Vietnam announces amnesty decision for 2nd round in 2025
Over the years, the State has conducted multiple rounds, benefiting hundreds of thousands of prisoners who qualified for amnesty due to good conduct, learning, and working, allowing them to reintegrate into the community and society.
At the press conference to announce the State President’s decision on amnesty for the second round in 2025 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A press conference was held in Hanoi on July 7 to announce the State President’s decision on amnesty for the second round in 2025, on the occasion of the upcoming 80th National Day (September 2, 1945-2025).
Earlier, in the first round on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975-2025), the State President granted special amnesty to over 8,000 prisoners ahead of their scheduled release. Despite the large number of individuals who received amnesty, political security and social order and safety have been maintained, with no complications arising from those granted the reprieve.
Vice Chairman of the Presidential Office Pham Thanh Ha said that amnesty is stipulated in Article 88 of the Constitution and codified through the 2018 Amnesty Law, which replaced the 2007 version.
Over the years, the State has conducted multiple rounds, benefiting hundreds of thousands of prisoners who qualified for amnesty due to good conduct, learning, and working, allowing them to reintegrate into the community and society. This affirms the consistent policy of the Party and State in promoting and protecting human rights fairly and equally for all citizens, including those serving prison sentences.
Individuals subject to amnesty include prisoners serving fixed-term sentences, those initially sentenced to life imprisonment but later reduced to fixed terms, and those with temporarily suspended sentences.
However, the President's decision also specifies 14 categories ineligible for clemency, including those convicted of treason, espionage, conducting activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration, violating territorial security, rioting, and terrorism. Those previously granted amnesty, having two or more prior convictions, facing ongoing criminal investigations for other offences, or having a prior conviction and committing another intentional crime will not qualify.
For special cases, the Government, in coordination with the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and relevant agencies, will prepare detailed dossiers for submission to the President for consideration.
Answering questions from the press, Senior Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Public Security, stated that this is not the first time there have been two amnesty rounds in a year. Previously, there were two occasions when two amnesty rounds took place in the same year, in 2009 (on April 30 and September 2) and 2011 (in January and on September 2). The year 2025 marks numerous signi𝓰ficant events and major celebrations of the nation, he addꦬed./.
Amnesty is of particular importance in 2025 as it is carried out amid the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, said Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet.
A press conference took place in Hanoi on March 4, to announce the State President’s amnesty decision on the occasion of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, and national reunification (April 30).
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son separately met with Lao, Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 58) and Post Ministerial Conferences in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 8.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son commended the AICHR’s contributions over the past 15 years and expressed confidence in its continued role in advancing the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and other regional cooperation strategies.
The amnesty embodies the Party and State’s dual approach: strict legal enforcement paired with humane and rehabilitative policies toward remorseful offenders, said Permanent Deputy PM Nguyen Hoa Binh.
Knapper described the Joint Statement on the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023, signed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden, as a "historic achievement", with both sides valuing collaboration in high technology, particularly semiconductors.
APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2027 is a major international event receiving close attention and guidance from the Party General Secretary, the Party, the State, and the Government, with support provided through 10 special policies for Kien Giang province (now An Giang province).
PM Pham Minh Chinh ’s July 4–8 trip to Brazil aimed to further implement Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. It conveyed Vietnam’s image as a trusted partner in the international community, adding new dimensions to strategic partnerships and opening a new chapter of cooperation that meets the needs and interests of both countries, especially in a time of complex global developments.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that the Party and State of Vietnam highly valued the diverse and substantive outcomes of recent high-level exchanges, which have helped advance the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held separate meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ali Bin Al Sayegh in Rio de Janeiro on July 7 (local time) as part of his Brazil visit for the expanded BRICS Summit.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed the two sides soon negotiate and sign an agreement on investment promotion and protection, an agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, and an agreement on cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
PM Chinh proposed that the two countries jointly develop an action plan to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership for the 2025–2030 period, while promoting cooperation in economy, trade, investment, agriculture, and emerging sectors such as digital economy, green transition and energy.
He reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, and its readiness to contribute responsibly and actively to global environmental and health cooperation.
Vietnam treasures and promotes multifaceted cooperation with Chile, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during his meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS summit on July 7 (local time).
UNESCO was founded on November 16, 1945, and Vietnam officially became a member of the organisation in July 1976, marking one of the country’s important steps in the process of global integration.
Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 7 sent messages of sympathy to US President Donald Trump upon receiving news of the devastating flash floods that struck Kerr county, Texas, on July 4.
Committee members voiced support for a project on studying the establishment of a public lawyer mechanism in the socialist rule-of-law State of Vietnam. They said such research will help meet the practical need of protecting State interests, as government agencies and state-owned enterprises are facing growing legal risks related to foreign investment and trade, as well as civil, administrative, financial, asset, and land-related relationships.
In the first half, Vietnam's defence cooperation with other countries, particularly with neighbours and key partners, was strengthened. Meanwhile, multilateral defence diplomacy contributed to building trust, securing international support, and advancing collaboration in other areas.
In the first half of 2025, the Party Central Committee, and its Politburo and Secretariat issued over 100 documents on Party building and the prevention and control of corruption, wastefulness, and other negative phenomena. The National Assembly amended several articles of the 2013 Constitution, and passed 38 laws and 45 resolutions.
Vietnam not only provides updates on its progress but also shares practical experiences, contributing to global discussions on common concerns. These efforts have been met with positive feedback from international partners, reinforcing Vietnam’s standing and credibility at multilateral forums, including the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
