Vaping is banned in Vietnam: fines in 2026, airport confiscations
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You cannot bring vapes to Vietnam. As of January 1, 2025, the production, sale, import, storage, transport, and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products are prohibited—Resolution of the National Assembly No. 173/2024/QH15. Vaping is punishable by a fine of 3,000,000–5,000,000 ₫—since May 15, 2026, under Decree 90/2026—and the device is seized and destroyed.
Updated: August 2026.
What Falls Under the Ban: POD Systems, IQOS, and Nicotine-Free Liquids The ban is defined broadly. Resolution 173/2024/QH15 covers two categories at once: "thuốc lá điện tử"—e-cigarettes in any form—and "thuốc lá nung nóng"—heated tobacco systems, meaning IQOS, glo, Ploom, and similar devices. Each category covers not only the device itself, but also consumables (tobaccocontrollaws.org, Resolution card).
What people most often get caught on: nicotine does not matter. The definition in Decree 77/2013/NĐ-CP (as amended in 2025) directly includes disposable cartridges, refillable cartridges, and e-liquids "with and without nicotine" (luatvietnam, Jan 10, 2026). Nicotine-free salt e-liquid intended for "vaping by the pool" is just as much a prohibited product as a regular POD system.
Here is the list of what you should not pack in your suitcase:
Item Status in Vietnam PODs, vapes, disposables Prohibited IQOS, glo, Ploom + heatsticks Prohibited Nicotine-free liquids Prohibited Atomizers, coils, chargers Part of a device, prohibited Regular cigarettes Allowed, limit 200 sticks Which Law Bans Vapes in Vietnam: Documents and Dates Russian-language internet sources on this topic are a mess: some articles cite an already repealed decree, while others quote fine amounts from a rejected draft bill. Here is the actual timeline:
November 30, 2024 — Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15. The National Assembly decided on a total ban effective from 2025. This is a framework document: it declares vapes and heated tobacco systems prohibited, but does not contain specific sanctions itself.
January 1, 2025 — The ban came into force. Legal trade ceased, but for almost a year, there were still no specific fines for personal use—there was no legal mechanism to prosecute users. In August 2025, the Prime Minister approved an implementation plan for the resolution, but sanctions only appeared at the end of the year.
December 31, 2025 — Decree No. 371/2025/NĐ-CP. Administrative penalties for vapers were introduced: 3,000,000–5,000,000 ₫ for individuals. Formally, this decree amended two documents simultaneously—77/2013/NĐ-CP (definitions) and 117/2020/NĐ-CP (penalties, new Article 26a) (baochinhphu.vn, Jan 1, 2026).
May 15, 2026 — Decree No. 90/2026/NĐ-CP. This is the main decree to remember. Signed on March 30, 2026, it came into force on May 15 and completely replaced Decree 117/2020 along with all its amendments, including 371/2025 (document page on vanban.chinhphu.vn; nhandan.vn, May 14, 2026). The fine amounts remained unchanged, but if an official hands you a citation referencing 371/2025, that document is outdated.
September 5, 2026 — Decree No. 292/2026/NĐ-CP. Entering into force in early September, this is a new list of goods prohibited from import and export, replacing Decree 69/2018. Vapes and heated tobacco systems are explicitly named there—Clause 5 of the prohibited import list and Clause 10 of the prohibited export list (luatvietnam, July 23, 2026). Importing was already banned by Resolution 173/2024/QH15, and starting September, an explicit export ban is added: you will not be able to take a device bought in Vietnam back home either.
Fine Amounts for Vaping in Vietnam: 2026 Figures All amounts below are from the current Decree 90/2026/NĐ-CP. For entities/businesses, the fines are doubled. Figures are given in dong (VND) because fines must be paid in dong; you can convert them to rubles at the current exchange rate on the RUB to VND pair page.
