St Joseph's Cathedral in Hà Nội - one of the destinations which will apply the smoking ban this month. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

HÀ NỘI — Some of Hà Nội’s major tourism locations will become smoke-free this month as part of a new initiative.

The ban will also include a number of hotels and restaurants who will face fines if they don’t clearly display no smoking signs.

The destinations, including famous landmarks such as Ngọc Sơn Temple, Bà Kiệu Temple, Việt Nam National Museum of History, Việt Nam Museum of Revolution, Quán Sứ Pagoda, Bà Đá Pagoda, Hà Nội Opera House, St Joseph's Cathedral and National Library of Việt Nam.

Phạm Thị Thanh Nhàn, head of the district’s Health Office addressed a workshop held by the People’s Committee on Tuesday called “Deploying a smoke-free tourism model in Hoàn Kiếm District”.

She said the ban would run until the end of the year with no-smoking signs already installed at many locations.

Anyone caught smoking in prohibited areas will be fined between VNĐ100,000 – 300,000 (US$4.3-13).  Restaurants not displaying signs will be fined between VNĐ 3-5 million ($129-216).

Lương Ngọc Khuê, head of Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department under the Ministry of Health said he welcomed the move.

In Việt Nam, it was also previously applied in cities of Hội An, Nha Trang, Vũng Tàu and Huế.

Khuê added applying the smoke-free model in tourist destinations was a part of the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. The greater significance of the move was applying a humanitarian policy and for public health.

Tobacco use is a major cause of lung diseases, typically lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In Việt Nam, the ratio of lung cancer patients who smoke is 96.8 per cent. Secondhand smoke also causes lung diseases in children.—VNS

Doctors at one of Hà Nội’s largest cancer hospitals believe the price of cigarettes is far too cheap in Việt Nam: