A study conducted in Vietnam, covering nearly 2,500 university students, reveals that the average age of first-time use for vapes and heated tobacco products is 16.90 years. The study found that 14.00% of students have tried vapes, while 3.00% are currently using them; for heated tobacco products, these figures stand at 6.00% and 0.80%, respectively. The research also notes that following restrictions on physical retail sales. Vape sales are increasingly shifting toward online channels, with nearly 35.00% of surveyed retail outlets having transitioned to online sales.
Key Highlights
- A study covering nearly 2,500 university students indicates that the average age at which students first begin using Vapes and heated tobacco products is 16.90 years.
- The survey reveals that 14.00% of students have tried Vapes, and 3.00% are currently using them; the corresponding figures for heated tobacco products are 6.00% and 0.80%.
- Over 62.00% of students believe that Vapes and heated tobacco products help in quitting traditional cigarettes.
- A survey of 126 retail outlets showed that 64.30% of these points of sale have closed down, yet nearly 35.00% have shifted their operations to online sales.
- 39.00% of students reported having been exposed to advertisements for Vapes or heated tobacco products within the past 30 days, with the primary channels including Facebook, TikTok, Google, and YouTube.
Study Reveals Early Initiation of Vape Use Among Students
April 10, 2026. According to VnExpress, although Vietnam has banned Vapes and heated tobacco products, adolescents continue to be exposed to and use these items. A study encompassing nearly 2,500 university students across Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City reveals that the average age at which students initiate the use of Vapes and heated tobacco products is 16.90 years.
Study Reports 14% of Students Have Tried Vapes
These findings were presented at a specialized seminar held in the capital city, Hanoi. The seminar, titled “The Status of Retail Outlet Violations Regarding Bans on Sales, Advertising, and Promotion of Vapes and Heated Tobacco Products in 2025, and the Extent of Adult Exposure to Advertisements and Promotions for Novel Tobacco Products,” was organized by the Hanoi University of Public Health. Surveys indicate that approximately 14.00% of students have tried Vapes, while 3.00% are currently using them.
Heated Tobacco Use Remains Lower but Present
For heated tobacco products, these figures stand at 6.00% and 0.80%, respectively.
Misconceptions About Health Risks and Nicotine Content
Furthermore, over 62.00% of students believe that vapes and heated tobacco products aid in quitting traditional cigarettes.
The research also reveals that many young people believe these products contain no nicotine or pose no health risks.
Dr. Trần Thị Phương Thảo, a representative of the research team, stated that 37.00% of students believe Vapes are nicotine-free, while 15.00% consider the vapor to be merely “harmless water vapor.” Additionally, 43.00% of students believe that vaping helps in quitting traditional tobacco, and 32.00% consider secondhand Vape aerosols to be safe.
Shift to Online Sales Following Retail Crackdowns
Associate Professor Lê Thị Thanh Hương. Vice Rector of the Hanoi University of Public Health, noted that following the tightening of regulations on the sale and use of Vapes, a survey of 126 retail outlets revealed that 64.30% of these points of sale have ceased operations. However, related commercial activities have not disappeared; instead, they have shifted toward more covert methods.
Nearly 35% of Retailers Transition to Online Channels
Among the surveyed points of sale, nearly 35.00% have transitioned to online sales.
Evasion Tactics Used in E-Commerce Listings
Reports indicate that sellers evade scrutiny by e-commerce platforms through deceptive labeling, listing their products as items such as “razors,” “air freshener sprays,” or “electric toothbrush heads,” while in reality, they are selling Vapes.
Widespread Exposure to Online Vape Advertising
The survey further revealed that 39.00% of students reported having been exposed to advertisements for vapes or heated tobacco products within the past 30 days.
They encountered such content primarily through Facebook (65.00%), followed closely by TikTok (49.00%), Google (48.00%), and YouTube (35.00%).
Internet Becomes Key Channel for Tobacco Promotion
Associate Professor Lê Thị Thanh Hương stated that, following restrictions on offline sales, businesses and vendors are adapting to the new environment by bolstering their online presence, utilizing social media, search platforms, and various online promotional strategies to maintain their reach to consumers.
Global Data Highlights Youth Exposure to Tobacco Marketing
Bùi Thị Thu Giang, a Program Manager at the U.S.-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, stated that international studies indicate global tobacco companies are promoting novel tobacco products through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
She noted that between 2018 and 2025, advertisements for three specific categories of products collectively garnered 3.4 billion impressions across more than 60 countries, reaching approximately 385 million accounts. Of these viewers, 40% were under the age of 25, meaning that approximately 150 million young people were exposed to this content, including 16 million minors under the age of 18.
