Tobacco related illnesses are a leading cause of death in Viet Nam, with an estimated 40,000 people dying each year – more than a hundred a day. More than 47% of adult men smoke, making Viet Nam one of the countries with the highest male smoking rates in the world. Working with WHO and other partners, Viet Nam’s Committee on Smoking and Health (VINACOSH) within the Ministry of Health, has made tobacco control a key public health priority.
A smoke-free tourism city initiative was first launched in the coastal city of Ha Long four years ago with the aim of promoting a smoke-free environment, and raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and second hand smoke through various communication channels. The initiative also strongly advocates for the compliance of authorities and the general public of the smoking ban at workplaces and public places, and encourages 100% smoke-free hotels and restaurants. Hoi An, a UNESCO world heritage site joined the initiative in 2012.
“A smoke free environment is an important criteria for us to achieve ‘eco-city’ status to attract more tourists said Vice-chairman of the Hoi An’s People’s Committee Truong Van Bay. ”As you enter the city of Hoi An large billboards remind you of the initiative, but that is only a start. In our main tourist leaflet and on our website we have put a large advertisement of Hoi An’s smoke free initiative. Cyclo-drivers have been given a t-shirt to promote non-smoking and on the radio we broadcast information about the initiative.”
WHO is working in collaboration with VINACOSH and the Centre for Research and Community Development Services (CDS) to support Ha Long and Hoi An cities in implementing the communication and monitoring activities.
“We want to engage local communities so that they can learn and benefit from tobacco control efforts, said Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO Representive in Viet Nam. “We focus on advocating local authorities for their commitment on the implementation, raising public awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and second hand smoke as well as the benefits of a smoke free environment. Non-smoking signs and communication materials are provided to promote the initiative to different public and private sector organisation such as hotels, restaurants or hospitals,” he said.
A team of trained supervisors monitor the implementation of the initiative in both cities. The supervisors visit a number of participating, public sites such as museums, restaurants and hotels on a monthly basis.
“We have seen a positive trend of reduced smoking in public sites that participate in the initiative,” explained Mr Pham Van Thang, a monitoring supervisor. ”However, as supervisor I can only provide guidance and give suggestions, but I cannot enforce compliance whenever people do not respect the smoking ban.”
Through the smoke-free tourism city initiative, Hoi An and Ha Long cities are contributing to the implementation of the Tobacco Control Law which came into effect on May 1st 2013, to reduce tobacco use in Viet Nam. Viet Nam is a signatory member of the 2005 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which is the first international treaty developed under the auspices of WHO to reduce the health and economic burden of tobacco use.