On the afternoon of April 9, the Presidential Office coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Supreme People's Court to hold a press conference to announce the 2026 Amnesty Decision of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Can Dinh Tai - Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Office - said that amnesty is one of the legal institutions stipulated in the Constitution and the Law on Amnesty in 2018.
Amnesty work is a major and consistent policy of the Party and the State, reflecting a policy of leniency and humanity.
2026 is a year of particularly important significance, marking a transition to a new stage of national development, associated with many strategically significant political events; and also an occasion to celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of the South and national reunification.
At the request of the Government, on April 7, 2026, General Secretary and President To Lam signed Decision No. 457 on amnesty for 2026.
The issuance of the amnesty decision on the first working day of the President of the State for the 2026-2031 term has consistently shown the viewpoint of the Party and State: Firmly abide by the principle of supremacy of law, maintain discipline and law. At the same time, implement humanitarian policies responsibly, closely linked to the requirements of social management" - Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Office Can Dinh Tai emphasized.
According to the Resolution on amnesty in 2026 of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, implementing amnesty and early release from prison for people sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment, life imprisonment on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of the South, national reunification (April 30, 2026), celebrating the success of the 14th National Congress of the Party, the election of National Assembly deputies of the 16th term and the election of People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.
The time after serving a prison sentence for special amnesty consideration is until May 31, 2026. Subjects eligible for special amnesty include: People serving a fixed-term prison sentence, people sentenced to life imprisonment who have been reduced to fixed-term imprisonment, people who are being temporarily suspended from serving a prison sentence.
The conditions for being proposed for amnesty are also clearly stated in the decision. The President's decision also clearly states 15 cases that are not proposed for amnesty.
At the press conference answering reporters' questions about the results of credit policy for people who have completed their prison sentences, Senior Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen - Deputy Minister of Public Security - said that implementing Decision No. 22/2023 of the Prime Minister on credit for people who have completed their prison sentences, by April 2026, nearly 15,000 people had borrowed with capital of nearly 1,300 billion VND to invest in production, business, and stabilize their lives.
Units, localities and the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies have made many recommendations to continue implementing this policy. The Ministry of Public Security is also presiding over and coordinating with agencies and sectors to amend and supplement in the direction of creating more favorable conditions and increasing credit lending levels.
Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Van Tuyen also exchanged more about the new points of Decision 457 on amnesty in 2026 compared to the amnesty decision in 2025 (phase 2).
Decision 457 also adds the phrase "minimum" in point a, clause 1, Article 3 stipulating the conditions for being proposed for special amnesty. In Article 4, cases not proposed for special amnesty are supplemented in clauses 5, 8, 14 and 15.
