Leaders of Bình Dương Provincial Police present the 2025 Presidential Amnesty Decisions to eligible inmates. VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — In a moment of profound significance, detention centres and prisons across Việt Nam held official ceremonies to announce the President’s 2025 amnesty decision.

For many inmates, the event marked not just a formal release, but a powerful symbol of redemption and the promise of a new beginning.

After serving time and demonstrating genuine effort in rehabilitation, inmates expressed overwhelming joy and hope for the future as they prepared to rejoin their families and communities.

For Trương Tấn Trường, an inmate at the Nghệ An Provincial Police Detention Centre, April 30 became a day to remember. A native of Anh Sơn District, Trường was serving a 30-month sentence for disturbing public order. Reflecting on his journey, he said the sentence was long enough for him to deeply grasp the consequences of his actions.

"After undergoing a positive rehabilitation process, today I’ve been granted amnesty and can return to my family and society. I'm both nervous and overjoyed. I’m deeply grateful for the President’s clemency, which has given people like me a chance to start over," Trường said.

Holding his amnesty decision with a beaming smile and eyes full of hope, Hồ Viết Cường, 38, from Diễn Châu District, recalled his path to freedom. Sentenced to five years for trafficking prohibited goods, Cường learned about the President’s amnesty decision through public announcements and clear guidance from prison officers. Motivated by the possibility of redemption, he submitted a formal request to be considered.

"I'm grateful to the State for this clemency policy, which allows us to rebuild our lives. I also want to thank the prison staff for creating an environment where we could learn a trade and work seriously – giving us the tools to become useful members of society," he said.

Cường also urged fellow inmates to maintain discipline and work toward rehabilitation, so they too might earn a second chance.

Hà Giang Provincial Police carry out administrative procedures for eight inmates granted presidential amnesty.

To ensure fairness and transparency, Nghệ An Police authorities published all amnesty criteria and established a dedicated Amnesty Review Committee. The committee rigorously evaluated each case based on legal guidelines and inmate conduct.

Lieutenant Colonel Cao Thanh Hải, Deputy Head of the Criminal Judgment Enforcement and Judicial Support Department (PC10), confirmed that 41 inmates at the provincial detention center were eligible and approved for amnesty this April 30.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Hoàng Đức Thanh, Deputy Warden of the detention facility, efforts to support reintegration have included vocational training, legal education and career orientation. These programmes aim to equip inmates with the knowledge and motivation needed to reintegrate successfully and contribute to their families and communities.

On May 1, similar amnesty ceremonies took place across the country. In Hà Giang Province, the provincial police held a ceremony to grant amnesty to eight inmates who had shown consistent effort and improvement. Authorities emphasised that the process was conducted in strict accordance with legal guidelines and the instructions of the Central Amnesty Advisory Council, ensuring fairness and transparency from the inmate group level upward.

For those not yet eligible, police officers encouraged continued good conduct and rehabilitation, emphasising that opportunities for clemency remain for those who genuinely strive to change.

In Cần Thơ, 22 inmates from the city’s detention center and local holding facilities received presidential pardons. At Hồng Ca Prison, under the Ministry of Public Security’s General Department VIII in Yên Bái Province, 58 inmates were granted amnesty. In Bình Dương Province, 61 inmates at the provincial detention center received clemency.

These individuals demonstrated exemplary discipline, remorse and determination to reform. During the ceremonies, authorities also facilitated the issuance of national ID cards for amnestied inmates – a step aimed at helping them quickly reintegrate, find employment and rebuild their lives. — VNS