Vietnam’s government has proposed abolishing the death penalty for six offences, including drug trafficking and the rape of minors, under a revised criminal code presented to parliament on Thursday, state media reported.
Public Security Minister Luong Tam Quang told the National Assembly that the draft code would retain capital punishment for only four crimes: treason, murder, terrorism and the illegal production of narcotics.
Death penalty scope narrowed
The Public Security Ministry said earlier this week that narrowing the scope of capital punishment would institutionalise the Party’s policy, align Vietnam with progressive legislative trends and enhance the country’s standing in criminal judicial cooperation, extradition and mutual legal assistance.
The proposal follows amendments that took effect in July 2025, removing the death penalty for eight offences, including embezzlement and activities aimed at overthrowing the government.
Those changes spared property tycoon Truong My Lan from execution after she was convicted in a US$12 billion fraud case.
Under the latest draft, other offences that would no longer carry the death penalty include rioting, crimes against humanity and war crimes, according to online newspaper VnExpress.
Tougher provisions also proposed
While reducing the number of offences punishable by death, the draft would also introduce tougher sentencing provisions.
The proposed amendments would allow prosecutors to consider aggravating factors involving offenders who flee and become subjects of wanted notices, as well as crimes committed against the state, according to the Public Security Ministry.
Human Rights Watch, however, raised concerns over other proposed changes that would increase penalties for acts deemed to ‘infringe upon the interests of the state’ and ‘oppose the Communist Party of Vietnam’.
Elaine Pearson, the group’s Asia director, said Vietnam’s criminal laws should be revised to provide greater protection for people’s rights rather than facilitate greater abuse by the police.
Parliament expected to debate bill
The National Assembly is expected to debate the bill in the coming weeks before bringing it to a vote at its next session, which begins in October.
If approved, the revised criminal code would take effect in March 2027, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.
Data on capital punishment is a state secret in Vietnam, and the number of people currently on death row is not publicly known.
Lethal injection remains the country’s only method of execution following the abolition of firing squads in 2011.
