Will flying to Vietnam to buy tobacco products save smokers money? New York based lawyer with hilarious price split-up

Rajat Sharma, founder of Sana Securities and a lawyer in New York, is gaining attention for a post he shared on X about the difference in cigarette prices in India and Vietnam.

Rajat Sharma's viral X post highlighted the significant price disparity of a pack of Marlboro Lights cigarettes, which costs around ₹340 in New Delhi and is projected to rise to approximately ₹400 following India's recent excise duty hike, compared to just ₹120–₹130 in Vietnam. His tongue-in-cheek suggestion was that a regular smoker could buy enough cheaper packs in Vietnam to offset the ₹21,000 return airfare from Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Rajat Sharma's post used the price of a standard pack of 20 Marlboro Lights as a basis for his comparison.

In New Delhi, the current retail price is approximately ₹340 per pack, with a potential increase to nearly ₹400 after the full impact of the additional excise duties and a 40% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is passed on to consumers, effective from February 1, 2026. Vietnam: The same product is available in Vietnam for the equivalent of around ₹120–₹130.

Sharma's post included a calculation suggesting that by purchasing a sufficient quantity of cigarettes in Vietnam, a smoker could cover the cost of travel.

The founder of Sana Securities estimated a return flight to Ho Chi Minh City at ₹21,000 and claimed purchasing about 75 packs (1,500 sticks) in Vietnam could offset this airfare.

The post triggered mixed reactions online, combining humor and criticism.

Many users pointed out that bringing large quantities of cigarettes across borders is subject to strict customs regulations and duty limits. The duty-free allowance for entry into India is typically only 100 sticks (five packs).

Other users focused on the health implications, suggesting that quitting smoking was a better option than finding ways to "save tax and travel".