To translate Party guidelines and State policies and laws on belief and religion into everyday practice, raising awareness and bringing into play the bridging role of religious dignitaries, functionaries, monastics, and heads of religious congregational points hold an exceptionally important position.

To concretize this goal, in 2026, the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs organized a Conference on legal dissemination, education, and outreach concerning beliefs and religions for religious dignitaries, functionaries, monastics, heads of congregational points, and followers across a cluster of five communes - Na Sang, Nà Bủng, Nà Hỳ, Mường Chà, and Chà Tở - with the participation of 86 delegates.

Through the conference, delegates were briefed on and internalized core contents regarding Party guidelines and State policies and laws concerning beliefs and religions, as well as outreach and mobilization targeted at ethnic minority groups, reputable figures, and religious dignitaries and functionaries. Additionally, participants exchanged situation updates, identified activities that exploit beliefs and religions to infringe upon security and order within the province, updated their knowledge on state management over belief and religious affairs, received specific instructions on registration procedures for centralized religious congregations, and resolved emerging practical bottlenecks.

Evaluating the efficacy and importance of training and capacity building, Lò Văn Phong, Head of the Belief and Religious Affairs Management Division under the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, noted that training and refresher courses have contributed to raising legal awareness and understanding among dignitaries, functionaries, monastics, and heads of religious points across the area. This equips this contingent to absorb, disseminate, and mobilize followers to execute renewal guidelines and socio-economic development policies, step-by-step elevating the material and spiritual lives of ethnic communities. At the same time, it promotes the tradition of solidarity, contributing to building and consolidating the grassroots-level political system, bolstering national defense and security potential, safeguarding national border sovereignty, and stabilizing political security as well as social order and safety across the territory.

Enhanced awareness and closer coordination between local authorities and religious dignitaries and functionaries have helped bring religious practices into order in line with the law. In Nà Hỳ commune, 36 religious congregational points currently operate with 68 dignitaries and officials. Thanks to effective outreach, mobilization, and legal guidance, 30 congregational points throughout the commune have received certificates for centralized religious congregations to date. This serves as a solid foundation for religious followers to feel assured in practicing their faith stably, healthily, and in full compliance with regulations.

Directly running activities at the grassroots-level, Thào A Cơ, Head of the Congregational Point in Nậm Nhừ 3 village, Nà Hỳ commune, shared his experience in steering religious routines into a law-abiding lifestyle, observing that securing a certificate for centralized religious activities is an important anchor that gives followers absolute trust in Party guidelines and State policies. Since receiving guidance to register for centralized activities in compliance with regulations, the gatherings of the Nậm Nhừ 3 village congregational point have consistently proceeded solemnly, adhered to approved agendas, maintained public order, and avoided complicated issues. Followers regularly remind one another to lead a good secular and virtuous religious life while zealously laboring to develop family economies.

Armed with knowledge and skills acquired from training sessions, leaders of religious points have taken greater initiative in disseminating information and encouraging followers to adhere strictly to Party guidelines and State policies and laws. Thào A Giàng, Head of the Congregational Point in Huổi Đáp village, Nà Hỳ commune, stated that participating in the training enabled them to understand legal regulations better and more clearly identify acts that exploit beliefs and religions to disrupt social order. Returning to the village, he proactively collaborated with local authorities and mass organizations to educate and mobilize followers at the Huổi Đáp congregational point to observe the law strictly, reject instigations from ill-intentioned actors, actively participate in the All People Protect National Security movement, and unite with other ethnic groups to make their village increasingly peaceful and developed.

Prioritizing legal training and awareness raising for religious dignitaries, functionaries, monastics, and heads of religious congregational points represents a correct policy delivering tangible efficacy across Điện Biên province. When every dignitary and official serves as an active outreach campaigner who firmly grasps the law, religious policies are implemented effectively, contributing to safeguarding political security, social order, and safety, while firmly consolidating the great national solidarity bloc across the nation’s border ramparts.