Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tan of the southern Vietnamese city of Vinh Long has criticized a government decision to tear down a convent and chapel of the Sisters of the Congregation of Saint Paul of Chartres. “I have been living in Vinh Long since September 1, 1953,” the bishop said. “At that time, next to the old Cathedral there was a school, a convent and a chapel belonging to the Sisters of St Paul Congregation. Now all has been reduced to a vacant piece of land. I ask the government to reconsider the decision to demolish the convent and the chapel in order to build a public square on the property where the convent used to be.”

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has released a policy statement saying that any lands under state control that are being used for religious purposes “must be used effectively” and “in a way that do not hurt the feelings of the faithful.” The directive threatens punishment of any individuals or organizations who use the settlement of the properties for purposes that "split national and community unity." The policy is obviously directed against the demonstrations mounted by Catholic activists to protest government confiscation of church properties.