Is CBD Legal in Vietnam?

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 — criminal liability for possession begins at 1 gram under Article 249 — apply to CBD products by weight. Under Penal Code amendments adopted in June 2025 and effective July 1, 2025, Vietnam abolished the death penalty for illegal narcotics transport under Article 250, replacing it with life imprisonment; illegal trading under Article 251 still carries capital punishment at the highest quantity tiers. No Epidiolex-equivalent approval exists.

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.