Hanoi: Vietnam has granted amnesty to more than 18,000 prisoners to mark the 70th anniversary of its independence from France.

Giang Son, deputy chairman of the President's Office, told a news conference Friday that 18,539 inmates were granted amnesty under two directives signed by President Truong Tan Sang. They will be released from prisons starting Monday. He says the amnesty reflects a tradition for mercy in Vietnam as well as the government's clemency policy.