A high-profile case in Vietnam has captured international attention, where a billionaire real estate tycoon faces the death penalty for one of the biggest financial scandals in the country’s history. Truong My Lan, 68, was convicted of massive fraud involving over $12 billion and could be executed by lethal injection unless she pays back a staggering $11 billion.

Lan, who once led Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group (VTP), a major real estate developer, was found guilty in April of using her p...