On the afternoon of December 24, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health) to organize the first "Solable Outstanding Hotel" honoring ceremony - 2025.
This is the first time Vietnam has organized a national-scale ranking dedicated to the hotel industry, to honor pioneers in building a smoke-free service environment, contributing to protecting public health and enhancing the image of civilized, safe and friendly Vietnam tourism.
Mr. Nguyen Vu Anh, Editor-in-Chief of Van Hoa Newspaper - representative of the Organizing Committee said: The 1st "Smokeless Outstanding Hotel" Ranking Program - 2025 is organized to concretize the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control and Government directives, while realizing Vietnam's international commitments when participating in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
"We expect that, from the 44 hotels honored today, a wave of positive transformation will continue to spread throughout the tourism accommodation industry. It is a transition from awareness to action; from on-site commitment to practical operation; from individual models to a tourism ecosystem that respects human health and the living environment," Mr. Anh Vu emphasized.
According to Dr. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health), this program not only aims to honor hotels that comply with legal regulations, but also to encourage and spread the spirit of building a smoke-free environment in the entire service - tourism industry, reducing diseases caused by tobacco.
Sharing about the unit's efforts to be in this ranking, Mr. Ninh Xuan Tien - Head of sales department of Muong Thanh Luxury Quang Ninh Hotel - said: "In addition to propaganda measures, we are determined and close to keep the environment smoke-free, applying many measures so that customers understand the hotel's regulations on smoking. We require travel agencies to notify customers that the hotel does not approve guests smoking in their rooms. If a customer is found smoking in the room, the hotel will charge a fee...".
"We have charged nearly 10 million VND per customer for detecting smoking in the room. That amount is still small compared to the damage to the hotel, if customers smoke and cause a fire. Moreover, with a room where customers smoke smelly cigarettes for a long time, we have to close the room for at least 3 days to process chemicals, deodorize all the furniture, pillowcase and mattress... The cost is very high. That is extremely difficult for hotel staff, affecting the business of the hotel" - Mr. Tien shared.
According to the Organizing Committee, not only stopping at awarding titles to 44 hotels, the Ranking also affirms the right to live in a clean, smoke-free environment of all citizens; encouraging smokers to reduce or quit their habits; at the same time, creating more peace of mind and confidence for tourists not only about service quality but also social responsibility for public health.
