NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES AMENDED LAW ON BELIEFS AND RELIGION: NOTABLE NEW PROVISIONS
1. General Information
On April 23, 2026, at the First Session of the 16th National Assembly, the National Assembly officially passed the amended Law on Beliefs and Religions with near-unanimous approval. The law consists of 9 chapters and 61 articles and will take effect on January 1, 2027.
The amendments aim to improve the legal framework regarding the right to freedom of belief and religion, while addressing management requirements in the context of a rapidly changing society and digital environment.
2. Affirming and Ensuring the Right to Freedom of Belief and Religion
The Law continues to affirm the fundamental principle:
- Everyone has the right to follow or not to follow a religion;
- To practice rituals, participate in religious activities, and study religious teachings;
At the same time, the law also establishes clear legal boundaries, according to which religious activities must not infringe upon:
- National defense and national security;
- Public order and social safety;
- The lawful rights and interests of other organizations and individuals.
This regulation aims to balance the guarantee of freedom of religion with the need for social stability.
3. First-time clear regulations on religious activities in cyberspace
A notable new feature is establishing a legal framework for religious activities in the digital environment.
Specifically:
- Online religious activities must follow the procedures for notification, registration, or application as prescribed;
- The competent state agency shall carry out supervision, inspection, and handling of violations;
- Internet service providers are responsible for cooperating to remove infringing content.
This regulation reflects a new management trend, as religious activities increasingly expand onto digital platforms.
4. Promoting Administrative Procedure Reform
The amended law aims to:
- Reducing the number of administrative procedures;
- Shift from a “permit” system to a “registration” or “notification” system;
- Strengthen post-approval oversight instead of pre-approval.
This is an important reform step, helping to reduce procedural burdens and create more favorable conditions for organizations and individuals in their religious activities.
5. Strengthening decentralization and devolution of management authority
The Law continues to promote the trend:
- Significantly devolve authority to local governments in state management of belief and religion;
- Clarifying the responsibilities of each level of government.
This contributes to improving management efficiency while aligning with the diverse religious realities in localities.
6. Improving regulations on the assets and activities of religious organizations
The Law supplements and clarifies:
- Mechanisms for managing and using the assets of religious facilities and organizations in a manner that is open and transparent;
- Clearly define assets that are commonly owned by the community with respect to religious facilities established according to custom.
This is an important provision aimed at minimizing disputes and enhancing transparency in the management of religious assets.
7. Assessment and Impact
The passage of the amended Law on Beliefs and Religions is expected to:
- Better ensure the people’s freedom of belief and religion;
- Modernize management methods, particularly in the digital environment;
- Reducing administrative procedures, facilitating the lawful operation of religious organizations;
- Contribute to social stability and the strengthening of national unity.
The Law on Beliefs and Religion, amended in 2026, clearly reflects a modern legislative approach with three main pillars: guaranteeing rights – procedural reform – digital adaptation. This will serve as an important legal foundation for regulating religious activities during Vietnam’s new development phase.
