Vietnam to fine principals up to $400 if students vape at school

Vietnam has introduced a landmark legal framework aimed at holding educational leadership directly accountable for the prevalence of vaping among the youth. Under Decree 371, which became effective on December 31, 2025, school principals now face personal administrative fines of up to VND 10 million (approximately $400) if they are found to have neglected their supervisory duties regarding the use of e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products on campus.

This regulation represents a significant shift in Vietnamese policy, marking the first instance where school heads are explicitly assigned legal liability for student behavior in this context. While administrators face penalties for management failures, individual students or staff caught using these products are subject to fines ranging from VND 3 million to 5 million, alongside the immediate confiscation and destruction of all illicit items.

The legislative push follows a troubling period of growth in youth nicotine consumption. National health data indicates that e-cigarette use among teenagers aged 13 to 17 more than tripled between 2019 and 2023, rising from 2.6% to 8.1%. This surge led to a public health crisis in 2023, with over 1,200 hospitalizations recorded for poisoning and other severe illnesses linked to vaping.

In response, the National Assembly enacted a comprehensive ban in 2025 on the import, sale, and use of all electronic and heated tobacco products. This aligns Vietnam with a global cohort of over 40 nations that have prohibited these devices entirely. Beyond administrative fines, the government has authorized criminal prosecution for the large-scale production or transport of these items, with penalties reaching up to VND 1 billion or five years in prison.

Early data for 2026 suggests the crackdown is yielding tangible results. The Ministry of Public Security has noted a marked decrease in cases involving e-cigarettes, particularly those laced with illegal narcotics. Furthermore, clinical reports from major institutions like Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital show that emergency room visits for vaping-related toxicity have dropped by more than 60% since the implementation of the new laws.