The legislative National Assembly is scheduled to discuss reports on three draft laws - the revised Penal Code, the revised Criminal Procedure Code, and the revised Law on Organization of Criminal Investigation Agencies as part of its first extraordinary sitting.
The amendments to the Penal Code focus on four major areas - revising and supplementing provisions on offenses and penalties; revising provisions on grounds for exclusion, postponement and exemption from criminal liability and the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution; and ensuring consistency, feasibility and sound legislative drafting.
A key proposal is to narrow the scope of application of the death penalty for six offenses. The current Penal Code prescribes the death penalty as the highest punishment for 10 offenses. The government proposes abolishing the death penalty for six, namely rebellion, rape of persons under 16, illegal drug trafficking, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and terrorism aimed at opposing the people's administration, which is expected to be incorporated into the offense of terrorism.
Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang delivers the proposal on the draft revised Penal Code, and the draft revised Law on Organization of Criminal Investigation Agencies at a National Assembly session in Hanoi, Aug. 20, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phong