Violation Individual Fine Vaping or using an IQOS 3,000,000–5,000,000 ₫ Allowing vaping on your premises 5,000,000–10,000,000 ₫ Smoking regular cigarettes in banned areas 200,000–500,000 ₫ Venue lacking a "No Smoking" sign 3,000,000–5,000,000 ₫ Forcing someone to smoke/vape 500,000–1,000,000 ₫ In addition to the fine, an additional measure is applied: the confiscated device is subject to destruction. You will not be able to reclaim it upon departure from the country—it is not "kept in storage until your flight."
The clause on "allowing vaping on your premises" (in Vietnamese: chứa chấp) applies to owners of cafes, bars, hotels, and landlords: if people are vaping in your establishment, you are held liable. Starting May 15, 2026, the decree introduced an exception for close relatives—no fine is imposed if the vaper is the offender's spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or grandparent (luatvietnam on changes from May 15, 2026). This leniency does not apply to businesses, so a guesthouse owner has every right to ask you to put your device away—their 5–10 million ₫ is on the line.
Where Administrative Penalties End and Criminal Liability Begins A clarification that removes half the panic: vaping itself is an administrative offense. The Penal Code of the SRV contains no offense for personal use; the maximum for a vaper is a citation and the loss of the device.
Criminal liability begins where commercial trade, storage, or transport of a batch of goods is involved. Article 190 of the SRV Penal Code ("manufacturing and trading in prohibited goods") provides for a fine from 100 million to 3 billion ₫ or imprisonment from 1 to 15 years, and for companies—a fine of up to 9 billion ₫ and permanent business closure (analysis of Article 190). Storage and transport of prohibited goods are separate offenses under Article 191. Between "one vape in your pocket" and a criminal charge lies a tier of administrative penalties for trafficking prohibited goods: fines range roughly from 1 to 100 million ₫, depending on the value of the batch.
Regarding a figure floating around English-language websites and translated articles: "a 2 million ₫ fine for tourists." This was a proposal by the Ministry of Health from a early 2025 draft (xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn, Jan 14, 2025), which was not included in the final document. The current fine range is 3,000,000–5,000,000 ₫.
Will Your Vape Be Confiscated at a Vietnamese Airport? Legally, a vape in luggage constitutes the import of a prohibited good. The measures applied to it are the same as for any other contraband: seizure and destruction. There is no provision in the regulations for "it's a personal item, they'll turn a blind eye." For other entry requirements—cash declarations, luggage limits, the green channel—see our separate breakdown of Vietnam customs rules.
What is known about practice from official sources, without speculation: A documented case occurred in October 2025, when customs at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City caught two passengers with undeclared vapes worth 92–93 million ₫ each. Both were fined 32,560,000 ₫, and all goods were confiscated (thuonghieucongluan.com.vn, Oct 23, 2025). This was a commercial batch, not a single vape in a toiletry bag.
There is no aggregate official data on seizures of single devices from tourists. Therefore, an honest assessment is: the device will be seized, but whether they issue a 3–5 million ₫ fine or limit it to confiscation depends on the inspection. You should not count on leniency as a rule.
There is also a second barrier before customs. Vietnamese airlines do not accept such devices for transport at all: Vietnam Airlines explicitly states that it does not carry portable electronic smoking devices with batteries in hand luggage, checked baggage, or in any other form (Vietnam Airlines baggage rules). This means issues may begin right at the check-in desk in Moscow or Almaty.
How the Ban Works in Practice and What Will Change by 2027 Fines began on December 31, 2025, and from May 15, 2026, under the new Decree 90/2026; initial news reports showed that enforcement is challenging. In a VTV segment from May 22, 2026, cafe owners stated directly that physically preventing a guest from vaping is impossible, while trade moved to social media under code words like "máy ép" (vtv.vn). This creates a deceptive impression for tourists: if someone is vaping on the promenade, it seems allowed.
Weak enforcement does not invalidate the law. Holding a vape on a street in Nha Trang legally grounds a fine of 3,000,000–5,000,000 ₫ and device destruction; whether you cross paths with an inspection is a matter of luck. The stakes are rising: Vietnam became the sixth ASEAN country and one of over forty countries worldwide to enact a total vape ban, driven by a rise in vapers among students aged 13–17 from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023 (VnExpress, Jan 1, 2026).
