Vietnam Recognizes Baha'i and 3 Other Groups

Vietnam News Service yesterday reported that the Baha'i Community of Vietnam is celebrating its receipt last month of a certificate of operation from the Government's Committee for Religious Affairs. Three additional groups have also recently received certificates: "Four Debts of Gratitude"; "The Pure Land Buddhist Home-Practice Association"; and "The Vietnam Christian Religion Missionary Alliance". Previously six other religions had been recognized by the government: Buddhism; Catholicism; Protestantism; Cao Dai; Hoa Hao Buddhism; and Islam. Buddhism is the largest of these, with 10 million followers in the country.