HANOI – Vietnam has officially abolished the death penalty for eight major crimes, including espionage, bribery, and anti-state activities, according to an announcement by state media on Wednesday.
Starting July 1, the number of crimes punishable by death will drop from 18 to just 10. This move comes after Vietnam’s National Assembly approved amendments to the country’s penal code.
Among the crimes no longer punishable by death are attempting to overthrow the government, sabotaging state infrastructure, producing counterfeit medicine, and illegally transporting narcotics. Espionage, embezzlement, and taking bribes were also removed from the list.
Instead of capital punishment, offenders convicted of these crimes will now receive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. This shift aims to better reflect current social and economic realities, officials said.
Public Security Minister Luong Tam Quang acknowledged that the old structure of capital punishment did not align well with Vietnam’s changing conditions and goals for crime prevention.
Justice Minister Nguyen Hai Ninh added that this legal change will improve Vietnam’s international cooperation, especially as the country builds stronger diplomatic ties. Past data shows that many death sentences for such crimes were not carried out anyway.
According to the new law, all individuals who were sentenced to death for the now-exempted crimes before July 1 will have their sentences automatically converted to life imprisonment by the Supreme People’s Court.