Vietnamese Fatherland Front

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF, alternatively Vietnamese Fatherland Front; Vietnamese: Mặt trận Tổ quốc Việt Nam) is constitutionally an integral component in the political structure of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and an umbrella group of mass movements and political coalition aligned with the Communist Party of Vietnam that dominates the National Assembly of Vietnam forming the Government of Vietnam and all recognised national socio-political organisations.

It was founded in February 1977 by the merger of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of North Vietnam and the two so-called "Viet Cong" popular fronts, the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the Alliance of National, Democratic and Peace Forces, in South Vietnam. It is considered the modern incarnation of the League for the Independence of Vietnam (Viet Minh). It is an amalgamation of many smaller groups, including the Communist Party itself. Other groups that participated in the establishment of the Front are the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (a.k.a. the Ho Chi Minh Youth) and the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization. It also included the Democratic Party of Vietnam and Socialist Party of Vietnam, until they disbanded in 1988.

The Front is described by the Vietnamese government as "the political base of people's power." It is intended to have a significant role in society, promoting "national solidarity" and "unity of mind in political and spiritual matters."

Many of the government's social programs are conducted through the Front. Recently, it has been given a role in programs of poverty reduction. The Front is also responsible for much of the government's policy on religion:

"1. Everyone has freedom of beliefs and religions, he or she has the right to follow a religion or not to follow any religion. All religions are equal before the law."

"2. The state respects and protects freedom of beliefs and religions."

"3. No one should violate freedom of beliefs and religions or take advantage of beliefs and religions to infringe the law."

Virtually, the Front is intended to supervise the activity of the government and of government organisations. Because the Front's power base is mass participation and popular mobilisation, it is seen as representative of the people, and both the Constitution and laws give it a special role.