Vietnam abolishes death penalty for eight crimes

Vietnam has enacted significant legal reforms by abolishing the death penalty for eight criminal offenses, a change that took effect on June 26, 2025. The National Assembly passed this law with a near-unanimous vote, indicating strong legislative support for this reform. The crimes for which the death penalty has been removed include bribery, embezzlement, espionage, drug trafficking, and attempts to overthrow the government. This shift in the legal landscape marks a pivotal change in Vietnam's approach to justice, particularly in light of high-profile cases such as that of Truong My Lan, a real estate tycoon sentenced to death in April 2024 for her role in the largest financial fraud case in the country’s history. With the abolition of the death penalty for these offenses, Lan and others previously condemned are now eligible for reduced sentences, including potential life imprisonment without parole. The implications of this new law are far-reaching, not only for Truong My Lan's case but also for similar ongoing legal proceedings in Vietnam, indicating a broader trend towards more lenient penal policies. Affected individuals previously sentenced to death but not executed by July 1, 2025, will have their sentences converted to life imprisonment following a decision from Vietnam's Supreme People's Court, thereby alleviating concerns of capital punishment for numerous defendants in the country.