VIETNAM

 

A. THE COUNTRY

 

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a long, narrow country occupying

the entire eastern and southern coastline of Indochina.  There are 58

provinces and 5 centrally controlled municipalities.  The Communist

Party controls all state policy and activity, and is closely tied to the

powerful government and military.  Reforms begun in 1986, after decades

of war, have modernized the economy, and seen the emergence of a young

middle class.  There remains a large gap between urbanites and the rural

poor.  Serious human rights violations continue especially toward

minorities, ethnic or religious.  Key exports are rice, coffee, tea,

rubber, and seafood products.  Manufacturing, information technology and

high-tech industries are a large part of the economy.

 

B. THE PEOPLE

 

The population is over 89 million.  The official language is Vietnamese,

and there are 106 indigenous languages.

84% are Vietnamese, 4.3% Mon-Khumer, 3% Zhuang, 1.9% Thai-Dai, 1.5%

Hmong/Miaco, 1.1% Cham, 1.4% other Southeast Asian, 2.6% Chinese.

 

C. RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIANITY/PENTECOSTALISM

 

The deepest spiritual allegiance is not to Communism, nor to the

traditional blend of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. It is the

veneration and worship of ancestors.

The government requires registration of churches for operation – yet

most remain unregistered.

~52.5% are Buddhist, ~23% non-religious, ~9.5% Christian, ~7.9%

Ethnoreligionist, 5.4% other, 1% Chinese, ~0.4% Baha’i, 0.08% Muslim,

0.07% Hindu.  Of those in the Christian category:

14% are Protestant, 94% are Independent, 1% Anglican, and 1% Catholic.

Evangelicals are 1.8%, Charismatics are 0.8% and of those, 0.1% are

Pentecostals.

Donna Siemens

 

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org

Operation World, Jason Mandryk. Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010.