Last updated: November 2, 2026
Many travelers still pack a vape out of habit, especially from countries where vaping is legal. In Vietnam it's no longer a grey area. This guide explains what is banned, what happens at the airport, how much the fines are, and what you can bring instead.
⚡ At a glance | Vietnam e-cigarette ban |
|---|---|
What's banned | Vapes, e-cigarettes, pods, e-liquids, heated tobacco devices and sticks |
Who it applies to | Everyone in Vietnam, including foreign tourists |
Fine for using | VND 3–5 million (about USD 115–190) plus destruction of the product |
Fine for letting others use on your premises | VND 5–10 million for individuals, double for businesses |
Import | ❌ Banned since September 5, 2026 |
Normal cigarettes | ✅ Allowed, 200 sticks duty-free for adults 18+ |
Is vaping illegal in Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam's ban was built up in four steps:
📜 Legal document | In force from | What it does |
|---|---|---|
Resolution 173/2024/QH15 (National Assembly) | January 1, 2025 | Bans production, trading, import, storage, transport and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco |
Decree 371/2025/ND-CP | December 31, 2025 | Sets fines for using these products and for allowing others to use them; products are destroyed |
Revised Investment Law | March 1, 2026 | Adds e-cigarette and heated tobacco business to the list of prohibited business lines |
Decree 292/2026/ND-CP | September 5, 2026 | Adds e-cigarettes and heated tobacco to the list of goods banned from import and export |
Some reports say the fines are now set out in the newer health-sector penalty decree that took effect on May 15, 2026 (Decree 90/2026/ND-CP). Either way, the amount for using a device stays at VND 3–5 million.
Does the ban apply to tourists?
Yes. Vietnam's rules contain no exemption for foreigners or for personal use. A tourist vaping on the street, in a hotel room or at a bar is treated the same as a local resident. Hotels, bars and restaurants can also be fined for letting guests vape on their premises, so many of them now ask guests to stop.
There is no "personal use" allowance for vapes in Vietnam. One device and one pod count the same as a whole box.
What happens if I bring a vape through the airport?
Vietnamese customs can seize e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products found in your luggage. Travel reports describe devices being confiscated on the spot at arrival. The risk grows if you carry several devices, refill liquids or unopened packs, because large quantities can look like goods for sale, which is treated much more seriously.
Situation | Risk | Likely outcome |
|---|---|---|
Leave the vape at home | ✅ None | No problem |
One device found in hand luggage at arrival | ⚠️ High | Confiscated; you may be asked to sign a record |
Using a vape in public, a hotel or a bar | ❌ High | Fine of VND 3–5 million and destruction of the device |
Several devices, pods or e-liquid bottles | ❌ Very high | Confiscation and possible investigation as illegal import or trading |
IQOS or other heated tobacco device | ❌ Same as vapes | Covered by the same ban |
Can I buy a vape in Vietnam?
No, not legally. Selling e-cigarettes and heated tobacco is banned, and since March 1, 2026 it's a prohibited business line. Shops and street sellers that still offer them break the law, and buying from them puts you at risk of the same fine for using.
What can I bring instead?
Ordinary tobacco is still legal in Vietnam for adults. Arriving passengers aged 18 and over can bring a duty-free allowance of tobacco under Decree 134/2016/ND-CP:
- ✅ 200 cigarettes, or
- ✅ 20 cigars, or
- ✅ 250 g of loose tobacco
Choose one of these, not a mix. Anything above the allowance must be declared and taxed. Nicotine patches and gum count as medicine. If you rely on nicotine replacement, read our guide Can I bring medicine to Vietnam? before you pack.
Will a vape fine affect my Vietnam visa?
A fine for using a vape is an administrative penalty, not a criminal conviction. On its own it doesn't cancel an e-visa. But arguing with police or customs, missing a flight while a record is written up, or being suspected of carrying goods to sell can turn a holiday into a long day. The easiest way to avoid all of this is to leave the device at home.
Questions about your trip? Message us on WhatsApp and a visa consultant will reply.
Packing checklist: smoking and nicotine products
Item | Allowed in Vietnam? |
|---|---|
Vape, e-cigarette, disposable vape | ❌ No |
Vape pods, cartridges, e-liquid | ❌ No |
IQOS or other heated tobacco device and sticks | ❌ No |
Cigarettes, cigars, loose tobacco | ✅ Yes, within the duty-free allowance (18+) |
Nicotine patches or gum | ✅ Yes, in the original packaging |
Lighter | ⚠️ One small lighter on your person only, per airline rules |
See our full Vietnam packing list for everything else.
What no agency can honestly promise
We can't tell you how a particular customs officer or police patrol will treat a vape, and we can't help recover a confiscated device. Enforcement can differ from place to place. What we can tell you is the law: bringing or using a vape in Vietnam is banned, so the only safe choice is not to bring one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring a vape to Vietnam as a tourist?
No. Vietnam bans the import, possession, transport and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, and the ban applies to tourists. Devices can be confiscated at the airport.
How much is the fine for vaping in Vietnam?
Using an e-cigarette or heated tobacco product can be fined VND 3–5 million (about USD 115–190), and the product is destroyed. Letting others vape on premises you manage costs VND 5–10 million, and twice that for a business.
Is IQOS allowed in Vietnam?
No. IQOS and other heated tobacco products fall under the same ban as vapes.
Can I vape in my hotel room in Vietnam?
No. The ban covers use anywhere, and the hotel itself can be fined for allowing it.
Are nicotine pouches banned in Vietnam?
Nicotine pouches are not named in the e-cigarette ban, but their legal status is unclear and they are not a recognised duty-free item. If you need nicotine, bring patches or gum in their original packaging instead.
How many cigarettes can I bring to Vietnam?
Adults aged 18 and over can bring 200 cigarettes, or 20 cigars, or 250 g of loose tobacco duty-free. Anything more must be declared.
Related guides: Bringing medicine to Vietnam · Vietnam packing list · Long Thanh airport arrival guide · Vietnam e-visa