TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: Vietnam

  • Vietnam Eyes Illicit Market as it Introduces Mixed Tobacco Tax  

    Vietnam Eyes Illicit Market as it Introduces Mixed Tobacco Tax  

    Vietnam’s planned introduction of a mixed tobacco excise tax from 2027 is expected to combine a 75% ad valorem rate with a gradually increasing specific tax, adding 2,000 VND ($0.08) per pack annually and reaching 10,000 VND ($0.38) by 2031. The policy aims to reduce smoking rates, increase the tax share of retail prices to nearly 60%, and boost excise revenue, which is projected to more than double to 39.1 trillion VND ($1.5 billion) by 2030. However, officials and experts warn that higher taxes could widen price gaps and push some consumers toward illicit tobacco, which already accounts for an estimated 20–22% of the market and causes annual tax losses of up to 6 trillion VND ($228 million).

    Authorities say stronger enforcement will be critical to support the policy, including higher penalties for smuggling and retail violations, expanded oversight of e-commerce sales, and coordinated action among customs, police, and border forces. Recent enforcement efforts have resulted in over 23 million packs of illicit cigarettes seized and more than 1,600 violations recorded, though officials note that trafficking remains widespread and increasingly sophisticated across multiple regions.

  • Vietnam Proposes Banning Tobacco Displays and Alternative Products

    Vietnam Proposes Banning Tobacco Displays and Alternative Products

    The Ministry of Health of Vietnam has proposed banning the display of tobacco products at wholesale and retail outlets and requiring cigarettes to be kept in closed cabinets, under draft amendments to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. The proposal was presented at a policy workshop in Hanoi, where Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan said that despite progress over 13 years, Vietnam still has about 15.8 million smokers.

    The draft amendments also call for a comprehensive ban on the production, trade, advertising, and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and other new tobacco products. Officials said allowing cigarette displays effectively permits point-of-sale advertising and increases access for children, noting that major cities average 13 tobacco outlets near each school. The ministry said the reforms align with the World Health Organization’s WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

  • Vietnam Sets Tobacco Import Quota at 79K Tons

    Vietnam Sets Tobacco Import Quota at 79K Tons

    Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 04/2026/TT-BCT setting the 2026 import tariff quota for raw tobacco at 79,199 tons, with the measure taking effect on March 15. The quota applies to raw tobacco under HS code 2401. It will be allocated through an import permit system to traders holding valid licenses for cigarette production or tobacco material processing, provided the imported material is used for domestic cigarette manufacturing. Allocation will be carried out in line with existing foreign trade management regulations, with permits issued under Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP and Circular No. 12/2018/TT-BCT.

  • Vietnamese Police Bust National Drug-Laced Vape Ring

    Vietnamese Police Bust National Drug-Laced Vape Ring

    Vietnamese police arrested 17 suspects for allegedly trafficking narcotics disguised as e-cigarettes and vaping products in an operation targeting a ring accused of selling drug-laced items to students nationwide. The Ministry of Public Security said the group used social media to market products falsely advertised as “non-addictive,” then shipped them via express delivery, with seizures including herbal drugs, CBD oil solutions, drug-containing liquids, and drug-laced cigarettes across multiple provinces. Authorities said forensic tests confirmed all seized products contained narcotics and warned that traffickers are increasingly disguising drugs as vaping and tobacco products, posing heightened risks to teenagers and young people.

  • Vietnam Tightens School Accountability in Vape Crackdown

    Vietnam Tightens School Accountability in Vape Crackdown

    Vietnam introduced fines of up to VND10 million ($380) for school principals if students are caught using e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products on campus, under Decree 371 issued by the Ministry of Health. The measure, the first to assign direct legal responsibility to school leaders, comes as youth vaping among ages 13–17 rose sharply from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. Students face fines of VND3–5 million ($114 to $190), with all products confiscated and destroyed, while large-scale illegal production or trade may trigger criminal penalties of up to VND1 billion ($38,000) or five years in prison.

    The enforcement framework supports Vietnam’s nationwide ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products starting in 2025, with early data showing declines in vaping-related cases and hospitalizations, signaling increased regulatory pressure on alternative nicotine products.

