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Thiện Trường wrote this Vietnamese article, published in Luat Khoa Magazine on Jan. 6, 2025. Thúc Kháng translated it into English for The Vietnamese Magazine.

In 2024, many religious events and controversies captured public consciousness and stirred widespread discussions in Vietnam. Many of these led to implementing new policies regarding religious management and governance.

These five events helped shape religious dynamics in Vietnam and illuminated the precarious relationship between the state and the country’s diverse religious communities.

Thich Minh Tue’s Pilgrimage Between March and early April 2024, Vietnamese social media was flooded with images of a monk in a multicolored robe journeying across the country. That monk was Thich Minh Tue, whose real name is Le Anh Tu. Since 2017, he has walked across Vietnam three times, but during his fourth pilgrimage this year, he unexpectedly became a nationwide sensation as crowds began following him.

Both the Vietnamese government and Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam (Vietnam Buddhist Sangha) grew concerned about the monk’s growing following, issuing statements that Thich Minh Tue was not a legitimate Buddhist monk. The Sangha further claimed that Thich Minh Tue’s image had been exploited to misrepresent the monastic life of its clergy, urging their followers to curb public discourse that could harm the organization.

On the morning of June 3, 2024, Thich Minh Tue abruptly stopped his pilgrimage while crossing the Hai Van Pass in Thua Thien Hue Province. Many believe he voluntarily ended his journey after meeting with local authorities.

According to RFA, Vietnamese authorities allegedly detained the monks accompanying Thich Minh Tue and dispersed them to various locations by vehicle, while Thich Minh Tue himself was escorted back to his home in Gia Lai. Some members of his group later claimed that they were pressured into acknowledging the commitment forms given by the authorities, instructing them not to rejoin the pilgrimage.

In November 2024, Vietnamese social media once again erupted when Gia Lai Newspaper unexpectedly published three handwritten letters purportedly from Thich Minh Tue after a long period of public silence.

The first letter was released on Nov. 13, 2024, in which Thich Minh Tue requested that his image not be shared on social media. In the letter, he also urged his followers to avoid gathering in large crowds when he appeared, citing traffic safety concerns.

On Nov. 17, 2024, the second handwritten letter — bearing the signature “Minh Tue” and the red seal of Phat Tam Thien Dinh Tue Co. Ltd. — was released. The letter contained an announcement from Thich Minh Tue, stating that he would temporarily cease his journey in Vietnam due to “complex social and political security conditions, which are not conducive to studying the mendicant way.”

The second letter also bestowed a power of attorney —the authority to act on behalf of another person in specific, legal, or financial matters—on his brother, Le Anh Tuan, and Phat Tam Thien Dinh Tue Co. Ltd.

Gia Lai Newspaper published the third letter on Nov. 26, 2024, in which Thich Minh Tue expressed his desire to journey to India, the birthplace of the Buddha. He is currently making his way there via walking through Laos and Thailand.

Government Discloses Revenue and Expenditures from Religious Donations On June 26, 2024, domestic media reported that in 2023, Vietnam collected 4.1 trillion VND in donations and spent 3.612 trillion VND. The highest amount came from the Bà Chúa Xứ Temple in Chau Doc, An Giang, with 220 billion VND, followed by Bảo Hà Temple in Lao Cai, which collected 71 billion VND.

The capital, Hanoi, received over 670 billion VND in donations, while Quang Ninh Province—home to the Ba Vang Pagoda—collected around 200 billion VND.

These figures only account for cash donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural sites. They do not include in-kind contributions, ceremonial offerings, or bank transfers, indicating that the actual collected amount is likely much higher. Moreover, while Vietnam has 31,581 religious and historical sites, only 15,324 —about 49% — have reported data on donations and expenditures.

Disclosure of donations, revenues, and expenditures was carried out under Circular No. 04/2023, issued by the Ministry of Finance. This circular provides guidelines on managing finances related to festival organization and donations for heritage sites and religious activities.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha previously strongly opposed this regulation and sent a formal protest to government agencies, as many of its affiliated pagodas are officially recognized historical sites.

Statistics show that 28 pagodas are either directly recognized as national special relics or are part of such complexes, while around 500 hold national heritage status. Some believe that once a religious site gains this status, both local authorities and monks affiliated with the Sangha can more easily engage in spiritual tourism and generate more revenue from donations.

Monk Thich Minh Dao Leaves the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha On Aug. 12, 2024, Venerable Thich Minh Dao, a monk affiliated with Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam - the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - (GHPGVN), announced that he would leave monastic life . He returned his robes, alms bowl, monastic registration form, ordination certificate, and Buddhist studies diploma.

In a video posted on social media, Thich Minh Dao, wearing multicolored robes similar to those worn by Thich Minh Tue, formally declared that he was relinquishing his monastic status.

