As many as 20 foreign nationals among over 3,700 inmates have been paroled in Vietnam this year, according to State President To Lam’s amnesty decision taking effect on Tuesday.

The pardoned foreigners include nine Chinese nationals, three Laotians, two Cambodians, two Americans, and the rest hailing from other nations, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet told a press conference in Hanoi on the announcement of the 2024 amnesty decision on Monday.

These individuals had previously been jailed for murder, smuggling, gambling, and organizing illegal stays in Vietnam, Hung said.

“After the release, the Ministry of Foreign Affair would send diplomatic notes to the diplomatic agencies of relevant nations to complete related procedures and receive the pardoned foreigners,” the deputy minister stated.

At a press briefing, Pham Thanh Ha, Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Office, announced that 3,763 prisoners and two inmates with suspended sentences are eligible for this year’s amnesty.

He emphasized that the annual amnesty reflects Vietnam's humanitarian tradition and the Party and state’s leniency policy, which aims to encourage inmates who demonstrate good behavior in prison to repent after their release.

Ha also noted that there was no discrimination in the parole consideration process, regardless of whether the prisoners are Vietnamese or foreign nationals.

In late July, State President Lam signed a decision to pardon inmates serving fixed jail terms or suspended sentences, and to commute life sentences to fixed prison terms.

This decision was made in honor of the 79th National Day on September 2 and the 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation on October 10.

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