Vietnam has escalated its war on youth vaping by holding school leaders directly liable for student behavior. Effective December 31, 2025, school principals and institutional heads face fines ranging from 5 to 10 million VND if they fail to prevent students from using e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products on campus. This marks the first time Vietnamese law has assigned direct legal responsibility to facility heads for “lax management” regarding vaping.
Key Takeaways
- Principal Liability: Heads of schools face fines of **5–10 million VND** for failing to supervise or prevent vaping.
- Student Penalties: Students caught vaping face direct fines of **3–5 million VND**.
- Asset Seizure: All confiscated vaping devices and heated tobacco products will be destroyed to prevent reuse.
- Legal Basis: The penalties are codified in **Decree 371**, effective December 31, 2025.
Shifting Liability to School Heads
Decree 371 represents a fundamental shift in enforcement strategy. Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the new regulation targets the “head of the facility” rather than just the user. The law stipulates that anyone with management authority who condones or fails to implement prevention measures will be penalized. This move aims to tighten discipline in educational environments following a surge in youth vaping rates and related poisonings.
Comparison Matrix: New Penalty Framework
The new decree creates a two-tiered penalty system targeting both the enabler (through negligence) and the user.
| Violator | Violation | Fine Amount (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| School Principal / Head | Lax management / Failure to prevent use | 5,000,000 – 10,000,000 |
| Student / User | Direct usage on campus | 3,000,000 – 5,000,000 |
National Assembly’s Comprehensive Ban
This strict liability aligns with the National Assembly’s broader decision to implement a comprehensive ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products starting in 2025. By threatening the wallets of school administrators, the government expects a more rigorous, top-down enforcement of the ban within educational institutions. However, the policy raises concerns about the extent of a school’s ability to control student behavior and whether this places excessive risk on educators.
Will teachers be fined if students vape?
The law specifically targets the “head of the facility” (principals/administrators) for management failures. However, internal school policies may penalize teachers for lack of supervision. The primary legal fine of 10 million VND applies to the person in charge of the location.
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