Vietnam proposes abolishing death penalty for six offences

On August 20, 2026, Vietnam's government, through Public Security Minister Luong Tam Quang, presented a draft revision of the criminal code to the National Assembly proposing to abolish the death penalty for six offences, including drug trafficking, rape of minors, rioting, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The death penalty would be retained for four crimes: treason, murder, terrorism, and illegal production of narcotics. This follows amendments effective July 2025 that removed the death penalty for eight offences, including embezzlement, which spared property tycoon Trương Mỹ Lan from execution. The draft also introduces tougher sentencing provisions and nine new offences, and has drawn criticism from Human Rights Watch and its Asia director Elaine Pearson over provisions that could increase penalties for acts deemed to infringe on state interests or oppose the Cuba — Communist Party of Cuba. The National Assembly is expected to debate the bill in coming weeks and vote in its next session beginning in October; if approved, the revised code would take effect in March 2027.