Religious organisations in Vietnam had a busy year in 2009 with numerous activities, concluded a meeting of the government committee for religious affairs in Da Nang on Jan. 13.

The meeting was convened to review the religious situation and state management over religious matters in 2009 as well as to identify tasks for 2010 and provide guidelines for implementation of the Prime Minister’s Directive on house and land relating to religions.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha during the past year hosted the 9 th International Buddhist Women Conference and prepared for the 6 th World Buddhist Summit to be held this year.

The Catholic Church meanwhile held two annual meetings and joined in the first round of negotiation for setting up diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Vatican . It also organised the La Vang festival, launched the Jubilee Year 2010 and began preparations for the 50 th anniversary of the country’s Catholic hierarchy.

General Council of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) held its 33 rd General Assembly and the General Federation of Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) convened its 45 th congress.

The General Confederation of Evangelical Church (South) have 150 chapters recognised by the State and over 1,700 prayer groups registered for operation.

The Evangelical Church in the north saw 168 new prayer groups registered in the northern mountainous regions.

The Mennonite Church of Vietnam received state recognition of its legal status, while the Assemblies of God of Vietnam, a Protestant sect, received an operating license during the year.

The Tay Ninh Caodaism Church and a number of other sects of Caodaism in 2009 reformed their charter and completed procedures for registration of dignitaries according to legal regulations.

In 2009, 232 religious dignitaries were ordained while nearly 600 others appointed to new posts. Some 190 places of worship were built and upgraded and many others were granted certificate of land use rights.

The second phase of Vietnam Buddhist Academy continued on an area of 10 hectares while the southern city of Can Tho started construction on the Therevada Khmer Academy for Buddhist Studies./.