Identifying content and conduct

Through a link he came across online, Cháng A Sùng, a resident of Co Đứa hamlet, Na Sang commune, learned about the so-called “Bà cô Dợ” illegal religious sect. After accessing its content several times, he came to believe in it and eventually became a “group leader” within the sect. That, however, happened several years ago.

After following the group for some time, Sùng realized that its propaganda ran counter to the customs of the Hmông people and contradicted the doctrines and rules of religions recognized by the State. He and his family voluntarily left the group.

Sùng said: “Everyone should strictly comply with regulations governing religious activities and remain vigilant. Do not believe or follow the propaganda and rhetoric of the “Bà cô Dợ” sect.”

The Constitution affirms the right to freedom of religious belief and religion, and the State respects and protects this right. The law strictly prohibits the abuse of religion to violate the law. The key distinction lies in the content, purpose, conduct and consequences of an activity for security and public order, national unity, and the lawful rights and interests of others, not in whether a person practices a religion.

According to Colonel Vàng Văn Thành, Deputy Head of PA02 Division under Điện Biên provincial Police, warning signs include distorting religious teachings, rejecting traditional customs, portraying individuals as possessing supernatural powers, and promising cures or material benefits to attract followers. More serious cases involve inciting ethnic or religious divisions, separatism or demands for autonomy; urging people to stop working, fail to fulfill their civic obligations, or engage in activities that threaten security and public order.

On social media, misleading content can be embedded in videos, edited lectures, invitations to prayer or private groups. Such content may be explained in ethnic minority languages and passed on through acquaintances, making it particularly likely to gain people’s trust. Officials must identify the source of dissemination, the individuals influencing others, the purpose and the consequences, while avoiding subjective judgments.

Na Sang commune has Catholic and Protestant communities, with 25 registered places of worship where believers conduct group religious activities. At Protestant Group No.1 in Huổi Lóng hamlet, group leader Sình A Dua helps local residents distinguish legitimate religious activities from unlawful or misleading content and reminds believers to maintain solidarity and comply with the law. When he encounters unusual preaching or teachings, he discusses them with the hamlet head and commune authorities for verification.

Nguyễn Võ Nam, Deputy Chairman of the Na Sang commune People’s Committee, said the commune maintains regular coordination among the Vietnam Fatherland Front, police, border guard forces, hamlet heads, respected community members and leaders of religious groups, and dispatches officials to hamlets when unusual signs emerge. Officials meet with families to verify information and encourage them to address the situation; where there are signs of violations, relevant agencies coordinate to take appropriate action.

Taking early action and addressing each case appropriately

To respond proactively, information must first be verified and the role of each individual clearly established. Those who have been led astray because of a lack of information should be engaged in dialogue and helped to recognize misleading or unlawful content. Where leaders or organizers collect money illegally, distribute unlawful materials, incite divisions or threaten security, the authorities must consolidate evidence and take action within their legal authority.

This makes it essential to maintain a firm grasp of local conditions while monitoring the online environment, and to promote the roles of commune police, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, border guard forces, hamlet heads, respected community members, religious dignitaries and religious leaders. Information must be addressed when unlawful activities are still at an early stage, preventing them from developing links across multiple localities. Efforts to persuade those who have been recruited or influenced must go hand in hand with firm action against those who mastermind such activities.

To strengthen grassroots capacity to identify and address such activities, the Department of Ethnic Affairs and Religious Affairs recently coordinated with Điện Biên provincial Police to provide training for commune and ward officials on legal knowledge and skills for identifying activities that abuse religion to undermine security and public order. The training also covered case studies and coordination mechanisms, including information requiring verification, situations in which officials should meet with families, when to mobilize respected community members, and when to report cases to specialized forces.

In early May 2026, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religious Affairs, in coordination with the Department of Ethnic Affairs and Religious Affairs, held a conference to provide guidance on Protestant activities for 120 leaders at different levels of the Vietnam Good News Mission Church from Điện Biên, Sơn La, Lào Cai and Tuyên Quang. Participants were briefed on relevant laws and administrative procedures and discussed measures to prevent the abuse of religion to undermine the great national unity bloc.

Consistently upholding the principle that the protection of freedom of religious belief and religion must go hand in hand with preventing the abuse of religion to violate the law, the Internal Security Division of Điện Biên provincial Police has completely dismantled all five reactionary organizations. It has also successfully carried out numerous operations, foiled plots to incite armed riots and establish a so-called “Hmông State” in Mường Nhé, prosecuted 20 suspects, arrested 19 ringleaders and neutralized 28 others involved.

Alongside strict action against ringleaders, the authorities have persistently conducted legal education, outreach and persuasion efforts to reform those involved and completely eliminate the activities of followers of the so-called “Giê Sùa” and “Bà cô Dợ” sects. These efforts have persuaded 174 households, comprising 1,559 people, to abandon unlawful activities.