The Vietnamese government has announced plans to release nearly 10,000 prisoners, including dozens of foreign nationals, as part of a nationwide amnesty marking the country’s recent parliamentary elections.

According to authorities, 9,950 inmates will be freed at the beginning of June under an amnesty order signed by To Lam.

Vietnam, a communist state, regularly grants amnesties to commemorate major national events and political milestones. The latest release follows the country’s National Assembly elections held earlier this year and is also being presented as a celebration of the successful conclusion of the ruling Communist Party’s political processes.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Van Tuyen told a news conference on Saturday that the amnesty was intended to mark the success of the Communist Party Congress and the elections to the National Assembly.

Foreign Nationals Included

Among those scheduled for release are 63 foreign prisoners, comprising 56 men and seven women of various nationalities. Authorities did not disclose the identities or countries of origin of the foreign inmates.

Vietnam’s National Assembly, elected in March, serves as the country’s highest legislative body and is responsible for approving major decisions made by the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.

Restrictions on Eligibility

Under Vietnamese law, prisoners convicted of offenses such as attempting to overthrow the government or engaging in terrorism-related activities are not eligible for amnesty.

The government said the latest move continues a long-standing policy of granting early releases to eligible inmates as part of national celebrations and political events.

Last year, Vietnam released more than 22,000 prisoners — the largest single-year amnesty in its history — during commemorations marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the 80th anniversary of the country’s declaration of independence.

Official figures from the Ministry of Public Security indicate that more than 190,000 prisoners are currently serving sentences across the country. Authorities estimate that approximately 118,000 inmates have benefited from amnesty programmes and early-release initiatives over the years.

The latest prisoner release is expected to take effect in early June.