Is CBD Legal in Vietnam?
May 29, 2026
CBD is illegal in Vietnam. No legal market exists, customs seize CBD oils, and possession can trigger Penal Code Article 249 prosecution.
CBD is illegal in Vietnam. No legal market exists, customs seize CBD oils, and possession can trigger Penal Code Article 249 prosecution.
CBD is effectively illegal in Vietnam. The country has not separated cannabidiol from the broader cannabis ban, so any product derived from Cannabis sativa — including isolates marketed as THC-free — falls inside the Schedule I scope set by the Ministry of Health and enforced through the Ministry of Public Security. There is no consumer market, no licensed retail, and no pharmaceutical pathway for CBD.
The legal exposure is real, not theoretical. Customs has seized CBD oils, vape cartridges, gummies, and topical creams shipped from the United States, Thailand, and Europe, and recipients have been investigated under Article 249 (possession) or Article 250 (transport) of the 2015 Penal Code. Travelers carrying CBD tinctures in luggage have been detained at international airports. Quantity thresholds for cannabis resin under Article 251 — 1 gram triggering criminal liability, 5 kilograms triggering the death penalty range — apply to CBD products by weight. No Epidiolex-equivalent approval exists.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Illegal
Ministry of Health (Bộ Y Tế); Ministry of Public Security; Drug Administration of Vietnam
Not specified — no legal CBD category exists
Law No. 73/2021/QH14; Penal Code 2015, Articles 249-251
Import and export of CBD products is prohibited. Vietnam Customs treats CBD oils, edibles, cosmetics, and vape products as controlled cannabis derivatives, and seizures trigger criminal referral to the Ministry of Public Security. E-commerce orders shipped from foreign retailers are routinely intercepted, and the buyer of record can face prosecution under Article 250. There is no personal-use exemption.
