28 April 2005 :

Vietnam said it would continue to use the death penalty to ensure peace and stability despite opposition from international human rights groups and some Western governments. 
On the opening day of a three-day seminar on the death penalty held with the European Union, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang said capital punishment was a "necessary" deterrent.
"The death penalty is necessary in Vietnam's current situation as a law-governed state aiming to ensure a peaceful life for every citizen and for the common interest of the community," he said.
Diplomats, however, said Hanoi's official stance belied genuine debate within the government about the use of the death penalty.
"I think there are some positive moves afoot but it is very difficult to say whether this seminar will have any concrete results," said a Western envoy.
"Nevertheless this is a good opportunity for the EU to prioritize one of its human rights concerns," the diplomat added.
The criminal code stipulates that the death penalty "is a special sanction applicable to those who commit especially serious crimes".