The information was announced on May 30 at a press conference jointly organised by the Office of the President, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme People’s Court.

Under the decision, the amnesty takes effect from June 1, 2026.

Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Office Can Dinh Tai noted that the decision carries profound political, legal and humanitarian significance, reflecting the consistent lenient policy of the Party and State toward inmates who have shown genuine repentance, demonstrated good rehabilitation progress and expressed a desire to reintegrate into society.

According to the official, Vietnam is committed to strictly handling violations of the law, but emphasised that the ultimate goal of justice is not only punishment, but also education, rehabilitation and creating opportunities for offenders to correct their mistakes and become productive members of society.

2026 marks an important stage as Vietnam begins implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, laying foundations for rapid and sustainable development as well as improved national governance. In that context, the amnesty policy continues to affirm the message that no one is left behind if they are genuinely determined to reform and rebuild their lives.

The Presidential Office reported, all amnesty applications were carefully reviewed by relevant authorities to ensure objectivity, transparency and compliance with legal regulations before being submitted to the State President for final approval.

Under Vietnamese law, amnesty is a special act of clemency decided by the State President, allowing early release for prisoners serving fixed-term sentences or life sentences later commuted to fixed-term imprisonment. Such decisions are typically announced on major national occasions or in special circumstances.

Since 2009, Vietnam has carried out 12 amnesty rounds for approximately 118,000 prisoners.

Most individuals granted amnesty have successfully reintegrated into society, stabilised their lives, engaged in productive work and complied with the law after returning to their local communities. Some have gone on to become successful businesspeople or active contributors to social activities in their localities.

Notably, the recidivism rate among amnesty beneficiaries has remained very low. Following the most recent amnesty in 2025, only 13 out of 22,089 released prisoners reoffended, equivalent to around 0.06%.

According to Vietnamese authorities, recent amnesty programmes have received broad public support and positive recognition from the international community, further highlighting the humanitarian nature of Vietnam’s criminal justice policy and its commitment to protecting and promoting human rights.

Vietnam announces 2026 amnesty, reinforcing rule of law and humanitarian balance

VOV.VN - Vietnam on April 9 announced its 2026 amnesty decision, reaffirming a consistent policy that balances the strict enforcement of law with humanitarian considerations, while ensuring transparency, fairness and effective reintegration of eligible inmates.