Travel and Vaping Vaping in Thailand

[Ping]

I will be traveling to Thailand in a couple months and have seen a couple links on here stating that e-cigs are illegal in Thailand. I did a couple google searches and found that people do order them in Thailand, but no mention of anyone selling them there.

I will be bringing my mods either way, just wanted to know what the possibilities of it getting confiscated in customs are. Maybe I could break my spare mod down and scatter the pieces about my checked luggage to avoid any suspicions.

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of the rules/laws, or have recently been there/live there?

 

[Ravenscroft]

I took an ego a few times through Thai airport security and broke it down in my carry on. I was asked by security what is was, it was in my laptop bag. I took it out and showed the bat and made a screwing motion and the guy was satisfied, he then xrayed it and all was good. I ddid put my juice and spares etc in my checked luggage.

You can buy ecigs in MBK.
There is also Siam mods dot com that make the Cube.

Though they say it is illegal.

Rc

 

[Nashy08]

I'd just be careful with it, especially if you're going to Bangkok. The police are pretty sketchy there.

 

[Gainaxe]

Like the above poster, as long as you break down your cig, and seperate the pieces, there's no way for them to identify what it is. And from my experiences they don't ask many questions in customs (I was coming from Singapore, but using a US passport). I wouldn't worry about it beyond making sure it's packed, and not all in one place. Do be a little careful about vaping in public of course, but for the most part it's pretty laid back (depending on where you're going, I visited Phuket and the Phi Phi islands).

 

[Vaprific]

I've been wondering this myself, before I order some more and get them impounded or something. The only thing I can find definitely on the web is that the minister of health ordered a more comprehensive study to make sure they were safe.

However, WHY IN THE WORLD would ANY government in the whole world ban these things? Oh MY GOD! I read recently that in Taiwan or Hong Kong (not sure which) they were pushing to ban them outright (not just for kids), and also restrict regular smoking in general, so that you can be fined for smoking ANYWHERE in public.

Are our governments going crazy? What do they think? they're going to pass a law and we're automatically going to be cured of our addiction? Paint us in a corner, tell us we can't vape so we can go back on analogs, pay the government more taxes and of course fines if we're caught smoking anywhere outside our closet sized bathroom? Oh and of course die a slow merciless and cruel death. Am I the only one who finds this very strange? How many doctors have to say publicly that these things hold GREAT promise and appear to be 99% less harmful for the smoker, and 100% less harmful to others around them. That just supports with the rest of us know by using the little LOGIC and REASONING parts of our brains.

Although I don't usually care to publicly rant because of the (first?) impression it gives of me - not very gentlemanly - but sheesh, is this really such a black n white money issue? For God's sake, I just want to live a few more years to spend with my family before becoming worm food. Is that too much to ask?

Apologies to any offended but it really gets my blood boiling to see governments behaving this way, when in most places they are supposed to be serving the public good.

 

[therealrock]

Ive been living in thailand for nearly 6 years
but only vaping for a few months, but im a total convert.
I live on the islands down south and i vape openly
just about everywhere. I do get a few funny looks from
people from time to time byt havent had any problems.
Ive been stopped by the police and surched for drugs,
he found my 5 ml bottle of juice and questioned me about it being some kind of drug. I pulled out my pv explaneing to him in thai thats its juice for my electric cig. I then took a hit and exhaled a big fat cloud of vaper. He was stunned then asked for a go.
I go through customes with it broken down, thou i walked accross a land border with it in my hand only a week ago. I order things from the us and china and everything has gotten here so far. Theirs not a great range of stuff to buy here, the juice is only really daken so i suggest bringing plenty from home.
Just remember to be respectfull of thai customs and you will never have a problem in the land of smiles.
Happy travles

 

[Vaprific]

Ive been living in thailand for nearly 6 years
but only vaping for a few months, but im a total convert.
I live on the islands down south and i vape openly
just about everywhere. I do get a few funny looks from
people from time to time byt havent had any problems.
Ive been stopped by the police and surched for drugs,
he found my 5 ml bottle of juice and questioned me about it being some kind of drug. I pulled out my pv explaneing to him in thai thats its juice for my electric cig. I then took a hit and exhaled a big fat cloud of vaper. He was stunned then asked for a go.
I go through customes with it broken down, thou i walked accross a land border with it in my hand only a week ago. I order things from the us and china and everything has gotten here so far. Theirs not a great range of stuff to buy here, the juice is only really daken so i suggest bringing plenty from home.
Just remember to be respectfull of thai customs and you will never have a problem in the land of smiles.
Happy travles

I've lived in Thailand about six years as well, although only part of it in Koh Samui area ;o) Lovely down there isn't it?

A couple of things. Here, if you don't know, laws are mainly enforced only if there is money gained by enforcing them. Not a knock on the Thai's but its really what it comes down to. I've had SOOO much equipment seized by customs its not funny. They are quite aware of it and totally brainwashed. One of the times I tried to bribe my way out (whiskey and cash)
of it because I was actually trying to send some to my cancer stricken family member in California, the guy was astonished I would send such a dangerous thing to my family. There wasn't even anything with nicotine in the shipment. Hardware only. An e-pipe mostly. I begged him to let me send it to them ...said it would not even stay in Thailand, no budging him. The other times were similar.

However I've not had as many e juice seizures, but that's probably just luck.

Its not easy to decide what to do, because even if you know its illegal, just how much will they enforce it? Prostitution is illegal as well... go figure that.

Its only a matter of time till they get you in the airport, as they do talk to each other and it is in fact illegal.

But why would you want to come to a country that considers e cigs a "dire and serious threat to public health" because the minister is the holder of the patent on nic gum (or is it patches?)

I'd really rather boycott the place, tourism is all they understand. I'm probably getting out to move to china for this very reason. Hard to get the thai vapers to fight against it, and I'm just another farang unfortunately. My attorney won't even get involved lol Oh well, thats the way it is atm.

Caveat Emptor..you've been warned. I take the risk all the time myself, but I am willing to go to jail...you may not be.