Vietnam has announced it will release almost 14,000 prisoners, including dozens of foreigners, ahead of its upcoming National Day celebrations — marking the largest single-year amnesty in the country’s history.
The decision was disclosed on Friday by Can Dinh Tai of the president’s office, who said that starting Monday, authorities will “grant amnesty to 13,915 prisoners serving prison sentences.”
Among those set to be freed are 66 foreign nationals from 18 countries, including China, South Korea, the United States, and Australia.
Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Van Tuyen described the release as unprecedented. “The total number of prisoners released this year is the biggest ever,” he said at a news briefing.
Vietnam customarily grants pardons ahead of major national events. Earlier this year, more than 8,000 inmates were freed to mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.
However, under Vietnamese law, prisoners convicted of terrorism or attempting to overthrow the government remain ineligible for amnesty.
Since 2009, more than 100,000 prisoners have been released early under similar schemes, though human rights activists note that political dissidents have never been included.
Currently, over 190,000 inmates are serving jail terms across the country. The announcement comes as Vietnam prepares to celebrate 80 years of independence from French colonial rule on Tuesday, with a parade scheduled in the capital, Hanoi.
