The second session of the 16th National Assembly (NA) opened at the Dien Hong Hall of the NA House in Ha Noi on October 17 morning.

The amendments to the Penal Code focus on four major areas - revising and supplementing provisions on offences 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.

The People's Court of Ha Noi on August 3 held a first-instance public trial in absentia for Doan Bao Chau, who was charged with "producing, storing, disseminating or propagandising information, documents and items aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam" under Point b, Clause 1, Article 117 of the 2015 Penal Code.