Is Tramadol legal in Vietnam?
- Legal status
- Tramadol is a special-control prescription medicine in Vietnam — a single-ingredient addictive-active ('gây nghiện') drug under Circular 19/2014/TT-BYT and its successor Decree 163/2025/NĐ-CP; Vietnam's narcotics capital tiers are keyed to heroin/methamphetamine/opium/cocaine, no tramadol-specific capital tier is established, and Vietnam abolished the death penalty for drug offences on 1 July 2025.
- Consequences if caught
- Unlawful possession or supply is punished by quantity under the Penal Code; tramadol is not death-eligible.
- If prescribed or medical
- Dispensed as a special-control 'gây nghiện' prescription medicine.
- Documentation
- Carry a prescription or doctor's letter for a personal supply only; controlled/addictive medicines must be declared and are tightly limited on import.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Vietnam’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →