Con Ga (Cock) church in Lam Dong province (Source: lamdong.gov.vn)
Central Highlands provinces have effectively implemented policies on religion, creating all possible conditions for local residents, especially those from ethnic groups, to practise their religions.
According to the Central Highlands Steering Committee, many worshipping sites in the region have been built or upgraded, including nearly 150 restored places of Protestants.
Followers have freely practised their beliefs and religions at home and legal worshipping sites while dignitaries have had chances to carry out their missionary work, be appointed and improve their professional knowledge in line with the Constitution, religious regulations and the law.
The Alliance Evangelical Divinity School, seminariums and Buddhist academies across the country welcomed more than 1,000 students hailing from the Central Highlands over the past years. About 2,000 Protestants have taken part in religious courses at 306 recognised branches and 1,382 registered groups.
The region has created conditions for hundreds of local religious dignitaries and followers to join diplomatic activities at forums, conferences and seminars abroad while receiving hundreds of foreign religious delegations and organisations.
The Central Highlands provinces will continue encouraging ethnic minority people and religious followers to raise the sense of vigilance against hostile forces who take advantage of religions to drive a wedge into the national unity bloc.
Encompassing Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces, the Central Highlands boasts more than 2 million religious practitioners, accounting for 38 percent of its population.
Of those, 38 percent are from ethnic groups, representing a dozen-fold increase as compared to the figure recorded before 1975.
The region is now home to 4,672 religious dignitaries and followers who practise in 1,239 places of worship.-VNA
