T.K., a high school student in Ho Chi Minh City’s Phu Nhuan District, opens his vape and adds some drops of oil. “There are no tastes I’ve never tried. Among all, chocolate flavor is the best,” he told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper after taking a long drag then exhaling slowly. Vaping has been sneaking into schools with a kit affordably ranging from VND120,000 to VND150,000 (US$5.19 to $6.49) in form of a lipstick, pen or USB. E-liquid is diverse in flavors, from strawberry to orange, mango which contains nicotine and cannabis. “I tried this in my eighth grade” On a winter day in the southern metropolis, smoke billowed an air-conditioned coffee shop on Nguyen Thai Binh Street in Tan Binh District where a group of schoolboys in their uniforms gathered for vaping. “Your eyes must feel stinging. This place is exclusive for vapers like us,” one of those schoolboys told Tuoi Tre’s reporter. Exhaling chillingly while spinning an e-cigarette around his fingers, T.K. said he started using vapes at eighth grade. “I tried for fun and felt quite dope at the first time. Now I get addicted to it and become the best smoker of my group,” he said proudly. At school, they smoke in toilets yet as teachers start inspecting, these schoolboys have to gather at cafes for vaping. T.K. opened his vape and added some drops of oil. “There are no tastes I’ve never tried. Among all, chocolatey flavor is the best,” K. told Tuoi Tre after taking a long drag then exhaling slowly. He has tried almost all kinds of vapes available and traded them if no longer interested. “I cannot stick with a vape kit for so long. I am urged to upgrade. There was a time I pledged my motorbike for VND10 million ($433) to buy this vape,” K. added. H.T.H, an 11th grader, said he knew all about e-cigarettes’ harms. “We buy them online, from sites certified by vaping communities which sell quality products. Is there …
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