Vietnam proposes ending death penalty for 6 offences

Hanoi, Vietnam - The Vietnamese government has proposed abolishing the death penalty for six offenses, including drug trafficking and the rape of minors, as part of a revision of the country's criminal code, state media reported. Public security minister Luong Tam Quang told parliament that capital punishment would only remain for treason, murder, terrorism, and illegal narcotics production.

The move aligns with global trends and improves Vietnam's standing in international criminal justice cooperation. The proposal follows July 2025 amendments that removed the death penalty for eight offenses, sparing individuals like property tycoon Truong My Lan from execution.

The draft law would also introduce stricter sentencing provisions, allowing prosecutors to consider aggravating factors for crimes against the state and acts infringing on state interests. Human Rights Watch expressed concern about these potential increases in penalties, emphasizing the need to protect people's rights rather than provide more police abuse.

The National Assembly is set to debate the bill in the coming weeks before voting, with implementation scheduled for March 2027. The exact number of individuals currently on death row in Vietnam remains undisclosed, as capital punishment data is classified. Lethal injection is the sole method of execution in the country, following the abolition of firing squads in 2011.