Vietnam finally ends death penalty for eight crimes!

Vietnam finally ends death penalty for eight crimes!

Today, June 25, 2025, Vietnam took a remarkable step towards reforming its justice systems. Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang announced the abolition of the death penalty for eight specific crimes, including the production and trafficking of counterfeit medicines, drug trafficking and sabotage of state infrastructure. This decision is seen as a response to the changing social and economic conditions in the country. According to Quang's official statement, the current structure of the death penalty is no longer up to date and needs to be adapted to modern circumstances. This reports dhnet.be.

However, the reform does not come without difficulties. Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh explained that in reality courts often impose life sentences instead of death sentences for the above-mentioned crimes, which calls into question the relevance of this punitive measure. A look at the numbers shows that Vietnam sentenced over 150 people to death in 2023, with more than 80 percent of those sentences for drug-related offenses. In addition, there were over 1,200 people on death row at the end of 2024, according to a report by Amnesty International.

Context on the death penalty in the region

The death penalty is a hotly debated issue in many countries in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, for example, around 140 people are still sentenced to death, mostly for drug-related offenses. There, too, the government under President Joko Widodo has rejected all requests for clemency for drug convicts. According to reports, nine drug traffickers sentenced to death will be executed in the near future, including numerous foreigners. This development raises questions about the human rights situation in the region, particularly in comparison to Vietnam, where the reforms could offer a hopeful signal. You can find out more about this at peinedemort.org.

In comparison, the Asia-Pacific region has the highest rate of executions in the world. According to Amnesty International, large numbers of executions continue to occur in countries such as the United States and China. The report shows that the number of new death sentences in Asia Pacific increased by 10% in 2023. While Malaysia has abolished the mandatory use of the death penalty for all crimes, the situation in Vietnam and elsewhere remains tense. Between 50 and 80 new death sentences occurred in Vietnam in 2023, often related to drugs and murder, underscoring the need for further reforms. Details can be found on amnesty.at.

Vietnam's decision is a step in the right direction to improve the human rights situation in the country. However, it remains to be seen how these reforms will be implemented in reality and whether they can bring positive change to the country in the long term.