The judiciary is nominally accountable to the National Assembly of Vietnam, which is the highest institution of government power in the country.
Although the constitution provides for independent judges and lay assessors (who lack administrative training), the U.S. Department of State maintains that Vietnam lacks an independent judiciary, in part because the Communist Party of Vietnam selects judges and vets them for political reliability.
[1] Some critics say that the judicial system in Vietnam shows leniency towards corrupt officials and lawbreakers along with their relatives, as they are said to receive lighter sentences than ordinary people.
[1] As of February 2014, the death penalty remains a punishment that can be applied to those who have been found guilty of criminal activity.
The January 2014 decision received condemnation from numerous international organizations, such as the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.