Vietnam Proposes Fines Up to 5M VND for E-Cigarette Use
Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is proposing significant fines for the use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other new-generation tobacco items, along with the mandatory destruction of such products if found in violation. The draft decree, currently under public consultation, aims to amend existing regulations to strengthen enforcement against these devices, which are already banned for sale in the country.
Under the proposal, individuals caught using e-cigarettes could face fines ranging from 3 to 5 million VND. Furthermore, property owners or managers who knowingly allow the use of these products on their premises without preventing it or reporting it to authorities could be fined 5 to 10 million VND. This comes as Vietnam, one of six ASEAN nations and 43 countries globally to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, has listed these products as prohibited goods since 2025. The Ministry stated that current regulations lack specific penalties for “harboring” users and for personal use, which these amendments seek to address.
The push for stricter measures is driven by a rapid increase in e-cigarette use, especially among children and adolescents. Adult e-cigarette use rose from 0.2% in 2015 to 3.6% in 2020. Among students aged 13-17, usage jumped from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. In 2023, 1,224 people were hospitalized due to poisoning or illness from e-cigarettes or heated tobacco. Authorities also highlighted the growing issue of these products being laced with drugs, with police reports showing a surge in related criminal cases.
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