Vietnam bans vapes, will fine tourists up to US$78 and jail e-cigarette traders, producers

Country joins others including Singapore, Thailand, India and Australia in banning travellers from bringing in e-cigarettes

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A man smokes a disposable vape. Tourists caught vaping in Vietnam face a fine, while those found selling the e-cigarettes face much bigger fines and jail terms of up to 15 years. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:45am, 3 Jan 2025

Tourists arriving in Vietnam with vapes now face painful fines following new rules that came into force at the start of the year banning the possession, sale and use of vapes and liquids.

Australia, Turkey, Singapore, Mexico, India, Brazil, the Maldives and Thailand are among other countries that do not allow travellers to bring vapes with them, largely due to health concerns over irreversible lung damage. Hong Kong has banned them too.

Anyone using e-cigarettes in Vietnam faces fines of up to 2 million dong (US$78.50), while those caught importing, trading, transporting and producing vapes and materials for cigarette alternatives face fines of up 3 billion dong or up to 15 years in prison, depending on the quantity.

People who vape are generally advised to double check whether they are allowed to bring their device with them on holiday before getting on a flight.

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In Thailand, which has some of the world’s strictest anti-vaping rules, anyone caught breaking the e-cigarette laws can be punished with a steep fine or even imprisonment for up to five years.