Capital punishment is a legal penalty inVietnam for a variety of crimes.
TheHuman Rights Measurement Initiative[1] gives Vietnam a score of 5 out of 10 on the right to freedom from the death penalty, based on responses from human rights experts in the country as of 2024.[2] These experts have also identified that certain groups, such as migrants or immigrants, people with low social or economic status, and refugees or asylum seekers are particularly at risk of having their right to freedom from the death penalty violated. In 2021, these experts additionally identified "politicians or government employees, particularly those who are convicted on corruption charges" and "detainees or prisoners, especially those from low socioeconomic backgrounds and who have low education levels", as being especially vulnerable to death penalty executions.[3]
Twenty-nine articles in thePenal Code allow the death penalty as an optional punishment. Executions were once carried out by afiring squad of sevenpolice officers, where the prisoners were blindfolded and tied to stakes. The firing squad was replaced bylethal injection in November 2011 after the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments (in article 59(1)) was passed by theNational Assembly of Vietnam.[4][5] The drugs used to execute prisoners are produced domestically.[6] The first execution conducted by lethal injection was of Nguyen Anh Tuan, convicted ofmurdering gas station employee Bui Thi Nguyet on August 6, 2013.[7]
In November 2015, a revision of the Penal Code was passed that severely curtailed the application of death penalty. Under the new regulations, which took effect on July 1, 2016, the death penalty was abolished for seven crimes: surrendering to the enemy, opposing order, destruction of projects of national security importance, robbery, drug possession, drug appropriation, and the production and trade of fake food. In addition, those 75 or older are exempt, and officials convicted of corruption charges can be spared if they pay back at least 75% of the proceeds they illicitly obtained.[8]
The death penalty cannot be applied tojuvenile offenders, pregnant women, and women nursing children under 36 months old at the time the crime was committed or being tried. These cases arecommuted tolife imprisonment in case of conviction.[9]
Between August 6, 2013, and June 30, 2016, Vietnam executed 429 people.[6] 1,134 people were sentenced to death between July 2011 and June 2016.[6] The number of individuals ondeath row is not known.[6]
On May 27, 2025, TheNational Assembly of Vietnam began deliberations on agovernment proposal to end thedeath penalty for some offences, includingdrug trafficking and some national security crimes, and replace them withlife in prison without parole.[10]
On 25 June 2025, the death penalty was abolished for embezzlement, vandalising state property, manufacturing fake medicine, jeopardising peace, triggering invasive wars, espionage and drug trafficking. It was still retained for ten offences like murder, child rape, treason and terrorism.[11]
According to the Penal Code, the following chapters contain the relevant articles that apply to capital punishment.
| Chapters | Articles |
|---|---|
| XIII - Crimes of Infringing Upon National Security | 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114, 115 |
| XIV - Crimes of Infringing Upon Human Life, Health, Dignity and Honor | 123, 141, 142 |
| XV - Crimes of Infringing Upon Citizens' Democratic Freedoms | None |
| XVI - Crimes of Infringing Upon Ownership Rights | 168, 174 |
| XVII - Crimes of Infringing Upon the Marriage and Family Regimes | None |
| XVIII - Crimes of Infringing Upon the Economic Management Order | 188, 190, 203 |
| XIX - Environment-related Crimes | None |
| XX - Narcotics-related Crimes | 248, 249, 252 |
| XXI - Crimes of Infringement Upon Public Safety, Public Order | 282, 299 |
| XXII - Crimes of Infringing Upon Administrative Management Order | None |
| XXIII - Crimes Relating to Position | 353, 354, 364 |
| XXIV - Crimes of Infringing Upon Judicial Activities | None |
| XXV - Crimes of Infringing Upon the Duties and Responsibilities of Army Personnel | 395, 399, 401 |
| XXVI - Crimes of Undermining Peace, Against Humanity and War Crimes | 421, 422, 423 |
Penal Code No. 100/2015/QH13
