Marijuana Laws in Ho Chi Minh City: Is Cannabis Legal?

Cannabis laws in Ho Chi Minh City follow Vietnam’s national drug laws. The city does not have a separate recreational or medical marijuana system. As a result, residents and visitors remain subject to Vietnam’s strict cannabis regulations.

Is Marijuana Legal in Ho Chi Minh City?

No. Recreational marijuana is illegal in Ho Chi Minh City, and Vietnam has no general medical cannabis program.

Quick Facts

• Recreational cannabis: Illegal
• Medical marijuana: No general legal program
• Possession: Restricted and potentially criminal
• Buying and selling: Illegal
• Cultivation: Illegal when statutory conditions apply
• Import and export: Prohibited without lawful authorization
• Tourists: No special exception

Vietnam’s current drug-control framework includes the Law on Drug Prevention and Control (Law No. 120/2025/QH15), which took effect on July 1, 2026. The government also updated its controlled-substance lists through Decree 28/2026/NĐ-CP.

Cannabis Enforcement in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City applies the same national cannabis restrictions as other Vietnamese cities. Informal availability does not mean that marijuana is tolerated or legal.

Vietnam’s drug-control law bans unauthorized activities involving controlled narcotic substances, including cultivation, possession, transportation, trading, import, and export.

Therefore, travelers should not rely on old reports claiming authorities routinely overlook cannabis use in certain bars, clubs, or tourist areas. Historical traveler observations may no longer reflect current enforcement.

Visitors should also avoid claims that unofficial payments can resolve a drug-related encounter. Attempting to influence an official can create additional legal problems.

Can Tourists Use Marijuana in Ho Chi Minh City?

Tourists receive no special exemption from Vietnamese cannabis laws.

Visitors should avoid purchasing, possessing, or using marijuana. They should also avoid bringing cannabis flower, THC products, concentrates, edibles, or other potentially controlled cannabis products into Vietnam.

Cross-border drug offenses can carry serious penalties, so travelers should check the legal status of any medication or cannabinoid product before entering the country.

Where Can You Buy Marijuana?

There is no legal recreational cannabis retailer in Ho Chi Minh City.

Although historical travel accounts may describe informal cannabis sales, those reports should not be interpreted as evidence of a legal market. Specific sellers, locations, prices, and product availability can also change quickly.

For current legal purposes, marijuana sales remain prohibited.

Cannabis Possession and Penalties

The consequences of cannabis possession depend on the substance, quantity, circumstances, and applicable offense.

Vietnam’s Criminal Code establishes separate offenses for possession, transportation, cultivation, production, and illegal trading of narcotic substances. Serious drug-trading offenses can carry extremely long prison sentences, including life imprisonment or the death penalty in the most severe cases.

Vietnam also introduced Article 256a in 2025, creating criminal liability for illegal drug use in specifically defined circumstances.

Final Takeaway

Ho Chi Minh City remains a strict cannabis-law jurisdiction. Marijuana is not legally sold for recreational use, and Vietnam does not operate a general medical marijuana market.

Travelers should not rely on outdated reports of informal tolerance. Instead, avoid cannabis possession, use, purchasing, and cross-border transportation, and verify the current Vietnamese rules before traveling with any cannabinoid-containing product.

This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Vietnamese drug regulations can change, so current official requirements should be confirmed before travel.