In response to questions from the media about Vietnam's reaction to the October 14, 2009 Press Release by U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, which raised conerns about several cases related to human rights and religious freedom, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's Spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga on October 15, 2009 states:

“The Vietnamese state always respects citizens’ rights to democratic freedom, freedom of belief and religion and creates favorable conditions for its citizens to exercise their rights. Like in other countries, however, violations of law, which do harm to the national security, order and stability, shall be strictly dealt with in accordance with the laws. The prosecutions and trials of these law violators by the Vietnamese judiciary authorities are in compliance with the Vietnamese laws and in line with various international conventions on human rights such as the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The information relating to some individuals and cases mentioned in the October 14, 2009 press release by the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam is completely incorrect. Regrettably, though the Embassy was provided with and facilitated to obtain objective information about Vietnam, that biased press release fails to accurately reflect the situation. Those demands mentioned in the press release represent an interference into Vietnam's internal affairs. "