HANOI, Vietnam — 20 August 2026, state media reported that the Vietnamese government had proposed abolishing the death penalty for six offenses, including illegal drug trafficking and the rape of minors, as part of amendments to the country’s Penal Code submitted to the National Assembly on Thursday.
Luong Tam Quang, Vietnam’s Minister of Public Security, told the National Assembly that under the draft amended Penal Code, the death penalty would remain for only four offenses: treason, murder, terrorism and the production of illegal drugs.
The proposal follows legal amendments that took effect in July 2025, which abolished the death penalty for eight offenses, including embezzlement and activities aimed at overthrowing the government.
The earlier amendments helped controversial real estate tycoon Truong My Lan avoid the death penalty after she was convicted in a fraud case involving US$12 billion, or about 390 billion baht.
Under the latest draft, other offenses that would no longer carry the death penalty include rioting, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
However, while the amendments would reduce the number of offenses punishable by death, they would also introduce tougher penalties in some areas. The Ministry of Public Security said the changes would allow prosecutors to take aggravating circumstances into account when sentencing offenders who have fled and are wanted by authorities, as well as those who commit crimes against the state.
Human Rights Watch has expressed concern over other proposed changes that would increase penalties for acts deemed to violate state interests and oppose the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, said Vietnam’s criminal laws needed to be amended to better protect people’s rights, rather than giving police greater powers that could be abused.
Vietnam’s National Assembly is expected to debate the proposed amendments in the coming weeks before putting them to a vote during its next session, scheduled to begin in October.
If approved, the amended Penal Code is expected to take effect in March 2027.
