A get-together of the Mong protestants in Cao Bang province (Photo: VOV)

Speaking at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday in reply to reporters’ question about Vietnam’s reaction to the US State Department's 2023 Religious Freedom Report, Hang said although the report has recognized some of Vietnam’s progress in protecting and promoting freedom of religion and belief, it gave unbiased assessments based on unverified and inaccurate information about the actual situation in Vietnam.

Mrs. Hang said: “Vietnam has implemented a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion, ensuring that everyone’s right is not discriminated against for the reason of religion and belief, and the activities of religious organizations are protected by law. These rights have been clearly stated in Vietnam's 2013 Constitution, the 2016 Law on Belief and Religion, and related legal documents and are guaranteed and respected in practice.”

Vietnam requests the US making objective assessments based on accurate and comprehensive information sources about the actual situation in Vietnam and soon remove Vietnam from the US's special watch list on religious freedom, the spokesperson said.

Also at the press conference, answering reporters' questions about Vietnam's response to the Trafficking in Persons Report of the US State Department, Hang said Vietnam welcomes the US for making an objective assessment of Vietnam's positive results in preventing and combating human trafficking.

Vietnam hopes that both countries will continue to boost closer cooperation in preventing and combating human trafficking in line with the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the US.