Thuoc Lao – Vietnamese Tobacco

For foreign smokers, “thuoc lao” (Vietnamese: thuốc Lào) would be a special thing to try. It is quite popular, especially in northern Vietnam. From a small coffee shop or just on the pavement, you can easily catch sight of a middle-aged man, even a woman, smoking from a bamboo water pipe along with green tea or local beer. It’s one of the Vietnamese customs, and you can try it in a local way.

What is the Thuoc Lao?

According to Dao Duy Anh, a Vietnamese historian and lexicographer, thuoc lao means “drug from Laos” and probably came from Laos into Vietnam a long time ago. In ancient times, most Vietnamese women ate betel nuts, and men smoked thuoc lao. It followed them every moment, from happy times to hard times, even during their lifetimes. Normally, Vietnamese use a bamboo water pipe to smoke or chew thuoc lao.

In some regions, thuoc lao has become a famous, delicious brand, especially in Thanh Hoa, which is advertised as being as intoxicating as opium.

And other places such as: Tien Lang, Vinh Bao, Kien An (belonging to Hai Phong city)… in the South, there are Cai San, Xom Moi, Go Vap, Tan Binh…  there are many thuoc lao shops such as: Vinh Ky, Giang Ky, and Vinh Phuc, both have very good quality. 

Thuoc Lao Smoking tools

Typically, there are 3 main types of pipes in Vietnam.

Dieu Cay: This is the most popular pipe. Dieu cay means “farmer’s pipe”. It is made of bamboo, along with light metal, and is about 40 – 60 cm long. One end of the stem must be closed, and the bamboo eye is always used so the stem can hold water; the other end is used for suction.

The position near the closed end of the stem is drilled to accommodate the cigarette holder. Cigarettes are places where cigarettes are put to smoke, often made of wood and metal with a hole for smoking, and are the most important part, creating a crunchy sound when people smoke.

The cigarette holder is tilted towards the top for suction, not perpendicular to the stem for easy smoking.

Dieu Bat: usually made of ceramic or porcelain, which holds water. The cigarette holder is located at the top and punches a nearby hole to insert the cigarette while smoking. Also, there is a small hole beside the cigarette holder. Smokers use a small hollow bamboo to inhale the smoke.

Bowls are usually made of patterns or engraved with finesse. The dieu bat is placed in a small pot or a big iron bowl. They will keep the ash from the water pipe after finishing smoking. And water from the dieu bat can come out to keep it clean. It is often used to smoke at home as it is not convenient to carry.

Dieu Ong or dieu dong: the body is similar to dieu cay but shorter and bigger. It is made of precious wood, the bone of an animal, or of ivory…It can be put up for standing without holding, like dieu cay, and carrying like dieu bat.

The pipe is beautifully crafted, exquisitely sculpted. This type of cigarette is only used by the rich. When smoking, the servants lit a fire and then gave it to the smoker. Wherever he went, the attendant brought Dieu Ong with him.

How to enjoy thuoc lao?

Thuoc lao is rolled into the size of a pinky finger and put on the cigarette. Then burn the tobacco to create smoke, wait for a second, then blow backwards to let ash out of the pipe. The smoker inhaled every short breath to get more oxygen for the cigarette to burn evenly, and the smoke accumulated in the cigarette before taking a deep breath, with a large amount of smoke.

The tobacco has reduced its heat and filtered some substances as it passed through the water in the pipe. While smoking, vapors and smoke cause the water contained in the cigarette and gas to make a noise like crunching. This sound depends on the pipe’s structure and the amount of water it contains.

In addition to smoking, thuoc lao is also used to chew betel leaves and areca nuts. Chew a bunch of dry thuoc lao in the mouth, keep it between the teeth and cheeks, sometimes chewing to extract water, but actually do not swallow the residue.

The harmful effects of thuoc lao are similar to those of other cigarettes, in addition to creating a polluted, unsanitary odor (the smell of water that is foul-smelling and very durable). It is also addictive, creating a cold. Anorexia nervosa and secondhand smoke are agents of respiratory diseases, including cancer, for both active and passive smokers.

In recent years, Thuoc Lao and Dieu Cay have become popular souvenir gifts when traveling to Vietnam. It costs from US$20 to US$40 to get a high-quality Dieu Cay and 1KG of Thuoc Lao. Quite cheap but very strong feeling, is that correct?