The 15^th National Assembly, at its 8^th session on November 30, agreed to ban e-cigarettes in Vietnam from 2025 to protect public health and social order and safety.

The move was made at the proposal of the Ministry of Health as e-cigarettes can be addictive due to its high nicotine level, and cause serious diseases such as cancer.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was quoted by the Government News as instructing ministries, agencies and localities in May this year to tighten management of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products amid rising consumption, especially by youngsters, causing negative health effects.

The Prime Minister tasked the Ministry of Finance to direct the customs authority to strictly inspect and control the transportation of smuggled e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products through border gates and customs control areas.

The Ministry of Health was urged to disseminate the harmful effects of e-cigarette and heated tobacco products to communities, while proposing solutions to better manage these commodities.

The border guard force was tasked to increase border patrol to detect the illegal trading, storing, and transportation of smuggled e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The Ministry of Public Security was requested to direct its forces at all levels to focus on bringing to light those involving in illegally trading and mixing banned substances into e-cigarette solutions.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Vietnam Television, the national radio broadcaster Voice of Vietnam, the Vietnam News Agency, and the provincial-level People's Committees were requested to direct press and media agencies to increase communications about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

According to a survey in 2022, the rate of e-cigarette uses among students aged 13-15 years is 3.5 per cent. In 2019, this rate was 2.6 per cent. The rate increased significantly, placing at risk the achievements made by Vietnam in reducing the rate of regular cigarette use over the past ten years.