Abstract
Vietnam had incorporated the criminalization of ecocide into its domestic legislation before receiving international acknowledgment, emphasizing the importance of prosecuting serious environmental damage to enhance the efficacy of the criminal justice system. However, after this initial initiative, ecocide gradually receded from prominence within Vietnam’s legal framework. In the contemporary context, it is crucial to realign the focus on this matter. This article explores the rationales advocating for the acknowledgment of ecocide as a global criminal offense under the Rome Statute, in conjunction with Vietnam’s historical encounter with ecocide and its treatment as a criminal violation in domestic law over the preceding four decades.