Vietnam released more than 18,000 prisoners this morning, including 34 foreigners as part of an amnesty to mark the country 70th National Day. This was the country's' biggest ever release of prisoners yet.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc this morning came to Thanh Xuan Prison in Hanoi's Thanh Oai District to oversee the release. "We hope you’ll return home and reintegrate into society, becoming good citizens," he said to the prisoners.
Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc granted amnesty to the prisoners at Thanh Xuan Prison in Hanoi's Thanh Oai Districton August 31.
Each prisoner was given a set of new clothes, some financial support for public transport fares and food to return home.
Prisoners from Australia, Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand were also released.
A couple reunited
The amnesty policy allows early release for prisoners that have followed prison regulations and shown signs of rehabilitation. The state also helped them re-enter the community.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Security, 82% of inmates released early in the last ten years successfully reintegrated into society and found jobs. Only 3.03% re-offended.
