To what extent can the Catholic Church in Vietnam contribute to both social and political change? Traditionally, scholars have often focused on countries with large Catholic populations, such as Poland or the Philippines, to exemplify the Church's ability to promote political liberalization, while countries with smaller Catholic populations have been largely overlooked. By examining the confrontations and negotiations between the Catholic Church and the communist state in Vietnam, this article demonstrates that such an oversight precludes the recognition of key figures and initiatives that may bring about significant political change.