When were e-cigarettes banned in Vietnam?

Which instruments are in force

National Assembly Resolution 173/2024/QH15 prohibits the production, trade, import, storage, transport and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. It took effect on 1 January 2025.

Decree 371/2025/ND-CP sets out the administrative penalties for those acts.

Before that, the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms (2012) was the framework instrument on tobacco in Vietnam. It does not name electronic cigarettes, because the category was not widespread when it was passed.

The part people misread

The ban is not aimed only at sellers. The resolution lists use alongside production and trade. That is a real difference from several countries in the region, where the rules mainly govern the supply side.

What about nicotine pouches

Nicotine pouches are not named in Resolution 173/2024/QH15, and not named in the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms (2012).

Not being named is not the same as being permitted. Ministry of Health Report 211/BC-BYT proposes extending the ban to oral nicotine products. If that passes, we remove every link to the product and update these pages to the new rule.

What this page does not do

We do not summarise penalty amounts, we do not infer scope, and we give no legal advice. The figures and the scope have to be read from the original text. If you need a conclusion that applies to a specific situation, ask a lawyer.

If you are using an e-cigarette and want to stop, the quitline is 1800 6606, free, 08:00 to 22:00 daily.