BUICHU, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. — On 5 September 1848, the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Tonkin was detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Tonkin (v. HAIPHONG) and entrusted to the Dominican Province of the Philippines. In 1924, it was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Buichu. In 1936, the province of Thaibinh (v.) was separated from it to form the Apostolic Vicariate of the same name.
Territory: 1,273 sq. km.; total population (approx. 1946): 875,000 inhabitants, mostly Annamites. Catholics: 181,324; catechumens: 504; Protestants: 70; pagans: 693,676. The 11 districts, with 7 primary stations and 420 secondary ones (314 churches and 183 chapels), are served by 155 Annamite secular priests, 12 Dominicans, 34 laymen, and 4 Brothers of the Christian Schools; 429 nuns, of whom 421 are Annamite, plus 270 catechists. Elementary schools: 388 (1,331 pupils); one secondary school (300 pupils); one for catechists (45 pupils). Other institutions: a probatory, a minor and regional seminary, a Dominican novitiate, a hospital with a dispensary, an old people’s hospice, and 38 orphanages (156 orphans). The vicariate’s printing press publishes the periodical *Daminh-ban-nguyet* (2,500 copies).
Evangelization progresses slowly due to the scarcity of missionary personnel. To the famine, which has also decimated the Catholics, is now added the communist threat.