TWR-Asia: Vietnam
TWR-Vietnam Website
Country Profile
Vietnam is known around the world as a country that was torn apart by war. Even though the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the majority of the people are still poor.
To improve the situation, the authorities implemented reforms to modernize the economy and produce more competitive, export-driven industries. Despite this shift, almost 80 percent of the country’s poor still depend on agriculture for their livelihood (Ruralpovertyportal.org). About 23 percent of the population lives below the national poverty line of US$1.25 a day (UNICEF). Over the years, life in the big cities has also improved, and more young people are now leaving the rural areas to look for jobs in the cities.
In a country of about 88 million people, Christianity makes up about 8.2 percent of the total population. While the constitution allows for religious freedom, all religions – including the country’s main religion, Buddhism – are placed under strict control.
Needs
The gospel has little impact on the community because the percentage of Christians is low. This has resulted in moral decline, and issues such as sexual immorality, abortion, gambling, drinking, and drug addiction are affecting more young people. The good news is that, as the country opens up, more Vietnamese are responding to the gospel.
As the number of believers increase, so does the likelihood of false teaching and error. This is because opportunities for theological training are few and far between. The few official seminaries are highly monitored, and while there are a few informal study programs and Bible schools in a few locations (Operation World, 21st Century Edition), they are not enough to cater to the needs of Vietnamese Christians and church leaders.
Another main area of need is that of women. Vietnam is a source and destination country for human trafficking. Many Vietnamese women and girls are trafficked through Vietnam to other South-east Asian countries for sexual exploitation, especially Cambodia. The World Human Rights Organization and UNICEF estimate that one-third of the prostitutes in Cambodia are under the age of 18, the majority of whom are Vietnamese (East Meets West Foundation).
Domestic violence is also another issue that affects women. According to local newspaper reports, a woman dies from domestic violence every three days in Vietnam. Some of the causes of domestic violence include poverty, alcoholism, low levels of education, and traditional views of men as undisputed heads of the household.