Vietnam proposes reducing death penalty offences to four under draft criminal code

Vietnam's government has proposed reducing the number of offences punishable by death to four under a draft criminal code, little more than a year after the country removed capital punishment for eight other crimes.

Under the new draft, the death penalty would be scrapped for six offences, including drug trafficking and the rape of children under 16. Treason, murder, terrorism and the illegal production of narcotics would remain punishable by death.

Vietnam had already narrowed the scope of capital punishment in July 2025, dropping eight offences from the list. They included embezzlement and activities aimed at overthrowing the government. One consequence of those changes was that property tycoon Truong My Lan, convicted in a $12 billion fraud case, no longer faced execution.

State media reported on Thursday that the proposed criminal code had been presented to the National Assembly. The draft would also remove capital punishment for rioting, crimes against humanity and war crimes, Reuters reported.

“The narrowing of the scope institutionalises the Party's policy, aligns with progressive legislative trends, and enhances Vietnam's standing in criminal judicial cooperation, extradition and mutual legal assistance,” the Public Security Ministry said in a statement earlier this week.

The proposed code, however, does not move uniformly towards lighter punishment. Alongside reducing the number of capital crimes, it would allow tougher sentencing in some circumstances.

The draft would allow prosecutors to consider aggravating factors when offenders flee and become subjects of wanted notices, as well as in cases involving crimes committed against the state, according to the Public Security Ministry.

Human Rights Watch has separately raised concerns about other proposed changes in the code. The group said some amendments could increase penalties for acts deemed to “infringe upon the interests of the state” or “oppose the Communist Party of Vietnam”.

“Vietnam's criminal laws need to be revised to become more protective of people's rights, not to facilitate greater abuse by the police,” said Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch's Asia director.

The extent to which Vietnam currently uses capital punishment remains unclear because data on executions and death sentences is classified as a state secret. The number of people on death row is therefore not publicly known. Lethal injection has been Vietnam's only method of execution since firing squads were abolished in 2011.

Lawmakers are expected to examine the bill in the coming weeks, with a vote due during the National Assembly's next session in October. Tuoi Tre newspaper reported that the revised criminal code would take effect in March 2027 if it wins approval.