E-cigarette use rising among Vietnamese teenagers: officials

At a forum held on Wednesday in the north-central province of Nghe An, officials warned that students aged 13 to 15 are increasingly turning to new forms of tobacco, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, despite ongoing anti-smoking campaigns.

According to the Ministry of Health, the rate of e-cigarette use among Vietnamese students aged 13 to 15 rose from 3.5 percent in 2022 to eight percent in 2023.

The ministry has also recorded cases of youth hospitalizations linked to nicotine poisoning and hallucinations from tampered vaping products.

“While the use of traditional tobacco among students is declining, new tobacco products have become more widespread among young people,” said Tran Van Lam, deputy head of the student affairs department at the Ministry of Education and Training.

The forum, titled ‘What We Want to Say,’ was organized by the Ministry of Education, Nghe An Provincial Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper, bringing together more than 1,000 students, health experts, psychologists, and law enforcement representatives.

Students described peer pressure and social acceptance as key reasons for trying e-cigarettes.

“It’s hard to say no when you’re afraid of being left out,” said Phan Quynh Phuong, a high school student from Phan Boi Chau School for the Gifted.

Le Anh Quan, another student from Ha Huy Tap High School, said he avoids contact with e-cigarette users and reports cases of illegal sales to authorities.

Officials noted that e-cigarettes are often marketed with stylish designs and flavored varieties, making them appealing to youth.

Social media has further accelerated the trend, they said, while online sales remain largely unregulated.

Captain Tran Huu Dac, a narcotics officer from the Nghe An Department of Public Security, said e-cigarettes are openly bought and sold in online forums and social media groups, complicating enforcement efforts.

Starting in 2025, e-cigarettes have been officially classified as banned products in Vietnam, and violators may face penalties under national regulations.

Globally, nearly 37 million children aged 13 to 15 use tobacco products, with e-cigarette use among teens surpassing adult rates in several countries, according to the World Health Organization.

The Vietnamese government has pledged to step up inspections at schools and enforce the Tobacco Harm Prevention Law, while also expanding educational campaigns to raise awareness of the risks associated with vaping and other addictive substances.