How Vietnam came to a full ban
In November 2024 Vietnam’s National Assembly adopted Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15, prohibiting the production, trade, import, transport, possession and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco devices on the country’s territory. From January 1, 2025 the ban came into force for production, import and sale. And from December 31, 2025 Government Decree No. 371 began to work, setting specific fines for use — and it was from that moment that the police got a clear legal basis for writing a fine on the spot, and not only a verbal warning as before. The World Health Organization publicly welcomed Vietnam’s decision as one of the toughest anti-tobacco measures in the region.
What exactly is banned
The ban applies not only to classic vapes (ENDS — Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) but also to heated tobacco devices — IQOS, GLO, Ploom and any analogues. The law makes no distinction between a “vape with liquid” and a “heated tobacco system” — both types of devices are banned equally strictly. Ordinary cigarettes in Vietnam do not fall under this ban — milder restrictions familiar to many countries apply to them (a ban on smoking in enclosed public places, age restrictions on sale).
Does it apply to tourists who simply brought a vape with them
Yes, and this is the key point that many miss: the law applies to everyone on Vietnam’s territory, regardless of citizenship and status — tourists, expats, transit passengers. The fact that you bought the device legally at home and simply took it with you on the trip makes no difference. The very fact of using or possessing the device in a public place is already formally grounds for a fine. Bringing a vape into Vietnam for personal use is also prohibited — customs may confiscate the device, and in some cases write a fine already at the stage of passing control.
What to do if you vape and are flying to Vietnam
The safest option is not to take a vape or a heated tobacco system on the trip to Vietnam at all, leaving the device at home. If you have already ended up in the country with the device on you, do not use it in public places under any circumstances and consider packing it in advance so that it is not in plain sight when passing customs — although formally this does not cancel the import ban and only reduces the risk of accidental discovery. Smoking ordinary cigarettes remains legal (subject to the general restrictions by place), so if it is fundamentally important for you to have a nicotine product with you on the trip, this is the only legal option under current conditions.
A practical checklist
- Electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco systems (IQOS, GLO, Ploom) are completely banned in Vietnam — sale, import, possession, use.
- The fine for use is 3–5 million dong (≈11,000–18,000 rubles), and the device is confiscated and destroyed.
- The law applies to everyone in Vietnam, including tourists — where the device was brought from makes no difference.
- Ordinary cigarettes are not covered by the ban, standard smoking-place restrictions apply.
- The safest option is not to take a vape on the trip to Vietnam at all.
Frequently asked questions
Will a tourist be fined for a vape brought from their own country?
Yes, the origin of the device makes no difference — the law applies to everyone on Vietnam’s territory, and fines for the very fact of use or possession in a public place.
What fine is there for using a vape in Vietnam?
3–5 million dong (roughly 11,000–18,000 rubles), with mandatory confiscation of the device.
Are ordinary cigarettes banned in Vietnam?
No, ordinary cigarettes are legal, only electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco devices are banned.
Can a vape be confiscated at customs on entry?
Yes, importing the device even for personal use is formally prohibited, and customs may seize it.
What’s next
Take a look at the general guide to safety in Vietnam and sort out the visa rules before your trip.
Fines and the rules for importing electronic devices may be clarified — before your trip check the current information on the Vietnamese embassy’s website.
