Illegal E-cigarette Trade Thriving Despite Ban in Vietnam Market.

Key points:

Although e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are banned in Vietnam, buying and selling activities are still rampant in the market, especially on online platforms.

Young people are the primary users of e-cigarettes, engaging in transactions through social networks to bypass regulation.

Legal experts suggest strengthening regulation of online platforms to curb illegal e-cigarette transactions.

According to a report from VOV on March 4th, Vietnam has banned the purchase, sale, exchange, and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products since January 1st. Violators may face fines or even up to 15 years in prison. However, these transactions are still active in the market, rendering the ban ineffective.

According to Vietnamese media Vov, entering the keyword "Vape - Pod" in the Google search engine immediately brings up millions of results, showing that there are hundreds or even thousands of stores selling these products in the area, almost all of which are labeled as "open for business." A reporter randomly selected a store in Ho Chi Minh City to investigate its sales situation. The store owner stated that they currently only sell products online, and directed customers to add them as a friend on Zalo to choose from a variety of products. The shopping and shipping process can all be done online.

Not only are the businesses marked on Google continuing to buy and sell, but there are also specialized websites meticulously showcasing various prohibited products. On the website https://ttvape.vn/, all banned items are detailedly introduced, including origin, weight, and price. The merchants also provide contact numbers for transactions.

A university student in Ho Chi Minh City stated that the ban on purchasing e-cigarettes has had little impact, as transactions can still be made through Google, online platforms, and social networks. He pointed out that many social platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram still have transactions taking place, and people are still exchanging and selling as usual.

According to reports, there have not been many enforcement actions nationwide involving e-cigarettes since the ban was implemented. The buying, selling, storing, and using of these prohibited products are still widespread throughout the country. Lawyer Dương Lê Ước An stated that although the law is now in effect, there is a lack of effective enforcement, especially when dealing with young people who primarily conduct transactions online, which increases the difficulty of detection and prosecution.

He suggested that relevant authorities should enhance supervision over social networking platforms and e-commerce platforms, requiring these platforms to delete related transaction websites and keywords, and add them to the list of prohibited items for sale.

According to reports, the Vietnamese National Assembly has passed Resolution No. 173, which declares that the production, sale, import, possession, transportation, and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco will be illegal as of 2025. Violators will be handled according to the law. (Related reading: Vietnam Customs General Department issues ban: Import procedures for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products will stop starting in 2025)