The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has proposed the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, place Vietnam back on the list of CPC nations for thwarting religious freedom within the country.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, the spokesman called the USCIRF recommendation 'utterly groundless' and 'completely out of place within the context of the current situation in Vietnam and the increasingly positive relations enjoyed by Vietnam and the US '.

"In Vietnam, the right to freedom of belief and religion is protected by law. In practice and reality, Vietnamese people enjoy the right to follow or not to follow any belief or religion that they choose," the spokesman said.

He pointed to the fact that more than 20 million Vietnamese practise different religions without external pressure being placed upon them and that the vast majority of the country believes in the worship of their ancestors. Vietnam is currently home to over 60,000 religious dignitaries from a myriad of religions and 30,000 places of worship.

The spokesman lamented the Commission's decision saying that Vietnam has held a series of frank and open dialogues with the US on issues concerning freedom of belief and religion to enable the later to gain a greater understanding of the reality of the situation inside the country.

He also highlighted the recent 12th round of human rights dialogue held by the two sides in Washington on April 24 as proof of Vietnam's commitment to supplying the US with its updated policies and developments regarding freedom of belief.