Electronic cigarettes and other heated tobacco derivatives have already been banned for sale since January 1, 2025 by the National Assembly, making Vietnam the 43rd country in the world to prohibit them.
That is to say that “the importation, production, distribution […] as well as […] advertising and promotion” are officially prohibited.
Increasing consumption among young people
It is clear that electronic cigarettes disguised as toys (animal portraits, key rings, drink containers, etc.) invaded the market and targeted young audiences through their playful aspect. These marketing strategies caused sales to explode in 2024 and worried public health services.
The consumption of electronic cigarettes and other derivatives has increased drastically in Vietnam in recent years, particularly among young adults. “Among students aged 13 to 17, usage increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1 in 2023.”
-A public health problem
More worrying, the Ministry of Public Affairs has noted numerous cases of poisoning involving drugs and heated tobacco, leading to emergency hospitalizations. According to Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, director of the Hanoi Poison Control Center, “Electronic cigarettes pose three major health risks: nicotine, artificial flavors and drugs.”
Although these products are banned by the National Assembly, nothing concerns administrative sanctions for their “possession” or “use”. This is why the Ministry of Health recently returned to this point.
When formulating the draft amendment to the decree on administrative sanctions in the health sector, the Ministry proposed to add a fine ranging from 1 to 2 million VND for the use of these products. With this sanctioning component, the government hopes to dissuade young people.
