in remote areas or with majority ethnic minority populations have faced difficulties registering with provincial authorities due to inconsistent application of national laws. In certain provinces, local authorities have prevented Catholic priests from conducting services in specific areas, citing unregistered meeting points as the reason. There have also been reports of tensions and disputes between Catholics and authorities in several provinces, including Hanoi, Hoa Binh, and Nghe An, often relating to land disputes or the activities of human and environmental rights advocacy groups.
The Vietnamese government maintains control over religious practices and permits restrictions on religious freedom in the interest of "national security" and "social unity." State-run media and pro-government websites have sometimes criticized Catholic groups and equated them with separatist movements, accusing them of being "tools" of "hostile forces" acting against the state. Despite these challenges, relations between Vietnam and the Vatican have improved in recent years, with the announcement of a permanent representative in Vietnam in 2018 and the establishment of a Resident Papal Representative in 2023.
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Catholics have a history of conflict with the government
Catholicism has had a long history in Vietnam, with the religion dating back to before the period of French colonisation in Southeast Asia. While the Catholic Church has had a significant impact on the country's political situation and foreign policies, its relationship with the Vietnamese government has been fraught with conflict.
During the war against the French colonial regime from 1946 to 1954, relations between the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) and the Vietnamese Catholic Church steadily deteriorated. Fighting between the Viet Minh forces and pro-French Catholic militia forces in North Vietnam was particularly brutal. When the Communist government took control of North Vietnam, many Catholics fled to the south out of fear of religious persecution. The VCP's Marxist ideology positioned religion as the root of evil and an exploitation tool of capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism. The ultimate goal of Communism was the complete elimination of religion.
The division of Vietnam into North and South from 1954 to 1975 further exacerbated religious tensions. South Vietnam's preferential policies towards Catholic migrants contributed to increasing political and social conflicts. President Ngo Dinh Diem of the Republic of Vietnam was a Catholic, and his policies were perceived as biased towards Catholics in public service, military promotions, land allocation, and business favours. The Catholic Church was the largest landowner in the country, enjoying extra property acquisition rights while restrictions against Buddhism remained in force.
In more recent times, relations between the Catholic Church and the Vietnamese government have remained complex. While the government officially recognises Catholicism as one of the 15 distinct religious traditions in the country, restrictions on Catholic practices persist. Local authorities in certain provinces have prevented Catholic priests from conducting services, and there have been disputes over land and religious freedoms. The government's desire for involvement in the nomination of bishops has also posed challenges to dialogue.
Despite these ongoing tensions, there have been efforts towards reconciliation. The Vatican has been sending official delegations to Vietnam for meetings with government authorities and Catholic dioceses since 1990. In 2018, the Holy See announced plans to have a permanent representative in Vietnam, and in 2023, the two sides agreed to establish a Resident Papal Representative, signalling a move towards establishing formal diplomatic relations.
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Catholics were favoured under South Vietnam
Vietnam is home to the fifth-largest Catholic population in Asia, with about 7 million Catholics, or 7.4% of the total population. The country has 27 dioceses, 2,228 parishes, and 2,668 priests. The Catholic Church in Vietnam is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
Following the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam and the signing of the Geneva Accords in 1954, Vietnam was divided into the North and the South along the 17th parallel. A provision in the Accords allowed people to migrate freely between the two regions depending on their political views and ideology. This led to the migration of nearly half a million Catholic followers to South Vietnam, constituting about two-thirds of the Catholic population at that time. This mass migration of Catholics to the South shaped their historical depiction as supporters of Diem's anti-communist government.
The preferential treatment of Catholics in South Vietnam was not without tension and disputes. There have been reports of clashes between Catholics and authorities in various areas, including Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, and Binh Thuan Provinces. These disputes often relate to land issues or the activities of human and environmental rights advocacy groups. Additionally, Catholic priests in certain areas, such as Muong Khuong District, Lao Cai Province, have faced restrictions on conducting services by local authorities.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics make up 6% of Vietnam's total population, which is around 6 million people.
Catholicism has been present in Vietnam since the 1600s when Jesuit missionaries from Portugal and Spain first introduced it. During the French colonial campaign against Vietnam from 1858 to 1883, many Catholics collaborated with the French, which resulted in preferential treatment for Catholics once colonial rule was established. During the period of South Vietnam, the government also favoured Catholicism and suppressed other religions.
Catholics are one of 38 religious organizations recognized by the Vietnamese government. However, there is still tension and disputes between Catholics and authorities in many areas, mainly regarding land disputes or the activities of human and environmental rights advocacy groups. Catholics have also faced difficulty registering in certain provinces due to inconsistent application of national laws.
Buddhists make up 5% of the population, while Protestants make up 2%. However, it is important to note that the actual percentages may be higher as many believers fear acknowledging their religion due to potential negative consequences. Other recognized religions include Islam, Baha'i, Protestantism, Church of Jesus Christ, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Cao Dai, and more.
