[New Religions]

• Falun Gong proselytizer stopped by police in Can Tho
• Hue police block activities of groups belonging to World Mission Society Church of God
• Hanoi Municipal Committee for Religious Affairs: Numerous false religions propagated over social media
• Binh Phuoc province police: 20 individuals participating in “Hoang Thien Cach Mang The Gioi Dai Dong” Party
• Tuyen Quang and Hanoi authorities block the Salvation Sect from operation

[The Government’s Reach]

• Action plan for the state management of religion (2021-2025): Religion is still seen as a danger, source of social instability

[Religion 360*]

• At least 159 Catholic and 11 Buddhist volunteers assist in efforts to fight the pandemic in HCMC in September

[New Religions]

New religions remain a hot topic this month. Local authorities continue to cast the activities of new religions as superstitious, fraudulent, and disorderly. The phrase “false religion,” not yet listed in legal documents, continues to be used by the government and the press to demean new religious groups.

New religions are increasingly centered on social media, making police suppression more difficult.