The atheist dictatorship Vietnam persecute all kinds of religions. In particular, Christians are most affected. Open Doors has ranged Vietnam on place 21. The country's Communist regime can close churches without any reason. In 2012 the regime closed at least seven Catholic churches. A Catholic orphanage was also closed and a pastor was beaten by the regime's authorities. In the Vietnamese countryside, the situation is worse as in the cities, because tribal leaders discriminate against Christians for their faith.