Officials from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the Central Highlands extended their Christmas congratulations to parishioners on December 22.

Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi, Vice Permanent Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Vo Van Thuong, and Vice Chairman of the Central Highlands Committee Tran Viet Hung were heads of the delegations.

The officials highlighted the social-economic achievements in the respective localities, which were attributed to the active participation of the Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers.

The Vietnamese Party and State always pay attention to and create all favourable conditions for religious organisations to practise their belief, and hope they will work closely with local authorities to take better care of the parishioners, Hung said.

Catholicism and Protestantism are the two major religions in Vietnam , with nearly 7 million and over 1 million followers, respectively./.