SW News: A US government commission charged that Vietnam had reneged on its pledges to guarantee religious freedom ahead of US President Joe Biden's visit to the nation to improve diplomatic ties.

The Hanoi government has reportedly given more space in some areas for religious expression since Washington removed Vietnam from its list of countries of particular concern (CPC) regarding religious freedom in 2006, according to a report released by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

But recent crackdowns on civil society, increased pressure on independent religious communities, alarming reports of forced renunciations of faith, and other growing religious freedom violations add up to a clear reversal in that once-positive trajectory, the report added.

The report found that while religious groups experienced relatively greater freedom in urban areas, serious challenges are prevalent in many rural areas.

Vietnam was cited as a CPC in the USCIRF's 2023 annual report because of systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

A weaker designation than that of a CPC but its first since 2006, the US State Department put Vietnam on its Special Watch List last year for violations of religious freedom under the 1998 US Religious Freedom Act.

In light of China's increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific, Washington views Vietnam as a key ally. When Biden visits Hanoi on September 10, it hopes to deepen diplomatic ties there, although analysts note that certain collaboration may be hampered by human rights issues.

Vietnam's constitution allows for freedom of religion and government media have rejected criticisms from groups such as USCIRF.

The USCIRF report said that government authorities continue to closely monitor all religious activity, often harassing, detaining, or otherwise preventing unregistered faith communities from exercising their fundamental right to religious freedom.