At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ regular press conference on April 5, spokesperson Lê Thị Thu Hằng maintained that there are no "prisoners of conscience" in Việt Nam and that no one here is arrested for expressing their beliefs and opinions, but “all illegal activities will be punished by law, just like in every other country.”.

Vice President and Secretary General of the Việt Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Đôn Tuấn Phong presented the Medal for Peace and Friendship among Nations to outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Việt Nam Lee Hyuk in recognition of his remarkable contributions to promoting the two countries’ friendship and co-operation.

The Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS) has been an important forum contributing to maintaining and promoting peace, stability and security in Asia-Pacific and the world, said Vietnamese Defence Minister General Ngô Xuân Lịch.

The National Assembly’s Judicial Committee held a plenary session on April 5 to examine the draft revision to the Law on Amnesty.

The Hà Nội People’s Court on April 5 handed down a jail sentence of 15 years to Nguyễn Văn Đài for “trying to overthrow the people’s administration” under Clause 1, Article 79 of the 1999 Penal Code.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has suggested the Mekong River Commission (MRC) give priority to fully and effectively implementing the 1995 Mekong Agreement and promoting its monitoring and coordinating role in performing the commitments of the MRC member countries. 

Six defendants, including members and leader of the Hội anh em dân chủ (Brotherhood for Democracy) went on trial today in Hà Nội for alleged attempts at overthrowing the Government.

The latest revision on the draft law for special administrative and economic zones are considered to have properly absorbed feedback and made changes to several items including planning and special development mechanisms or organisation of the special zone’s government.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techno Hun Sen on the sidelines of the third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Siam Reap, Cambodia, on April 4.