Vietnam, SEA – Vietnam National Assembly unanimously ratified the amendment to the Criminal Code on Wednesday (June 25, 2025), regarding the abolishment of death penalties for eight crimes that are set to be implemented next month.
The government opted to introduce life time imprisonment, ending the capital punishment to cases including vandalizing of state facilities, fake production of medicines, jeopardizing peace, illegal drugs, spying, graft, and bribe taking.
According to Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh, one of the reasons for this move is the imposition of death penalties to the innocent ones.
In line with this, this amendment will serve as a way for Vietnam to have a mutual trust with other countries internationally.
It can be recalled that the death penalty, particularly the lethal injection had replaced the firing squad execution implemented in 2013.
Meanwhile, 10 crimes in Vietnam still carry the death penalty, including murder, treason, terrorism, and sexual abuse of children, among others. — Maica Villegas, Contributor