Young people cycle to spread the message “A civilised, smoke‑free tourism environment” to the community and visitors in Huế City. — VNA/VNS Photo Mai Trang

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is ramping up efforts to curb tobacco use as provinces and cities nationwide prepare activities for World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and National No Tobacco Week from May 25–31, amid growing concern over the rise of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The nationwide campaign follows a letter sent to local authorities by Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn, calling for stronger enforcement of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and tougher action against tobacco-related violations.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco use causes 28 groups of diseases, including serious conditions such as cancers, particularly lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease and respiratory diseases, notably respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Tobacco use causes more than eight million deaths each year worldwide, including about 1.6 million linked to secondhand smoke. Globally, costs related to tobacco use, including healthcare expenses and productivity losses, are estimated at up to US$1.4 trillion per year, accounting for 1.8 per cent of global GDP in 2021.

According to the WHO’s 2025 Global Report on Tobacco Control, countries have made significant progress in tobacco control. Many countries in Southeast Asia have adopted comprehensive control measures and achieved encouraging results. Compared with 2010, smoking prevalence in Southeast Asia fell by 40 per cent in 2024.

In Việt Nam, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said a 13-year review of the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms showed that the prevalence of conventional cigarette use among adult men had declined, while exposure to secondhand smoke had also fallen significantly in households, public places and workplaces.

According to a 2023 survey on tobacco use among people aged 15 and above, the prevalence of tobacco use among men dropped from 47.4 per cent in 2010 to 38.9 per cent in 2023.

However, countries worldwide, including Việt Nam, continue to face pressure to maintain and strengthen tobacco control measures, especially as new tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products become more common, threatening to undermine progress made over the past decade.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2026, identified by the WHO, is unmasking the deceptive appeal – taking action to combat nicotine and tobacco addiction.

Through the theme, the WHO highlighted its commitment to promoting policies aimed at protecting young people from nicotine addiction while calling on governments, health organisations, civil society and young people to unite towards a tobacco-free future.

Việt Nam’s response

The MoH has asked provinces and cities to direct departments, agencies, sectors and organisations to develop plans responding to World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and National No Tobacco Week from May 25–31.

Authorities were instructed to strengthen communication on the harms of tobacco, electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Heads of agencies, organisations and localities were also reminded of their responsibilities in tobacco control under Article 6 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and Prime Minister’s Decision No. 568/QĐ-TTg, issued on May 24, 2023, approving the national strategy on tobacco control until 2030.

The ministry called for tobacco control measures to be integrated into annual activity plans and workplace regulations, including no-smoking rules. It also encouraged communities to include restrictions or bans on smoking at weddings, funerals and festivals in local customary regulations.

Leaders were urged to set examples and encourage agencies and organisations to comply with tobacco control laws.

The ministry also called for stronger inspections and evaluations of tobacco control efforts, with results to be used as criteria in assessing the performance of leaders, Party committees and authorities at all levels.

Local authorities were instructed to strengthen inspections and strictly handle violations of tobacco control regulations, particularly smoking bans in public places, workplaces, medical facilities, educational institutions, hotels, restaurants and other smoke-free locations stipulated by law.

The MoH also requested localities to detect and strictly handle violations involving the production, trading, import, storage, transportation and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products under National Assembly Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15, Government Decree No. 90/2026/NĐ-CP on administrative penalties in the health sector and other tobacco control regulations.

During the campaign, Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn called for stronger community involvement through tobacco control collaborator networks to encourage residents to comply with regulations and participate actively in tobacco control activities.

He also urged authorities to integrate tobacco control communication into the campaigns All People Unite to Build New Rural Areas and Civilised Urban Areas and All People Unite to Build Cultural Life — VNS