their religion quietly, and the first Baháʼí group was established in Hanoi. In 1996, the Universal House of Justice sent a message to Baháʼís in a number of Southeast Asian countries, particularly calling "the sorely tried, steadfast and devoted friends" in Vietnam to demonstrate to the authorities and to their leaders that "Baháʼís, obedient and loyal to their governments, desire but the prosperity of their nations and the upliftment of their peoples." In 2000, Baháʼís in Da Nang were reportedly unable to obtain approval of an application for registration of official religious activities, and in 2001, the Vietnamese government reportedly turned down an attempt by the national Baháʼí community to register its activities because they "had not yet met the administrative criteria for registration." The difficulties encountered by the Baháʼí community were far from unique. While Vietnam had ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR) which has provisions for religious freedom (Article 18), and its own Constitution upholds religious freedom, the U.S. State Department reported in its 2001 International Religious Freedom Report that the Vietnamese government "continued to restrict" certain organized activities of religious groups, noting that "many of these restrictive powers lie principally with provincial or city people's committees, and local treatment of religious persons varied widely." End of proscription and recent developments With time, the fortunes of the Vietnamese Baháʼí community continued to improve. Baháʼís in Ho Chi Minh City were allowed to hold a quiet ceremony in May 2004 to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Baha'i Faith in the country. By 2006, Baháʼí community leaders reported having "good relations with authorities", and that the Baháʼís "appeared to be able to practice their faith without significant harassment." In November of that year, the US State Department reported that restrictions were being eased. Finally, after many years of progress, the Baháʼí community was officially registered in early 2007, receiving a certificate of operation from the governmental Committee for Religious Affairs. Following a year-long probationary period, its nine-member National Spiritual Assembly was elected and its charter adopted on 21 March 2008, at a national congress in Ho Chi Minh City coinciding with the Baháʼí holy day of Naw-Rúz. The event was attended by over 250 delegates and visitors. The National Spiritual Assembly received its certificate of national recognition in July 2008, setting the stage for Local Spiritual Assemblies to be registered as well. With