According to Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health, Standing Member of the Inter-sectoral Management Council of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, after more than 12 years of implementing tobacco control measures, the rate of active smoking among adults in Vietnam has decreased but quite slowly.
With a general rate of 20.8% for both sexes; the current smoking rate among adult males is 41.1% (2021), among the countries with the highest smoking rates in the world. Active and passive smoking are the second leading risk factors for death and disease.
It is estimated that by 2022, the economic loss to society due to active and passive smoking, including medical treatment costs, lost productivity due to illness and premature death due to smoking, will account for 1.14% of GDP (equivalent to VND 108.7 trillion). This cost is 5 times higher than the revenue from tobacco taxes.
Since 2014, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (TCF) has played an important role in providing resources to ministries, branches, socio-political organizations, localities and units to effectively implement the Law on TCF.
In 2024 alone, the Fund supported 93 agencies and units to implement key activities, including enforcing regulations on smoke-free environments, enhancing diverse communications to raise awareness and support smoking cessation, especially in rural areas where smoking rates remain high.
Inspection and supervision of the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Control have been strengthened, while research on tobacco use and crop conversion solutions in tobacco growing areas continue to receive attention.
This companionship has created a driving force to promote comprehensive implementation of PCTHTL activities, from the central to the grassroots levels. Many localities such as Ha Long, Hoi An, Hue... have pioneered in building smoke-free environmental models, especially smoke-free tourist cities, thereby affirming the determination of the government and the community in protecting people's health.
In particular, the Ministry of Health and the Tobacco Control Fund are very pleased with the important results achieved at the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly. At this session, the National Assembly unanimously approved regulations prohibiting the production, trading, import, transportation, and use of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other gases and addictive substances that are harmful to human health, effective from 2025.
This decision not only aims to ensure public health but also contributes to maintaining social order and safety. The National Assembly also assigned the Government to organize the implementation of specific regulations, and at the same time requested to strengthen propaganda work, raise awareness, especially among young people, about the harmful effects of alcohol, beer, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and other harmful substances.
However, there are still some difficulties and shortcomings in the work of PCTHTL. Although the rate of tobacco use has decreased, Vietnam is still among the countries with the highest rate of male smokers in the world. Cigarettes are sold everywhere.
Access to tobacco products is very easy. The price of tobacco in Vietnam is currently very low compared to other countries in the region and the world. Therefore, we have not yet met the goal of reducing the consumption of tobacco products.
