Investment Securities (Gross Realized Gains and Losses on Debt Securities Available for Sale) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Gross realized gains on sales	$ 23	$ 27	$ 193	$ 74
Gross realized losses on sales	(1)	(2)	(218)	(7)
Net gains (losses) recognized on debt securities available for sale	22	25	(25)	67
Impairment expense	$ (22)	$ (6)	$ (408)	$ (11)

Amount of realized gain on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121645371&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of realized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), excluding other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of realized loss on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), excluding other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other-than-temporary Impairment Loss, Debt and Equity Securities, Available-for-sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vgr_OtherthantemporaryImpairmentLossDebtandEquitySecuritiesAvailableforsale
Namespace Prefix:	vgr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration