Important Information for Traveling to Vietnam
In Vietnam,e-cigarettes are banned
Carry-on and usage rules travelers should know
In Vietnam, regulations are in place concerning e-cigarettes, VAPE, POD-type products, and heated tobacco products. We explain in Japanese the prohibited items, baggage considerations, and rules for use within Vietnam that travelers departing from Japan should check.
Important: Please check before departure to ensure that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are not placed in your carry-on baggage or checked luggage.
Please be sure to check before traveling
Do not bring e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products into Vietnam. Even a small amount for personal use may cause problems with bringing them in or transporting them. Please check the contents of your luggage before departure, and do not put these items in either your carry-on baggage or checked luggage.
E-cigarettes are banned in Vietnam
Vietnam’s National Assembly has decided on a policy banning the manufacture, sale, import, storage, transport, and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. This ban has been in effect since 2025, and travelers may also be subject to it, so caution is required.
In addition, Decree 371/2025/ND-CP, issued by the Vietnamese government and effective December 31, 2025, also adds administrative penalty provisions regarding the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Depending on the violation and the circumstances, you may be subject to administrative measures or the disposal of products.
Rather than thinking, “I only brought it from Japan,” or “I’ll only use it in my hotel room,” it is important to avoid bringing these products into Vietnam and avoid using them within Vietnam.
Main products subject to the ban
E-cigarettes and VAPE
This includes e-cigarettes of the type that heat liquid and inhale the vapor, VAPE, and electronic nicotine delivery systems.
POD-type products
Products that use replaceable cartridges or PODs, as well as disposable-type products, also require caution.
Heated tobacco products
Heated tobacco products that use dedicated devices to heat tobacco leaves and similar materials are also included among the banned items.
Not only the e-cigarette device itself, but related products such as dedicated e-liquid, cartridges, and PODs may also cause problems at airports and with relevant authorities. If you are unsure about how a product is classified, we recommend not bringing it into Vietnam.
Can I bring e-cigarettes into Vietnam?
Since the import and transport of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are banned in Vietnam, travelers should also refrain from bringing these products into Vietnam.
Being for personal use or being an unused product does not necessarily mean you will be allowed to bring it in. Please remove the device, dedicated tobacco, e-liquid, cartridges, and similar items from your luggage before departure.
Carry-on baggage
Aside from airline rules on dangerous goods, you must also check Vietnam’s domestic import regulations. Even if an airline permits a product as carry-on, that does not mean its import into Vietnam or use within Vietnam is allowed.
Checked luggage
Putting these items in checked luggage does not mean there is no problem. Do not leave e-cigarette devices or related products in your suitcase; check the contents of your luggage before heading to the airport.
When transiting
Even when transiting through a Vietnamese airport, the procedures differ depending on whether you enter the country, whether you collect your luggage, and how your ticket is issued. If you are carrying e-cigarettes, do not decide on your own; check the latest information with your airline or the relevant authorities before departure.
Points to note when using in Vietnam
The use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is also banned within Vietnam. Be careful not to use them carelessly anywhere, whether at airports, hotels, restaurants, on the street, or in private spaces.
If use is confirmed, you may be subject to administrative penalties or the disposal of products. In addition, the response may differ depending on the nature of the violation, the quantity, the purpose, and the situation confirmed on the day.
Are heated tobacco products also banned?
Yes. Vietnam’s regulations cover not only e-cigarettes but also heated tobacco products. The fact that a product is not an e-cigarette does not necessarily mean that bringing it in or using it is allowed.
It is not only particular brands or particular models that are targeted; determinations may be based on a product’s mechanism and classification. Do not bring in products you are unsure about, and check the official information before traveling.
Checkpoints to review before traveling
- Remove e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from your carry-on baggage
- Check that there are no devices or related products in your checked luggage
- Check that no e-liquid, cartridges, PODs, or similar items remain
- Also check the luggage of companions and family members in advance
- If transiting, confirm the conditions with your airline
- Check the latest information from the Vietnamese government and airlines right before traveling
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring in just one for my own use?
Being for personal use or being a small quantity does not necessarily mean you will be allowed to bring it in. Since import, transport, and use are banned in Vietnam, please do not bring such items in.
Can I put e-cigarettes in my checked luggage?
Putting them in checked luggage does not mean you can bring them in. Please make sure that e-cigarette devices and related products are not placed in either your carry-on baggage or your checked luggage.
Are nicotine-free VAPE products also covered?
Determinations may be based not only on a product’s ingredients but also on its shape and mechanism. Rather than deciding on your own simply because a product is nicotine-free, we recommend not bringing in products you are unsure about.
Are heated tobacco products treated the same as regular cigarettes?
Heated tobacco products, together with e-cigarettes, are subject to this ban. Please note that they may be treated differently from cigarettes under the regulations.
What happens if e-cigarettes are found at a Vietnamese airport?
The response may differ depending on the type and quantity of the product, the purpose, and the circumstances under which it was found. Please follow the instructions of the officials and avoid making false statements or moving about without permission.
Could the regulations change in the future?
Laws, penalties, and airport procedures may change. Please check the latest information from the Vietnamese government, Vietnam’s overseas diplomatic missions, and airlines before traveling.
For those worried about airport procedures when entering Vietnam
VJP FASTTRACK offers fast-track entry and airport VIP support at Vietnam’s major airports. We can confirm the details in advance in Japanese according to your airport of use, arriving flight, and number of people.
Official information and reference materials
This article is intended for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Regulations, penalties, and airport procedures may differ depending on amendments to the law, the type and quantity of products, travel circumstances, and day-to-day operations. Please check the latest information published by the Vietnamese government, Vietnam’s overseas diplomatic missions, and airlines before traveling. VJP FASTTRACK’s airport support is not a service that exempts or circumvents customs, security, or immigration rules.
