Vietnam’s Health Ministry consults on tobacco-control law amendments, proposing an e-cigarette ban

Key Takeaways

• Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is consulting on draft amendments to the tobacco-harm prevention law

• The draft expands scope to include e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other new tobacco products

• The draft proposes bans on possession, transport and use of e-cigarettes and heated products, and on producing/trading assembly parts

• The draft tightens advertising, promotion, sponsorship and online marketing restrictions, and revisits point-of-sale rules

• The draft raises pack health warnings to at least 85% and is slated for Jan. 1, 2027 implementation

• A health official cited 100,000+ annual tobacco-related deaths and 2022 medical costs of VND 108.7 trillion (about US$4,130,600,000)

2Firsts, January 13, 2026 – According to VTV.vn, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is collecting feedback on a draft amendment to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, proposing an e-cigarette ban and broader protections for public health amid emerging risks.

The report says that on the afternoon of Jan. 13, the ministry held a social review, consultation and feedback meeting in southern Vietnam, with participants including representatives from ministries and agencies, medical and legal experts, and social organizations, to clarify major directions for revising the law.

At the meeting, Ha Anh Duc, director of the Ministry of Health’s Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department, said Vietnam remains among countries with high tobacco use. He said more than 100,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases, including 84,500 deaths from active smoking and 18,800 deaths from secondhand smoke exposure. He also cited estimated total medical costs for tobacco-caused diseases of VND 108.7 trillion in 2022 (about US$4,130,600,000), while tobacco tax revenue covers only about one-fifth of that cost.

The report adds that alongside conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are increasing rapidly, especially among adolescents and young people, and that some people mistakenly believe these products are “less harmful,” even though they contain addictive nicotine and pose health risks. This was cited as a key driver for revising the law.

On the draft’s substance, the report says it expands the legal scope by adding full definitions for e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other new tobacco products to address a longstanding legal gap. It also proposes banning the possession, transport and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and banning the production and trading of separate parts and devices used to assemble these products.

The report says the draft strengthens prohibitions on advertising, promotions and sponsorship for both traditional tobacco and e-cigarettes/heated products, including tighter control of indirect marketing and promotion on online platforms and social media. It also revisits and tightens rules on points of sale, including provisions related to proximity to schools, healthcare facilities and areas with children.

Another noted change is a principle to protect tobacco-control policymaking and implementation from interference by commercial interests, aligning with WHO recommendations cited in the report.

The draft would raise health warnings on tobacco packaging to at least 85% of the pack area and expand cessation provisions to cover e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. It is expected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, allowing a transition period for implementation.

Source of the image: VTV.vn