A new report suggests that there are four methods the Vietnamese government uses to control the practice of religion in the country: 1) using legal documents and other administrative regulations; 2) using the propaganda apparatus; 3) dividing to rule; 4) using physical violence (beating, intimidation, imprisonment).

The report, “Assessment of the 2016 Law on Belief and Religion in relation to the Exercise of the Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief in Vietnam”, was researched and written by journalist Pham Doan Trang and other members of the Religions Research Group – an independent civil society group in Vietnam.