Vinyl chloride is produced by pyrolytic decomposition of 1,2-dichloroethane in a furnace with coiled up reaction tube having an internal diameter of from 12 to 16 cm. The dichloroethane is vaporized completely in the convection zone of the pyrolytic furnace, different amounts of heat are supplied to the different zones of the reaction tube and, after decomposition in the working up of the reaction products, the low-boiling constitutents are treated with chlorine and separated together with the high-boiling constituents.