At Vinh Quang Prison, the journey of rehabilitation is not defined by rigid discipline alone. It is also shaped by compassion.
When those who have made mistakes are treated with respect, the seeds of goodness within them can be awakened, preparing them for a return to society.
Slices of a “miniature society”
During our visit to Vinh Quang Prison, we gained a glimpse into the rhythm of a distinct community and came to understand a simple truth: human rights begin with the most basic needs.
As we stepped into the kitchen area, large industrial electric pots released thick clouds of steam. The aroma of freshly cooked rice, the scent of pork, and baskets of crisp cabbage evoked the atmosphere of a professional kitchen.
Meals for inmates are prepared according to clearly defined portions, under strict supervision to ensure food safety and hygiene.
One inmate shared: “Every day, we are provided meals in line with regulations, including eggs, meat, fish, tofu, vegetables and peanuts. During Lunar New Year, the meals are even more varied.”
Meals for inmates are prepared with clear portions and strict food safety standards.
Conversations with inmates revealed that provisions for food, clothing, accommodation, daily life and healthcare are all implemented in accordance with legal standards.
“When I first arrived to serve my sentence, I was worried because of an underlying health condition. But here, we receive regular health check-ups and sufficient medication. That care has helped me feel more at ease,” another inmate said.
In addition, inmates are supplied with clothing and essential items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and shampoo. They are also entitled to receive gifts, money and letters from their families.
Spiritual life at Vinh Quang Prison is equally active. Inmates take part in sports and cultural activities after working hours.
During the recent Lunar New Year, different units organized various events, including fruit tray displays, wall newspaper competitions, volleyball, table tennis, shuttlecock kicking and pickleball tournaments.
These everyday details show that although freedom is restricted, the pulse of cultural life continues behind prison walls.
Nguyen Cong Quan, an inmate from Hanoi, shared: “The prison leadership and staff always pay attention to inmates, from meals and rest to healthcare and cultural activities.
In my view, our living conditions are quite adequate. Every day, I strive to improve myself through study, work and vocational training, and take part in collective activities so that I may benefit from the Party and State’s leniency policies and return to society as a better citizen.”
The man, who once held a master’s degree in journalism, admitted that the early days of serving his sentence were marked by emotional instability and uncertainty.
“Thanks to the care and encouragement from officers and the leadership, our mindset has gradually changed.
I want to tell my loved ones not to worry. Life here is like a miniature society where basic rights are ensured, not as people outside might imagine,” he said.
Planting seeds of goodness on barren ground
Wall newspapers created and decorated by inmates.
Inmate Nguyen Cong Quan shares his experience with reporters.
With a modern and humane management approach, the execution of sentences at Vinh Quang Prison is carried out not only through orders, but also through empathy.
Words of encouragement, attentive listening and patient explanations often carry more weight than strict disciplinary measures. When the firmness of the law is combined with compassion, it creates a powerful force for transformation.
Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of Vinh Quang Prison, emphasized the balance between “hard” and “soft” approaches in managing inmates. He recalled the case of an inmate who once violated regulations due to psychological instability upon arrival.
“Through meetings, guidance and sincere encouragement from the staff, that inmate has now become a positive figure, helping convey legal awareness to others,” he said.
He reaffirmed the principle that “while inmates have violated the law and are subject to certain restrictions on civil rights, they do not lose their human rights.” At Vinh Quang Prison, all policies regarding food, accommodation, healthcare, education, labor and family contact are implemented fully and in accordance with regulations.
Literacy classes, legal education sessions and an internal broadcasting system ensure that inmates stay informed and do not fall behind the outside world.
Access to books and information helps them shed outdated thinking, expand their knowledge and better prepare for reintegration into family and society.
Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Hieu highlights the balance between discipline and empathy in prison management.
Management at Vinh Quang Prison combines regulation with compassion to support rehabilitation.
New initiatives, such as allowing inmates to make video calls with relatives, are also being considered to maintain family bonds and provide additional motivation for rehabilitation.
It is clear that a prison is not merely a place for serving sentences. It is also a space where fractured values can be gradually restored, where individuals who have made mistakes are still given the chance to be treated fairly, to learn, to change and to move toward a better path.
As our vehicle left the prison, one officer’s words lingered: “When we treat them with respect and humanity, they respond with a willingness to reform.”
Planting seeds of goodness on land once thought barren is never easy. But with persistence, new life can still emerge, and in that process, human rights are realized in their fullest sense.
According to Article 27 of the 2019 Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments, inmates are entitled to rights including:
Protection of life, health and property, and respect for dignity and honor; being informed of their rights, obligations and prison regulations;
Provision of food, accommodation, clothing, personal items and healthcare; the ability to send and receive letters, gifts and money; access to books, newspapers, radio and television where conditions allow;
Participation in physical exercise, sports and cultural activities;
Opportunities for labor, education and vocational training.
Vietnamnet.vn
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