Vietnam has officially moved to reduce the scope of its capital punishment measures, as the 15th National Assembly decisively voted to abolish the death penalty for eight specific criminal offenses. The crimes affected by the amendment include embezzlement, bribery, counterfeiting medicines, espionage, drug trafficking, vandalism of state property, sabotage, and extortion of measures aimed at overthrowing the government. This major step saw overwhelming support, with 429 out of 439 delegates, nearly 90 percent of the legislative body, voting in favor. For more detailed information, see the official announcement by the National Assembly.
Under the revised Criminal Code, the maximum penalty for these offenses will now be life imprisonment. Transitional provisions ensure that any death sentences already handed down for these crimes will be commuted to life imprisonment by July 1, 2025. This legislative change was driven by calls to rectify existing inequalities and inconsistencies in the capital punishment system, as highlighted by the Minister of Public Security, Lương Tam Quang. For a deeper insight into the perspective behind these amendments, visit the minister’s remarks.
Under these new provisions, notable individuals such as Trương Mỹ Lan, a former chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Group convicted for a $12 billion embezzlement scheme, will have their sentences converted to life imprisonment. Her case exemplifies the direct implications of the amendment, as reported by the New York Times.
The decision aligns Vietnam with a broader international trend towards the abolition of the death penalty. As of 2025, over 70 percent of countries have eradicated capital punishment from their legal systems. However, Vietnam maintains the death penalty for 19 offenses, including murder and treason. Continuing concerns regarding due process and transparency in capital punishment cases were expressed by organizations such as Amnesty International. Vietnam’s secrecy surrounding executions remains a significant hurdle in evaluating the practical impact of the new law, as noted by Amnesty’s Death Penalty Advisor Chiara Sangiorgio. Read more about her analysis and the current report by Amnesty International.
This policy reform, while significant, is part of an ongoing global conversation on human rights and criminal justice. The debate about the overall efficacy and morality of the death penalty remains active, particularly in regions where capital punishment still plays a central role in law enforcement.