Enforcement will get stricter. A draft amendment to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms published on July 10, 2026, proposes adding nicotine pouches, hookahs/shisha, "other novel tobacco products," and transit through the country's territory to the prohibition starting January 1, 2027 (luatvietnam, July 10, 2026). For now, this is a draft. Transit is not explicitly named in the current Resolution 173/2024/QH15, but transport and storage are, so a layover in Hanoi with a vape in your suitcase is not safe. From 2027, if the draft is passed, transit will be explicitly banned.
Regular Cigarettes in Vietnam: Import Allowances Traditional tobacco remains uncomplicated. The duty-free allowance upon arrival is set by Article 6 of Decree 134/2016/NĐ-CP and applies per person over 18 years of age; minors are not allowed tobacco or alcohol (breakdown of allowances).
Category Allowance Per Person Cigarettes 200 sticks Cigars 20 sticks Loose tobacco 250 g Alcohol above 20° ABV 1.5 L Alcohol under 20° ABV 2 L Beer 3 L Other goods up to 10,000,000 ₫ Smoking regular cigarettes is permitted, but not everywhere: smoking in designated non-smoking areas carries a fine of 200,000–500,000 ₫. It is best not to risk it in airports, shopping malls, air-conditioned restaurants, or on public transport.
Frequently Asked Questions Can I bring a vape to Vietnam in 2026? No. The ban has been in effect since January 1, 2025, and has not been relaxed in 2026. Checked luggage is no different from hand carry—what happens upon discovery is detailed in the airport section above.
Can I import IQOS and heatsticks? No, heated tobacco systems are banned alongside vapes—they are listed as a separate category in Resolution 173/2024/QH15. Heatsticks for IQOS are consumables for a prohibited device and do not have separate "cigarette" status. The 200-cigarette limit does not apply to them.
What should I do if a vape is found during inspection? Do not argue or attempt to "settle it on the spot"—offering to resolve the matter informally creates a new legal issue for you. You will have to hand over the device: seized items are subject to destruction and cannot be returned upon departure. If an official report is filed, the fine is paid in Vietnamese Dong, in cash at a bank or the state treasury.
Are fines issued to tourists or only to Vietnamese citizens? Administrative liability under Decree 90/2026 does not distinguish by citizenship—it applies to any individual within the territory of Vietnam. That said, there is no verified data on widespread fines levied against foreigners for a single personal device: officially documented cases involve commercial batches.
Will I be deported for vaping? There is no confirmation in the text of Decree 90/2026 that vaping carries deportation penalties. Deportation of foreign citizens for administrative violations is regulated by a separate document—Decree 59/2026/NĐ-CP, effective April 1, 2026—and is not applied automatically. Claims that "vaping will get you expelled from the country" are not grounded in current laws.
Can I buy a vape locally? Legal retail has not existed since January 1, 2025. Trade has moved to messaging apps and social media using code words, and buying there carries the risk of being fined alongside the seller, as well as obtaining goods of unknown origin. Sellers, unlike users, face criminal charges.
What can I replace my vape with during the trip? There are two practical options: regular cigarettes (import allowances in the table above) or nicotine replacement therapy—patches and gums, which are not banned and are sold in pharmacies. If your trip is long, it is best to bring your own supply.
Where to Exchange Money for Dong if You Don't Have Cash Administrative fines in Vietnam are paid in Dong, in cash at a bank or the treasury, so having physical banknotes on hand is useful even without citations. VND Exchange converts USDT, USD, rubles, and tenge into Dong: in Nha Trang and Da Nang, cash is delivered by courier; in Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi, Dong is issued through partner locations. Delivery costs 70,000 ₫ and is waived for amounts starting from 300 USDT, $300, 20,000 ₽, or 150,000 ₸. Check the current exchange rate on the RUB to VND or USDT to VND pair page; orders are placed via a Telegram bot. If you have just arrived and are unsure where to exchange money and at what rate, start with our guide on currency exchange in Nha Trang.