What are the penalties for vaping, IQOS, and drugs in Vietnam?

Nationwide checks in summer 2026: in August 2026 participants relayed a media report about a large anti-drug operation in Vietnam — patrols stopped pedestrians, taxi and truck drivers, and carried out checks in homes, guesthouses and hotels, including tourists' accommodation, requiring urine tests. According to that report, 1,300 people were tested in a single day and 87 tested positive; the operation was planned to run until September 20, 2026. In the second half of August 2026 another participant also wrote about raids with checks in apartments.

Vapes and IQOS: a notice participants shared in June 2026 says that since January 1, 2025, Vietnam has banned the import, sale, storage, transport and use of e-cigarettes, IQOS, vapes, heated tobacco sticks and hookahs. Devices and sticks are usually confiscated at the border; possession or use carries a fine of 3–5 million VND plus confiscation and destruction of the device; allowing others to vape in your home, apartment, bar or café carries 5–10 million VND. In August 2026 a participant confirmed: if found, they are confiscated.

Drugs: in June and August 2026 participants stressed that Vietnam is one of the few countries where drug use itself is a criminal offense. According to a participant in August 2026, the strictness applies to any amount of any prohibited substance, including marijuana, and in his view even red eyes after a trip to a neighboring country could lead to a criminal case. This is participants' opinion rather than legal advice, but they rate the risks as very high.

Raids in Da Nang: in June 2026 a participant wrote that over the previous month there had been regular raids in Da Nang — police came into a venue, closed all the doors, and absolutely everyone inside, Vietnamese and foreigners alike, had to give a urine sample. This observation refers to Da Nang, not Nha Trang.