"If You're Traveling to Vietnam Soon, Bringing E-Cigarettes Could Cost You a 270,000 Won Fine"

Both Liquid and Heated Tobacco E-Cigarettes Targeted
Strong Public Health Measures Amid Surge in Youth Vaping

Hoi An, Vietnam. Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

The Vietnamese government has implemented a complete ban on the use of electronic cigarettes and has introduced strict fines for violations. According to local media such as VN Express on January 1, the government will impose fines of 3 million to 5 million dong (approximately 160,000 to 270,000 won) on users of both liquid and heated tobacco e-cigarettes. Any products found will be confiscated and destroyed.

Additionally, owners of facilities that allow or manage e-cigarette smoking will face fines of 5 million to 10 million dong (approximately 270,000 to 550,000 won), and for companies or organizations, the fines can increase up to 20 million dong (approximately 1.1 million won). This measure was introduced in response to a sharp rise in e-cigarette use among youth and young adults, which has heightened public health risks.

The South Korea Smoking Cessation Advertisement Records Exhibition held in 2022 at the Seoul Metro Museum inside Gyeongbokgung Station, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

According to health authorities, the e-cigarette usage rate among people aged 15 and older increased from 0.2% in 2015 to 3.6% in 2020. Among adolescents aged 13 to 17, the rate surged from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. The usage rate among females aged 11 to 18 also reached 4.3% in 2023, and the number of hospitalizations related to e-cigarettes is rising every year.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has warned that e-cigarettes can cause serious health damage, as they contain not only nicotine but also heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and potentially carcinogenic substances. In line with this, the National Assembly passed a law in November last year banning the production, import, sale, and use of e-cigarettes, and the government has now established specific penalties for violations.

Other Southeast Asian countries are also strengthening similar measures. In Singapore, if e-cigarettes contain narcotics or drug substances, offenders can face up to 20 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane. Even ordinary e-cigarette users may face criminal penalties for repeated violations. Malaysia also plans to implement a complete ban on e-cigarettes by the end of this year.

Through this new regulation, the Vietnamese government aims to protect public health, including that of young people, and to block the illegal distribution of e-cigarettes.