About two weeks later, the Standing Committee of the GHPGVN’s Executive Board in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province sent an official letter requesting the Phu My Town People's Committee and the provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs to review the legality of child care and sponsorship at Thich Minh Dao’s monastery. This move sparked public outrage and raised concerns that his monastery might face a similar fate to what happened to Tinh That Bong Lai .

On Nov. 10, 2025, after authorities barred Thich Minh Dao from continuing to care for orphans, 37 children from Minh Dao Monastery and Ngoc Lam Temple were transferred to the provincial Center for Social Work and Child Protection. Officials cited the reason that neither facility had obtained the necessary permits to function as a social welfare institution.

Earlier in May 2024, the GHPGVN in Ba Ria—Vung Tau chastised Thich Minh Dao and required him to undergo two months of self-reflection and repentance due to statements he had made regarding Thich Minh Tue.

The Vatican’s Foreign Minister Visits Vietnam On April 9, 2024, the Vatican’s Foreign Minister, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, visited Vietnam. His arrival marked the first visit by a Vatican Foreign Minister since diplomatic ties between the two nations were severed. Monsignor John David Putzer, the Undersecretary for Relations with States, accompanied him. Their stay lasted from April 9 to April 14.

During his time in Vietnam, Archbishop Gallagher met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tran Thanh Son. He also went to the three ecclesiastical provinces: Hanoi, Hue, and Saigon.

The Archbishop’s visit was seen as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance high-level engagements, potentially leading Pope Francis to visit Vietnam in the future.

After 1975, the communist government forced the Vatican’s envoy to leave Saigon, effectively ending the Holy See’s diplomatic representation in Vietnam.

However, in July 2023, Vietnam and the Vatican agreed on the "Regulations on the Operation of the Resident Representative and the Resident Representative Office of the Holy See in Vietnam." According to Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang, Vietnam-Vatican relations are currently at a level below that of an Apostolic Nuncio but above that of an Apostolic Delegate.

Vietnamese Authorities Imprison Multiple Khmer Krom Buddhists In November 2024, the People's Court of Vinh Long Province sentenced nine Khmer Krom Buddhists to prison terms ranging from two to six years under Articles 331 and 157 of the Penal Code.

According to state media, they allegedly constructed an unauthorized structure on a rice field owned by the Thach Thi Oi in Loan My Commune, Tam Binh District.

The Tam Binh People's Court previously ruled that the land must be returned to Thach Thi Oi. However, the followers claimed that Thach Thi Xa Bach, Oi’s sister, had donated the land to build a lecture hall. Hence, they refused to comply with the court order, leading to a prolonged dispute.

Before this case, tensions were already rising between the followers and local authorities. Notably, a confrontation erupted in November 2023 between the followers and a working group from the Tam Binh District People's Committee at Dai Tho Pagoda.

Authorities accused Thach Chanh Da Ra, who identified himself as the pagoda’s abbot, of leading an attack that injured several government officials, detained them by locking the doors, and prevented them from leaving. He was also accused of posting defamatory content against government agencies on Facebook.

In March 2024, Vinh Long provincial authorities arrested several Khmer Krom Buddhists, charging them with "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state, the lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals," under Article 331, and "unlawful detention," under Article 157 of the Penal Code.

By April 2024, authorities had deployed a large police force and heavy machinery to demolish the disputed lecture hall at Dai Tho Pagoda.

Earlier, in February, the People's Court of My Xuyen District, Soc Trang Province, sentenced Danh Minh Quang to three years and six months in prison under Article 331 for allegedly using his personal Facebook account to share and livestream content related to human rights and Khmer Buddhism.

Similarly, in March, the People's Court of Cau Ngang District, Tra Vinh Province, sentenced Thach Cuong (36) to four years in prison and To Hoang Chuong (37) to three years and six months under the same article.

By October, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) submitted a joint petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD), denouncing the Vietnamese government's imprisonment of To Hoang Chuong and Thach Cuong. The organizations argued that their detention violated international law, calling for their immediate release.

In April 2024, KKF also submitted a petition to the United Nations General Assembly, alleging that Vietnamese authorities had arbitrarily detained and imprisoned Khmer Krom Buddhists engaged in peaceful religious activities.

To this day, some Khmer Krom followers in Vietnam continue to stage protests, demanding land rights, indigenous recognition, religious freedom, and cultural preservation.

The Vietnamese government maintains that the Khmer Krom community is treated equally and denies allegations of repression or discrimination. However, in practice, authorities have implemented specific policies targeting this community. Many Khmer Krom Buddhists have fled to Cambodia, claiming they face religious and ethnic persecution in Vietnam.