I. Introduction: Faith Under Fire 
Vietnam, a one-party socialist state, tightly controls religious activity through state-sanctioned organisations. Groups and communities that refuse to submit to state oversight face harassment, intimidation, and persecution. The government views independent religious practice as a threat to social and political stability, leading to systematic crackdowns on communities seeking to worship freely. This repression forces many believers to practise in secret or seek refuge abroad. 

II. State Control of Religion 
The Vietnamese government requires all religious groups to register with state-controlled bodies. Only organisations approved by the state are permitted to operate legally, while unregistered groups are labelled ‘illegal’ and subject to constant scrutiny. This system ensures the Communist Party maintains dominance over spiritual life. 

III. Crackdowns on Independent Christian Groups 
Independent Protestant and Catholic groups are among the most frequent targets of repression. Churches that refuse to register face raids, property confiscations, and the arrest of clergy. Worshippers are often pressured to renounce their beliefs or join state-controlled religious organisations. 

IV. Harassment of Buddhists Outside State Authority 
Buddhist groups not aligned with the state-approved Vietnam Buddhist Sangha also face harassment. Leaders of independent Buddhist sects are subjected to surveillance, house arrest, or detention, while their followers risk intimidation for attending services. This pressure forces many communities into secrecy. 

V. Montagnard and Hmong Believers 
Ethnic minority religious groups, such as Montagnard and Hmong Christians, face some of the harshest treatment. These communities are frequently accused of disloyalty to the state, leading to forced evictions, arrests, and beatings. Their persecution has sparked waves of migration to neighbouring countries and beyond. 

VI. Surveillance and Raids 
Independent religious groups are closely monitored by authorities, with informants placed in communities. Raids on prayer meetings or private gatherings are common, with participants detained or fined. The fear of surveillance discourages open worship and isolates communities. 

VII. Pressure to Register with the State 
Authorities pressure unregistered groups to register under state supervision, stripping them of independence. Those who resist are labelled as subversive or anti-state, often resulting in persecution of both leaders and ordinary believers. 

VIII. Legal Mechanisms of Repression 
Vague laws, such as those criminalising ‘undermining national unity,’ are frequently applied to unregistered religious groups. These provisions allow the government to justify repression under the guise of protecting public order, while systematically eroding freedom of belief. 

IX. Impact on Families and Communities 
Crackdowns extend beyond individuals to their families and communities. Children of persecuted believers face discrimination in schools, while families are ostracised and denied access to basic services. This collective punishment further marginalises minority faiths. 

X. Migration and Asylum 
Faced with persecution, many religious minorities choose to migrate. Asylum seekers frequently cite harassment, raids, and lack of religious freedom as reasons for fleeing. Diaspora communities abroad provide both solidarity and advocacy, raising awareness of repression at home. 

XI. International Criticism 
Vietnam’s repression of religious groups has drawn criticism from international human rights organisations and foreign governments. Despite this, authorities continue to crack down on unregistered groups, prioritising control over genuine freedom of belief. 

XII. Conclusion: Faith or Fear 
Religious groups outside state control in Vietnam face systematic crackdowns that undermine their right to worship freely. Until meaningful reforms dismantle the state’s monopoly over religion, believers will remain trapped between repression at home and exile abroad. The persistence of these communities, however, shows that faith continues to survive even under oppression.