Government agencies in Vietnam are developing a pilot management policy for electronic cigarettes, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has recommended that e-cigarette products should not be allowed to circulate in Vietnam until a final decision is made.

Most e-cigarette products on Vietnam's market are smuggled, according to the Hanoi Times. Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Industry Agency, Ngo Khai Hoan, stated that the health regulator is responsible for conducting scientific research and evaluating the health risks of these products. If harmful effects are found, the MoIT will support a ban to protect public health.

The Ministry has also proposed a two-year trial period for the manufacture, import, and distribution of heated tobacco products. Heated tobacco consists of tobacco sticks and heating devices, producing an aerosol containing nicotine and other chemicals. Electronic cigarettes, on the other hand, vaporize e-liquid to produce an aerosol with nicotine and other ingredients.

Currently, tobacco production and trading are regulated under the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. However, this law does not cover new-generation tobacco products, creating a legal loophole. Violations related to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco are handled administratively, without criminal sanctions like those for smuggling tobacco sticks in excess of 1,500 packs.

The MoIT has coordinated with the Ministry of Health to align viewpoints on the management policy for these products. Vietnam has one of the highest tobacco consumption rates in the world, and the emergence of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products has changed the market landscape.

Most of these new-generation products are smuggled. In 2023, market management authorities inspected 303 cases, handled 296 violations, and collected nearly VND4 billion ($158,000) for the budget. In the first quarter of this year alone, 71 cases were processed, yielding over VND1.2 billion ($1.2 billion) for the budget.

At a Q&A session organized by the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on May 4, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan proposed banning the import and sale of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, citing their adverse effects on health, especially among the younger generation. This measure aligns with the Party's resolutions, the Government's policies on tobacco harm prevention and control, and international experience.