Two foreigners are detained in HCMC as police investigate them for "illegal trading, organizing illegal use, and illegal use of narcotic substances," in January, 2026. Photo by police
Can foreigners who commit crimes in Vietnam be tried in their home countries instead? A legal expert explains how Vietnamese law applies in such cases.
Reader Lan Anh sent some of these questions to VnExpress:
I have seen reports of foreign visitors committing crimes while traveling in Vietnam.
One friend told me they would be prosecuted under the laws of their home country, while another said they must face trial under Vietnamese law.
