“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and Vietnam will be saved!”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household(Acts 16:31,NIV).”
》 Country Profile
Continent | Southeast Asia
Population | 103.8 million
Area | 331,210㎢ Located on the eastern and southern coastline of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.
Capital City｜ Hanoi (5.06 million people)
Major City | Ho Chi Minh City (9.07 million people)
People Groups ｜ Total 119 Groups (Vietnamese 83%, Thai 1.9%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.4%, others 4.3%
People Groups Unreached | 68 (57.1% of the population)
Offical Language(s) ｜ Vietnamese
Total Languages ｜ 113
Bible translations ｜ Complete 24, New Testament 14, Partial 17
Religion ｜ Christian 8.5% (Protestant 1.1%, Catholic 7.4%), Buddhist 14.9%, Non-religious 73.7%, Ethnic religion 11.4%, Others 2.9% Evangelical 2.4% 2.51 million people
》 About Vietnam
Vietnam’s location has made it a target for foreign invasions throughout its history. Even though it was under Chinese rule for a long time, Vietnam built its own dynasties and unique culture, adopting things like language and systems from China. From the 10th century to the 19th century, Vietnam remained independent. However, in 1858, France began invading, and by 1884, Vietnam became a French colony. In 1945, Vietnam declared independence and formed the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, but foreign powers returned, causing political problems until 1954.
In 1954, North Vietnam, led by a communist government, defeated the French, and the country was split into North and South. A war between the two sides lasted over 20 years. The United States, worried about communism spreading in South Vietnam, joined the war in 1961, with support from countries like South Korea and the Philippines. However, North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, won the war. In 1976, the country was unified under the name Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Today, Vietnam is still ruled by the Communist Party, and in March 2023, Vo Van Thuong was elected president.
Vietnam’s economy grew rapidly after launching the “Doi Moi” (Renovation) policy in 1986, which opened up the country and shifted to a more centralized and planned market system. Oil is a major export and the country’s largest source of income. Over 60% of workers are in farming, forestry, and fishing, with rice, coffee, and pepper being important exports. The COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic slowdown badly affected the service and transportation industries, as well as retail. However, Vietnam has benefited from global companies moving their operations out of China due to U.S.-China trade issues.
Vietnam’s GDP per capita is approximately $8,200.
》 Scripture Focus
| 2 Corinthians 10:3-9(NIV) 3. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. 7. You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. 8. For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. |
》 Prayer Points
1. After many years of foreign invasions and a tough fight for independence, Vietnam became the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976. Although it is still a communist country, Vietnam has moved towards a market economy to grow its economy. As the country develops, it is becoming more interested in Western ideas and the benefits of foreign investments. This change has given the church opportunities to grow, but it has also led to increased persecution.
Let us pray that Vietnam turns away from false hopes and finds the true and unchanging hope in Jesus Christ. Let us also pray that the power of the cross will free Vietnam from the darkness of communism and old traditions of idol worship. Ask that every thought be brought into obedience to Christ.
2. In 1911, a missionary from the Christian and Missionary Alliance first brought the Gospel to Da Nang, Vietnam. In 1975, when the communist government took control, many churches were closed, and believers had to meet secretly in their homes. Despite this, the church in cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi has grown. Grace Baptist Church now has 500 members, and there are 70 Baptist churches across the country. The United Gospel Outreach Church, which has 300 house churches, also continues to expand. Local church leaders formed the Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship, a network of 30 churches. In 2023, Vietnam ranked 25th for religious persecution, with many Evangelical Christians in rural areas facing increasing difficulties. Even though the government tries to block the spread of the gospel, Let us give thanks for the revival God is bringing to the church and pray that the hymns of victory will continue in Vietnam.
3. In 2018, Vietnam introduced the “Law on Belief and Religion,” which requires all religious groups to register with the government and report their activities. This law has caused many church leaders, especially in the northern regions where 34 ethnic minority groups live, to face strong persecution. Even with these challenges, church leaders continue to travel by motorbike to serve hundreds of house churches in the remote mountains. Despite the obstacles, the gospel has reached 2.5 million people. Let us pray that the church stays faithful in sharing the gospel and becomes a light for those trapped by worldly desires, leading them to serve the living God.
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