  • Vietnam Weighs Harm-Reduction Options

    Vietnam Weighs Harm-Reduction Options

    Despite sustained declines in smoking prevalence, Vietnam continues to face a wide gap between intent and outcomes, as surveys show more than 90% of smokers want to quit, yet only about 9.5% have been able to do so successfully. With around 15 million adult smokers, health experts say reliance on cessation alone has delivered limited results. With male smoking rates falling from 45.3% in 2015 to 38.9% in 2023, the slow pace of quitting has intensified pressure to rethink policy tools.

    To close this gap, policymakers and experts are debating whether to broaden the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms to include “risk factor reduction” alongside traditional measures. The Ministry of Health is drafting amendments for 2026 that emphasize bans on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, expanded point-of-sale restrictions, and tougher enforcement.

  • Vietnam Looking to Tighten Tobacco Regs

    Vietnam Looking to Tighten Tobacco Regs

    Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is seeking public feedback on a draft amendment to the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention that would significantly tighten regulations and close gaps in the current legal framework, according to Vietnam News. The proposed amendments prioritize public health over economic interests, align with Party and Politburo resolutions on health protection, and aim to fully meet Vietnam’s obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Key measures include banning the holding, transport, storage, advertising, promotion and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products; prohibiting the display of tobacco products at retail outlets; expanding smoke-free venues; and increasing health warning requirements on packaging. The draft also introduces clear legal definitions for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, strengthens responsibilities of government agencies and local authorities, and adds new prohibitions on producing or trading components used to assemble such products, with a focus on protecting women, children and public health overall.

  • Vietnam Looking to Tighten Tobacco Control, Include Vape and HTP

    Vietnam Looking to Tighten Tobacco Control, Include Vape and HTP

    A draft revision released today (January 13) to Vietnam’s Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms signals a tougher regulatory stance on cigarettes and next-generation products, with measures aimed at strengthening public-health protections and limiting industry and special-interest influence. The proposal would require health warnings to cover at least 85% of cigarette packaging and expand smoking-cessation and detoxification provisions to include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, reflecting reported rising nicotine dependence from alternative products. The amended law is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027, providing a transition period for regulators, local governments, and consumers, and marks a shift toward more proactive risk control—particularly for youth—by tightening definitions, advertising rules, retail practices, and cessation requirements across the tobacco and NGP categories.

  • Vietnam Ups Penalties for Vape, HTP Use

    Vietnam Ups Penalties for Vape, HTP Use

    Vietnam tightened restrictions on electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products under the newly issued Decree 371, introducing higher fines and expanded enforcement powers. Individuals caught using e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products now face fines of VNĐ3 million to VNĐ5 million ($114 to $190), with authorities authorized to confiscate and destroy the products.


    The rules also penalize those who allow such use on premises they own or manage. Individuals providing space for e-cigarette or heated tobacco use can be fined VNĐ5 million to VNĐ10 million ($190 to $380), while organizations face penalties of up to VNĐ20 million ($761). Officials said the measures aim to strengthen oversight as alternative tobacco products spread rapidly, particularly among young people.

  • Vietnam to Ban Vape, HTP Starting 2026

    Vietnam to Ban Vape, HTP Starting 2026

    Vietnam will prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products beginning March 1, 2026, following the National Assembly’s approval of amendments to the Law on Investment, local outlet Tuoi Tre reported. The updated legislation places e-cigarettes and heated tobacco alongside other banned business sectors, including narcotics, certain hazardous chemicals and minerals, and prostitution.

    The move builds on a resolution passed last year that banned the production, trading, import, possession, transportation, and use of these products, according to Thanh Nien. Health officials say early effects are already visible. Angela Pratt, the World Health Organization’s representative in Vietnam, noted a 70% drop in e-cigarette–related emergency cases at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, along with a sharp decline in promotional activities for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.

    Vietnam’s decision positions the country among the most restrictive markets in Asia regarding novel nicotine products, as policymakers cite rising youth use and public health concerns as key drivers of the ban.