Vietnam's parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty for eight crimes, including embezzlement, espionage, bribery, and attempts to overthrow the government. This legal reform, effective from July 1, 2025, reduces the number of capital offenses in the country from 18 to 10. The decision spares the life of property tycoon Truong My Lan, who was sentenced to death for orchestrating one of Vietnam's largest financial fraud cases, involving an estimated $12 billion to $26 billion in fraudulent activities. The fraud amount represents around 5% to 6% of Vietnam's GDP. Despite the court ordering her to repay over 700 trillion dong, only a small fraction of the money has been recovered. The United Nations has welcomed Vietnam's move to limit the use of the death penalty and urged further steps toward its complete abolition.