Vietnam Proposes Ending Death Penalty For 6 More Offenses
At the same time, the government is introducing tougher sentencing provisions for acts deemed to undermine the state or the authority of the ruling Communist Party.
Vietnam's government has proposed ending the use of the death penalty for six additional offenses as part of a broader overhaul of the Penal Code. The draft revision, presented to the National Assembly, would remove the death penalty for drug trafficking, the rape of minors, crimes against humanity, war crimes, treason, murder, terrorism, and the illegal production of narcotics.
If approved, the death penalty would only remain for treason, murder, and terrorism – crimes already punishable by life imprisonment. This change follows Vietnam's removal of the death penalty for eight other crimes in 2023, including embezzlement, bribe-taking, espionage, and narcotics trafficking. Over the past four decades, Vietnam has steadily reduced the scope of capital punishment, from 44 offenses in 1985 to just four today.
The proposal comes after real estate tycoon Truong My Lan, convicted of her role in a $12 billion corruption scandal, received a life sentence instead of death. The revisions also increase penalties for offenses against state interests or the Communist Party, including vague provisions used against critics. Human Rights Watch expressed concern over potential rights abuses, while the Ministry of Public Security aimed to maintain strong sanctions for serious offenses.
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