VINH-LONG, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - It is situated in the centre of Cochinchina (Vietnam) and is entrusted to the Vietnamese secular clergy.
It was erected on 8 January 1938, by dismemberment of the apostolic vicariate of Saigon, and comprises the civil provinces of Tra-Vinh, V.-L., Bentrè, and part of the province of Kanto, with a total area of 5,000 sq. km. and a population of 950,000 inhabitants. There are 46,469 Catholics and 1,807 catechumens; 63 native priests and one foreigner; 35 brothers; 20 major seminarians and 120 minor seminarians; 319 nuns. The mission is divided into 7 rural deaneries; 6 quasi-parishes; 31 principal and 108 secondary stations. There are 435 sacred buildings; 3 hospitals; 3 pharmacies; 4 orphanages, and a home for the aged; 90 elementary schools with a total of 9,301 pupils; 3 teacher-training schools. Catholic Action is organized in 25 parish centres.