Under Decree No. 371, which takes effect on Dec. 31, individuals who allow the use of e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products at premises under their ownership or management will be fined between VND5 million and VND10 million. For organizations, the fines will be doubled.
The decree defines e-cigarettes as products consisting of an electronic device, a container holding e-cigarette liquid, and the liquid itself. Heated tobacco products are defined as those comprising an electronic device and specially processed tobacco.
Vietnam’s National Assembly agreed at its November session to ban the production, trading, importation, storage, transportation, and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products starting in 2025 to protect public health.
The government was tasked with enforcing the ban and raising public awareness, particularly among children and adolescents, about the harms of these products.
Health Minister Dao Hong Lan said the ban was introduced due to the negative health impacts associated with e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. National Assembly deputies also agreed that strengthening prohibitions and tightening control over illegal trading activities is necessary.
E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are considered new-generation products that operate by heating liquids containing nicotine or flavorings dissolved in propylene glycol or glycerine. At least 60 chemical compounds have been identified in e-cigarette liquids, along with numerous toxic substances present in the aerosol or smoke produced.
The Ministry of Health said these products are highly addictive due to their nicotine content and can cause serious illnesses, including cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, acute lung injury, and mental health disorders.
Vietnam is the sixth country in Southeast Asia and one of 43 countries worldwide to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Use of these products in Vietnam has risen rapidly, particularly among children and adolescents. From 2015 to 2020, the prevalence of e-cigarette use among adults aged 15 and above increased from 0.2% to 3.6%.
Among students aged 13–17, usage rose from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. A preliminary survey conducted in 11 provinces and cities found that 4.3% of girls aged 11–18 used e-cigarettes in 2023.
The Health Ministry warned that the trend poses serious risks to young people. In 2023, 1,224 people in Vietnam were hospitalized due to poisoning or illnesses linked to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
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