Full and detailed criminal law amendments and supplements in the US

Full and detailed criminal law amendments and supplements in the US Full Text of the 2025 Law Amending and Supplementing the Penal Code Officially Enacted – Download the Complete Law No. 86/2025/QH15

Table of Contents

• Full Text of the 2025 Law Amending the Penal Code Officially Enacted

• Download Law No. 86/2025/QH15

• Key Amendments in the 2025 Penal Code

• Official Criminal Penalties under Current Law

• Applicable Version of the Penal Code
  Full and detailed criminal law amendments and supplements in the US

Full Text of the 2025 Law Amending and Supplementing the Penal Code – Officially Enacted

On the morning of June 25, 2025, at the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly, with 429 out of 439 delegates voting in favor (accounting for 89.75% of total delegates), the National Assembly officially passed the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Penal Code, Law No. 86/2025/QH15.

📄 Download the full official text of the amended Penal Code 2025 here:

🔗 [DOWNLOAD]

Key Highlights of the 2025 Amendments to the Penal Code

(1) Terminal Cancer Patients Exempt from Execution of Death Sentence

According to Clause 1, Article 1 of Law No. 86/2025/QH15, which amends Clause 3, Article 40 of the 2015 Penal Code, the following individuals shall not be subject to execution of the death penalty:

• Pregnant women or women raising a child under 36 months;

• Persons aged 75 or older;

• Persons diagnosed with terminal-stage cancer.

(2) Commutation of Life Sentences in Corruption and Bribery Cases Requires Asset Recovery

As per Clause 4, Article 1 of the 2025 Law, amending Clause 1, Article 63 of the 2015 Penal Code:

Persons sentenced to life imprisonment for embezzlement or accepting bribes may only be considered for sentence reduction if they voluntarily return at least three-quarters of the misappropriated or bribed assets and actively cooperate with authorities or achieve significant merit in the fight against crime.

(3) Death Penalty Abolished for Eight Offenses
Full and detailed criminal law amendments and supplements in the US

The 2025 amendment abolishes the death penalty for the following crimes:

1. Activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration (Article 109)

2. Sabotaging infrastructure of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Article 114)

3. Producing or trading counterfeit medicines for treatment or prevention (Article 194)

4. Illegally transporting narcotics (Article 250)

5. Undermining peace, waging aggressive war (Article 421)

6. Espionage (Article 110)

7. Embezzlement (Article 353)

8. Bribery (Article 354)

(4) Introduction of New Offense: Illegal Use of Narcotic Substances

Clause 20, Article 1 of the amended law adds Article 256a to the 2015 Penal Code, criminalizing unauthorized use of narcotics, with the following penalties:

• Imprisonment from 2 to 3 years if the offender is:

  • Undergoing compulsory detoxification or substitution therapy;

  • Under post-detoxification management;

  • Within 2 years of completing such management;

  • Within 2 years of voluntarily discontinuing detox or substitution therapy.

• Repeat offenders shall face 3 to 5 years in prison.

(5) Doubling of Fines for Crimes Related to the Environment, Food Safety, and Narcotics

The amended law doubles the maximum fines for the following offenses:

• Causing environmental pollution (Article 235)

• Violating hazardous waste management regulations (Article 236)

• Illegal production of narcotics (Article 248)

• Illegal possession of narcotics (Article 249)

• Illegal trading of narcotics (Article 251)

• Violating food safety regulations (Article 317)

Full and detailed criminal law amendments and supplements in the US

(6) Death Sentences Issued Before July 1, 2025, to Be Converted to Life Imprisonment

According to Clause 2, Article 4 of the amended law: For cases where the death sentence was issued prior to July 1, 2025, and has not yet been carried out, the sentence will not be executed. The Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court will issue a decision commuting the sentence to life imprisonment.

Official Criminal Penalties under Current Law

As per Article 32 of the 2015 Penal Code, criminal penalties are classified as follows:

Main Penalties:

• Warning

• Fine

• Non-custodial reform

• Expulsion

• Fixed-term imprisonment

• Life imprisonment

• Death penalty

Additional Penalties:

• Prohibition from holding positions, practicing professions, or performing specific jobs

• Prohibition from residence

• Probation

• Revocation of certain citizenship rights

• Confiscation of property

• Fine (if not imposed as the main penalty)

• Expulsion (if not imposed as the main penalty)

Each offense shall carry only one main penalty, but one or more additional penalties may be applied where necessary.

Which Version of the Penal Code Is Currently in Effect?

As of now, no new Penal Code has been issued to replace the 2015 Penal Code.

Therefore, the most up-to-date version is the 2015 Penal Code, which has been amended by the 2017 Law and further amended by the 2025 Law (No. 86/2025/QH15). This version remains in force until a new law is enacted to replace it.