No, Kratom is strictly prohibited in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Ministry of Health classified Mitragyna speciosa as a banned substance under Decree 73/2018/ND-CP, aligning with the 2019 Penal Code’s provisions on narcotics. Possession, sale, or use incurs penalties up to 15 years imprisonment or fines up to 100 million VND. Border enforcement actively seizes kratom shipments, particularly from Thailand and Laos.
Key Regulations for Kratom in Vietnam
- Decree 73/2018/ND-CP: Explicitly lists Mitragyna speciosa as a prohibited plant under Schedule II, alongside substances like heroin and cocaine.
- 2019 Penal Code (Article 247): Criminalizes production, trade, and possession of banned narcotics, with aggravated penalties for quantities exceeding 500 grams.
- Ministry of Public Security Circular 17/2019/TT-BCA: Mandates customs and police to destroy kratom products and prosecute offenders under drug trafficking statutes.
Local authorities, including Hanoi’s Department of Health and Ho Chi Minh City’s Anti-Drug Division, conduct periodic raids on unlicensed vendors. Travelers carrying kratom face immediate detention, as border control treats it identically to methamphetamine. No exceptions exist for medicinal or religious use, despite claims from foreign proponents. Compliance requires absolute avoidance—even trace amounts in supplements trigger enforcement actions.