[REVISION HISTORY]

Vietnam expands legal reforms and penalties

Updated 12 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-07 03:02 UTC → 2026-09-09 07:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Vietnam’s reform drive has accelerated across multiple sectors. In early July the Ministry of Public Security drafted a Criminal Code amendment granting police immunity for actions taken in the line of duty and a parallel amendment allowing non‑record fines based on technical evidence such as cameras and breath‑alcohol testers. The National Assembly’s Standing Committee later approved a draft resolution that would exempt officials from criminal liability when six innovation‑risk criteria are met, with a vote slated for an extraordinary session in August. The same week the ministry proposed raising non‑record fines to VND 1 million for individuals and VND 2 million for organisations and extending enforcement to foreign e‑commerce and cross‑border service violators. On July 15 sector‑specific reforms were announced: the Postal Law was tightened for e‑commerce shipments; telecom penalties were set at VND 50 million for non‑primary SIM use; labour violations now attract fines up to VND 75 million; AI traffic cameras recorded over 10,600 road‑safety breaches, leading to thousands of fines; and urban‑planning legislation expanded Ho Chi Minh City’s administrative powers. A July 17 draft would allow up to three‑year suspension of prosecution for selected economic crimes and introduced a modernised Criminal Procedure Code. The Finance Ministry’s tax‑penalty decree proposes graduated fines up to VND 100 million and a high‑risk taxpayer monitoring circular. Crypto regulation was cemented with Decree 284/2026, effective 1 September, imposing fines of VND 30‑200 million on unlicensed trading and service providers. A July 21 criminal‑code amendment added cyber and environmental offenses, reduced the death penalty to four crimes and doubled monetary fines. In late August and early September, administrative penalties for land and real estate were further refined. ~~In early September, new decrees expanded regulatory oversight.~~ Effective August 26, Decree 339/2026/ND-CP introduced stricter penalties for the construction and real estate sectors.

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