Vietnam
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- communist state
- CONSTITUTION
- April 15, 1992
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on communist theory and the French system
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- People's Supreme Court, head elected for five years by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the President
RELIGIONS
9.3% Buddhists, 6.7% Catholics, other minorities, 80% none
From the country
JULY 9, 2018VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: MURDERER OF 5 SENTENCED TO DEATH
The HCM City People’s Court handed down the death sentence to Nguyễn Hữu Tình, 18, after he admitted to murdering five members of a family in Bình Tân District last February.
- JUNE 13, 2018VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM - 2 SENTENCES
HEROIN AND METHAMPHETAMINE
- JANUARY 1, 2018VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment remains for crimes
Capital punishment remains for crimes such as murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse of children.
DECEMBER 12, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: THREE PEOPLE RECEIVE DEATH SENTENCES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Hanoi People’s Court has sentenced three people to death for drug trafficking and transportation.
- OCTOBER 25, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM TO SCRAP DEATH PENALTY FOR 5 FELONIES UNDER AMENDED PENAL CODE
The amended 2015 Penal Code of Vietnam, which will take effect at the start of 2018, will no longer impose the death penalty on those found guilty of five felonies.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTY
EX-CHIEF OF PETROVIETNAM SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR EMBEZZLEMENT
A court in Vietnam has sentenced the former head of state-owned oil-and-gas giant PetroVietnam to death after finding him guilty of embezzlement and abuse of power in a high-profile corruption case.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: HEROIN TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A court passed a death sentence on a 30-year-old man from Vietnam's Hanoi capital for trafficking over 230.5 kg of heroin and illegally possessing military weapons.
JULY 13, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: NEW LAW TO ENABLE CORRUPT OFFICIALS TO ESCAPE DEATH PENALTY BY PAYING BACK STOLEN MONEY
Amendments to Vietnam’s Penal Code, which takes effect in January 2018, give those found guilty of corruption and bribery the chance to escape the death sentence if they return 75 percent of their ill-gotten gains.
JUNE 16, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: EIGHT VIETNAMESE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
Eight Vietnamese, including two women, received death sentence after a court in the northern province of Hoa Binh found them guilty of trafficking 541 packs of heroin, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported, citing the court verdict.
MAY 30, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN SMUGGLING
A Vietnamese drug lord who continued to run his smuggling network from prison was sentenced to die alongside four of his lieutenants, an official said.
- MARCH 22, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: 9 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Vietnamese state media say a court has sentenced nine men to death for trafficking more than 1,000 pounds of heroin.
FEBRUARY 22, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: HANOI COURT SENTENCES TWO VINASHIN EXECS TO DEATH
The People’s Court in Hanoi sentenced Tran Van Liem, former director general of Vinashin Ocean
