Vietnamese pastors have invited globe-trotting evangelist Luis Palau to lead the first foreign mission to the country since the fall of Saigon in 1975.

The mission is planned for December, although formal permission has yet to be granted by the Vietnamese government.

The invitation was made as Palau met 500 church leaders from across Vietnam, as well as US diplomats and government officials.

The mission will follow the hugely popular format of Palau’s missions in other countries, where crowds have reached the tens of thousands. Live music and action sports demonstrations will form some of the highlights of the programme.

If the mission is approved, it will take place at a strategic time for Christianity in Vietnam, where the government has only recently given permission for Christian events to take place.

In December, some 50,000 people turned up to an outreach in a sports field outside Ho Chi Minh City, despite the authorities giving the go-ahead only 48 hours earlier. An estimated 8,000 people received Christ as Saviour.

The pastors told Palau that big changes were taking place in their country. Palau responded by urging them to respect the nation's leaders and to pray for them. He also challenged them to “keep making great plans and praying great prayers”.

The Luis Palau Association announced last week that Andrew Palau, Luis Palau’s son, is set to lead a 10-day mission across southern England, starting on April 16. He will be accompanied by a Christian skateboard and bicycle stunt team and Noel Tredinnick and musicians from All Souls Orchestra, as they tour a number of towns including Tonbridge, Chesham and Brighton.

Nigel Gordon of the Luis Palau Association commented: "We are delighted Andrew is coming to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to people across southern England later this month. We are sure his talks, together with the action sports, music and other entertainment, will prove a big hit over the next few weeks."