Nguyen Lan Thang has chosen to not appeal his conviction for “anti-state propaganda” and has begun serving his five-year sentence, according to his wife. Le Bich Vuong went to visit her husband at the pre-trial detention center on June 15 only to learn that he had been transferred to Thanh Hoa Prison No. 5 earlier that morning. She said Thang decided not to appeal in order to “lessen the pressure on the family” and because “appeals never change the result but only lengthen the time he has to suffer the terrible conditions” at the detention center. Thang also told her that he viewed his prison term as “a long trip away from home about equal to the time he spent in college.”

His wife, Mrs Le Bich Vuong, told RFA Viet 20 June:

'On 15 June I went to Hoa Lo prison (temporary detention centre no. 1, Hanoi) as part of a regular timetable, to send in supplies for him, only then I was told he has been sent to prison 5 (Thanh Hoa province) that morning.'

The fact that he has been sent to prison to serve his 6 years sentence means he has waived his right to appeal. Mrs Vuong said her husband had explained to her his decision:

'First, to reduce the pressure that his family and people outside is subject to; second, appeals in [sensitive] cases like his don't change anything, while conditions in the temporary detention centre is appalling.'

Mrs Vuong added, as Mr Thang didn't plead guilty [for anti-state propaganda under sec 117], he had no hope his sentence will be reduced on appeal. So he accepts the punishment, seeing his imprisonment as a long journey or a new course of study, of similar duration as his past university course.