Last updated on 1 July 2013 – 05:50pm
The disturbance started early Sunday at the Xuan Loc jail in Dong Nai province, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Ho Chi Minh City.
According to reports on dissident blogs, the jail holds a number of high-profile political prisoners.
Some 50 prisoners “smashed the prison and took the jailor hostage”, state-run Tien Phong newspaper reported.
One policeman was slightly wounded in the fray, it added.
Guards regained control of the prison several hours later and the prison chief was released.
Police lieutenant general Ho Thanh Dinh said the disturbance “was ignited by some leading prisoners,” without specifying whether they were political prisoners.
“We identified about 40 prisoners (who organised the riot and hostage-taking). They will be punished in accordance with the law,” Dinh told Thanh Nien Daily newspaper.
The prisoners staged the riot to demand better food and treatment in the prison or to be moved to another detention facility, Dinh added.
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