No. Salvia Divinorum is not explicitly banned under Vietnam’s 2021 Penal Code, but its psychoactive compound salvinorin A is regulated as a “hallucinogenic substance” under Ministry of Health Circular 10/2023/QD-BYT, which aligns with the 2026 UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs’ expanded control list. Possession, sale, or import without a pharmaceutical license risks administrative fines or criminal charges under Article 248 of the Penal Code.
Key Regulations for Salvia Divinorum in Vietnam
- Controlled Substance Listing: Salvinorin A is classified as a “hallucinogenic substance” in Ministry of Health Circular 10/2023/QD-BYT, effective January 2024, prohibiting unauthorized cultivation or distribution.
- Pharmaceutical Licensing Requirement: Any use, including research or medical, mandates approval from the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV), under the Ministry of Health’s oversight.
- Penal Code Enforcement: Unlicensed possession or trafficking may trigger Article 248 (illegal drug possession) or Article 251 (illegal drug trade), with penalties up to 20 years’ imprisonment, per 2021 Penal Code amendments.
Local authorities, including the Hanoi Police’s Drug Crime Division, actively monitor online sales and darknet markets for salvinorin A-containing products, citing 2025 inter-agency crackdowns under Directive 12/CT-TTg. Travelers importing even trace amounts face confiscation and potential prosecution.