Vietnam criticizes U.S. delegation HANOI - Vietnam on Thursday criticized a U.S. congressional delegation for deviating from its official program to meet with one of the country's top dissidents, calling it ``inappropriate.'' The delegation, headed by Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., was in Vietnam from Jan. 13-17 and met with a number of top government officials. But it also had talks with Thich Quang Do, a high-ranking monk in the banned Unified Buddhist Church, Royce's office confirmed. Do has claimed he is under virtual house arrest by plainclothes police outside his monastery. ``No visit was on the official itinerary agreed to by the two countries. If there really was such a visit, we feel it should not be done by an official visiting delegation,'' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh told a bimonthly press briefing for foreign correspondents. Royce's press agent Brian Wilkes confirmed the meeting, saying the legislator didn't want to call attention to it. He said Royce was among a number of officials who nominated Do for the Nobel Peace Prize. While relations have warmed between Vietnam and the United States in the five years since the two countries normalized relations, Hanoi remains sensitive to criticism of its human rights record. Vietnam says freedom of religion is enshrined in its constitution and denies imprisoning anyone for their religious or political beliefs. But saying patriotism comes first, the government maintains tight controls over churches, including appointments by the Roman Catholic church. In addition, any religion that is not sanctioned by the government is considered superstition that must be wiped out. Associated Press - January 20, 2000.