Wed Jun 25 05:58:08 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Vietnam’s National Assembly unanimously ratified an amendment to the Criminal Code, abolishing the death penalty for eight offenses, including embezzlement, actions against the government, vandalism, fake medicine production, jeopardizing peace, invasive war instigation, espionage, and drug carrying. The maximum punishment will now be life imprisonment, with sentences of those awaiting execution for these crimes to be commuted to life imprisonment. This change benefits real estate tycoon Truong My Lan, sentenced to death for embezzlement. Ten offenses, including murder, treason, terrorism, child sexual abuse, and drug trafficking, will still carry the death penalty.

**News Article:**

**Vietnam Abolishes Death Penalty for Several Offenses, Spares Tycoon’s Life**

**HANOI, June 25, 2025** – In a significant move towards reforming its criminal justice system, Vietnam will abolish the death penalty for eight offenses starting next month, the National Assembly announced Wednesday. The unanimous ratification of the amendment to the Criminal Code signifies a shift in the country’s approach to punishment.

The offenses decriminalized from capital punishment include embezzlement, activities aimed at overthrowing the government, vandalizing state property, manufacturing fake medicine, jeopardizing peace, triggering invasive wars, espionage, and carrying drugs. The maximum sentence for these crimes will now be life imprisonment.

The decision will have an immediate impact on those currently on death row for these specific crimes. Their sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment, most notably benefiting real estate tycoon Truong My Lan, chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, who was sentenced to death last year for her involvement in a $12-billion fraud case.

“According to the amendment of the Criminal Code, her sentence will automatically be reduced to life imprisonment,” lawyer Ngo Anh Tuan, confirmed to Reuters.

While the abolition marks a notable step, capital punishment will remain in place for ten offenses, including murder, treason, terrorism, sexual abuse of children, and drug trafficking.

Vietnam maintains strict secrecy surrounding capital punishment data, making it difficult to ascertain the exact number of individuals currently on death row. Lethal injection has been the sole method of execution since firing squads were abolished in 2011.

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