Amount, after adjustment, of cost-method investment. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, dividends received in excess of earnings after date of investment that are considered a return of investment and other than temporary impairments.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 325
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872867&loc=d3e40691-111596

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 325
-SubTopic 20
-Section 35
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638308&loc=d3e40346-111594

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of investments accounted under the cost method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 325
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638263&loc=d3e39828-111592

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the aggregate value of each identified investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting based on the quoted market price for those investments in common stock for which a quoted market price is available.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentQuotedMarketValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 9
-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 11
-Article 7

+ Details

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

- Definition

Cost Method And Equity Method Investments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vgr_CostMethodAndEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	vgr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cost Method Investments, Contributions to Acquire Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Equity Method Investments, Distributions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vgr_EquityMethodInvestmentsDistributions
Namespace Prefix:	vgr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=vgr_ReinsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=vgr_IndianCreekInvestorsLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=vgr_BoyarValueFundMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=vgr_LadenburgThalmannFinancialServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=vgr_CastleBrandsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis=us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_SecuritiesInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-Term Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Long-Term Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 19,539		$ 21,495
Long-term investments	59,488		62,726
Equity income (loss) from real estate ventures	(507)	$ 338
Reinsurance Company [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Contributions to acquire interest		5,000
Indian Creek Investors LP [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 3,780		4,989
Ownership percentage	20.17%
Boyar Value Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 7,286		7,302
Ownership percentage	30.36%
Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 8,473		9,204
Ownership percentage	7.76%
Quoted market value	$ 35,478
Castle Brands [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 0		0
Ownership percentage	7.92%
Quoted market value	$ 11,911
Equity Method Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Distributions of equity method investment	285	1,433
Equity income (loss) from real estate ventures	(1,671)	$ 612
Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted at cost	39,949		41,231
Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cost method investments, fair value disclosure	41,891		44,769
Real estate partnership \| Carrying Value \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted at cost	501		501
Real estate partnership \| Fair Value \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cost method investments, fair value disclosure	505		552
Long-term investments
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted at cost	39,949		41,231
Long-term investments \| Carrying Value \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investments accounted at cost	39,448		40,730
Long-term investments \| Fair Value \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cost method investments, fair value disclosure	$ 41,386		$ 44,217