Thousands of candles have been lit outside Parliament House in Canberra to protest against the impending execution of convicted drug smuggler, Australian man Van Nguyen.

Van Nguyen is due to be executed in Singapore at dawn on Friday.

With the sun setting over Parliament House, the glow from around 3,000 candles is lighting up the lawn in the front of the building.

About 200 people have joined the vigil to show their support for the 25-year-old and their opposition to the death penalty.

A spokesman from a family drug support group who lost his son to a heroin overdose told the gathering Nguyen is about to become just another victim of drugs.

The president of Amnesty International Australia, Russell Thirgood, says he hopes tonight's vigil will bring some comfort to Nguyen and his family.

• Nguyen Tuong Van Case Page & Petition