In a landmark decision, Vietnam’s Parliament has unanimously ratified significant amendments to its penal code, effectively abolishing the death penalty for eight major criminal offenses including embezzlement, espionage, and state sabotage. This pivotal change, enacted on June 25, 2025, aims to modernize the nation’s legal structures and facilitate international cooperation in anti-corruption efforts. Among the notable individuals affected by this amendment is Truong My Lan, a prominent property tycoon previously sentenced to death in connection with a staggering $12 billion fraud case in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam Reforms Penal Code: Death Penalty Abolished for Major Crimes
Vietnam Reforms Penal Code: Death Penalty Abolished for Major Crimes
Vietnam has officially abolished the death penalty for several key criminal offenses, aligning its legal system with international standards.
The legislation not only helps to spare the life of Lan but is also seen as a strategic move to aid Vietnam in extraditing individuals accused of financial crimes who might otherwise evade justice due to the country’s previous capital punishment policies. Nguyen Minh Duc, a police lieutenant general and deputy chair of the parliamentary committee on national defense and security, emphasized how the revised law would bolster Vietnam's lengthy anticorruption campaign. The nation has faced challenges in securing the extradition of fugitives blamed for corruption-related offenses due to its severe penalties including the death penalty.
This reform follows the trend seen since 1985 when the death penalty could be imposed for 44 different offenses; that number has now been reduced to just ten, bringing the country more in line with global practices. Experts like Nguyen Ngoc Chi, a former deputy head of the law department at Vietnam National University, express hope for the complete abolition of the death penalty in the future.
As Vietnam moves towards enhancing its legal framework and aligning with international norms, the recent revisions highlight the critical balance the government seeks between maintaining law and order and fostering cooperation in a globalized world.
This reform follows the trend seen since 1985 when the death penalty could be imposed for 44 different offenses; that number has now been reduced to just ten, bringing the country more in line with global practices. Experts like Nguyen Ngoc Chi, a former deputy head of the law department at Vietnam National University, express hope for the complete abolition of the death penalty in the future.
As Vietnam moves towards enhancing its legal framework and aligning with international norms, the recent revisions highlight the critical balance the government seeks between maintaining law and order and fostering cooperation in a globalized world.
