Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Vietnam Proposes Ending Death Penalty for Six Offences
Vietnam is considering using the death penalty for fewer crimes.
A proposed law would remove six offences from the list of crimes punishable by death.
Drug trafficking and raping minors are among the offences included.
The death penalty would remain for treason, murder, terrorism and illegally producing narcotics.
The proposal also covers rioting, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Vietnam already removed the death penalty for eight offences in July 2025.
The National Assembly will discuss and vote on the proposal.
If approved, the new rules would begin in March 2027.
Vietnam’s government has proposed abolishing capital punishment for six offences, including drug trafficking and the rape of minors.
The draft criminal code would retain the death penalty for treason, murder, terrorism and illegal narcotics production.
Other offences proposed for removal from the death-penalty list include rioting, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The proposal follows July 2025 amendments that eliminated capital punishment for eight offences, including embezzlement and efforts to overthrow the government.
The National Assembly is expected to debate the bill before voting in October; if approved, it would take effect in March 2027.
- Who
- Vietnam’s government and Public Security Minister Luong Tam Quang presented the proposal to the National Assembly.
- What
- A draft criminal code would abolish the death penalty for six offences while retaining it for four crimes.
- When
- The proposal was reported on August 20, 2025; debate is expected in the coming weeks, with a vote scheduled for the National Assembly’s session beginning in October.
- Where
- Hanoi, Vietnam, and the National Assembly.
- Why
- The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security said narrowing capital punishment reflects the Party’s policy, follows progressive legislative trends and could improve Vietnam’s position in criminal-justice cooperation.
- Proposed change
- Abolition of the death penalty for six offences
- Death penalty retained for
- Treason, murder, terrorism and illegal production of narcotics
- Offences named for removal
- Drug trafficking, rape of minors, rioting, crimes against humanity and war crimes
- Earlier reform
- Eight offences were removed from the death-penalty list in July 2025
- Next legislative step
- National Assembly debate and vote, expected at the session beginning in October
- Potential effective date
- March 2027, if approved
- Execution method
- Lethal injection; firing squads were abolished in 2011
- Data availability
- Capital-punishment figures are a state secret, and the number of people on death row is unknown