Smoking in Vietnam
Smoking is legally allowed in Vietnam but there are some restrictions in place for tobacco products including cigarettes. Based on these regulations, the sale of cigarettes is legal, and importing them for trade is allowed with a license. Tobacco advertising is regulated, enforcing a complete ban on all forms of advertising. Purchasing cigarettes online is permitted; however, sales from vending machines are prohibited. Additionally, the law requires health warnings on all tobacco packaging, sets a minimum legal age of 18 years for sales, and includes legal restrictions on smoking in public places such as healthcare and educational facilities. A total taxation rate of 34.32% is applied on cigarettes, with no specific excise rate. The prevalence of tobacco smoking among individuals aged 15 years and older in Vietnam has shown significant figures according to available data. The number of current tobacco smokers was approximately 15.8 million in 2024. The adult smoking prevalence indicates a stark gender disparity, with 41.8% of males and only 0.8% of females reported as current smokers. The overall current prevalence of smoking was 20.6%. This marks a slight decrease compared to previous years. In 2020, the overall smoking prevalence was 23.8%, with a prevalence of 47.3% among males and 1.2% among females. For reference, the adult daily smoking prevalence in 2017 was 18.7%, with a prevalence of 37.6% among males and 0.8% among females. Tobacco smoking has shown to have substantial impacts on mortality rates in Vietnam. In 2021, smoking-related deaths accounted for 14.32% of all deaths in the country. Males had a significantly more deaths with 21.5%, compared to 4.69% among females. The annual number of deaths attributable to smoking reached over 100,000, including 86,291 male and 14,050 female deaths. These statistics underscore the public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Vietnam and necessitate concerted efforts in reducing smoking prevalence and its health impacts.
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October 23, 2024 by tuoitrenews.vn
Vietnam pushes cigarette tax hike to curb smoking rates
The Vietnamese government proposed increasing cigarette excise tax to combat high smoking rates, with a focus on public health. Proposed options include raising the tax gradually up to VND10,000 per pack by 2030. Various organizations support the tax hike to reduce smoking-related health issues. Concerns were also raised about vaping's rising popularity, leading to potential bans on e-cigarettes in line with other Southeast Asian countries. Measures to address tobacco and vape use aim to align with global health guidelines and reduce tax evasion from smuggling. Strategies include public awareness campaigns and stricter controls on tobacco products.
June 05, 2024 by vnexpress.net
Trade ministry supports e-cigarette ban
The Ministry of Industry and Trade in Vietnam supports a proposed ban on e-cigarettes due to negative health impacts reported by the Ministry of Health. Trader minister Nguyen Hong Dien halted the review of a bill on e-cigarette regulation, and stated support for banning them. No licenses have been issued for e-cigarette trading, and violators are being investigated and punished. E-cigarettes, containing harmful substances, have seen an increase in usage among Vietnamese youth. In 2023, 1,200 people were hospitalized due to e-cigarette usage.
June 05, 2024 by vnexpress.net
Trade ministry supports e-cigarette ban
The Ministry of Industry and Trade in Vietnam supports a proposed ban on e-cigarettes due to negative health impacts reported by the Ministry of Health. Trader minister Nguyen Hong Dien halted the review of a bill on e-cigarette regulation, and stated support for banning them. No licenses have been issued for e-cigarette trading, and violators are being investigated and punished. E-cigarettes, containing harmful substances, have seen an increase in usage among Vietnamese youth. In 2023, 1,200 people were hospitalized due to e-cigarette usage.
May 20, 2024 by sggp.org.vn
E-cigarette displays great dangers to young generations
An interview with Vice Chairman of the National Medical Council Luong Ngoc Khue discusses the rise in e-cigarette use among Vietnamese youth. Despite a decrease in traditional cigarette consumption, cases of emergency care due to e-cigarette overuse have surged, especially among adolescents. The appeal of e-cigarettes lies in their various designs and flavors, leading to an increase in usage among young students. The lack of regulation allows easy access to these harmful products, contributing to health and social issues. Efforts are being made to update legislation to ban e-cigarette manufacturing, trading, and advertising, aligning with global initiatives to curb tobacco-related harms.
May 20, 2024 by sggp.org.vn
E-cigarette displays great dangers to young generations
An interview with Vice Chairman of the National Medical Council Luong Ngoc Khue discusses the rise in e-cigarette use among Vietnamese youth. Despite a decrease in traditional cigarette consumption, cases of emergency care due to e-cigarette overuse have surged, especially among adolescents. The appeal of e-cigarettes lies in their various designs and flavors, leading to an increase in usage among young students. The lack of regulation allows easy access to these harmful products, contributing to health and social issues. Efforts are being made to update legislation to ban e-cigarette manufacturing, trading, and advertising, aligning with global initiatives to curb tobacco-related harms.
May 14, 2024 by vnexpress.net
Vietnam PM requests increased e-cigarette management
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested authorities to apply different measures to manage and prevent the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. In a document issued Monday, Chinh said the rate of smokers has dropped by 0.5% on average every year among males. But different types of e-cigarettes are available and more people are using them, leading to adverse health effects for users. As such, Chinh has requested the Ministry of Health to communicate more about the harmful impacts of e-cigarettes, as well as proposing solutions to manage them. The Ministry of Finance would instruct customs to manage the transportation of e-cigarettes through the border, and to tackle smuggling.
May 06, 2024 by vietnamnet.vn
Debates over ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products
There are debates over banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products as the Ministry of Health proposed a ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products whereas the Ministry of Industry and Trade wants to legalize the two products. Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that the Ministry of Health has submitted many documents to the Government and to the Ministry of Industry and Trade clearly expressing the ministry's views on this issue.
April 17, 2024 by thestar.com.my
E-cigarettes to be regulated as tobacco product in Vietnam
Many ministries affirm that heated cigarettes fall under tobacco laws, regulated since 2012. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing rules to manage electronic and heated tobacco products. The Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Tobacco defines tobacco products based on ingredients, not production methods. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control includes heated tobacco as a tobacco product. The 2018 World Health Organization recognizes heated cigarettes as tobacco and advises national regulation. Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan stresses the importance of regulating new cigarettes under existing laws.
March 28, 2024 by vnexpress.net
To ban or not to ban e-cigarettes?
When I first entered university, I did something that, upon recall, I always chuckled at how stupidly innocent it was: I started smoking to show people how "mature" I was, and to show off with my female friends. I was very poor in university, much like all other university students back then. So naturally, I chose one of the cheapest brands, a no-filter straight-up cigarette. We only chose a more expensive type of cigarette on the first day of the new academic year. We did not have any strong reason to do so, besides the dire need to impress the new influx of girls at the school.
March 26, 2024 by vietnamplus.vn
Thailand warns against toy-shaped vape
Thai Academics are warning about a new type of e-cigarette called "toy pods" which look like replicas of popular cartoon characters to target school and university students. Srirach Lapyai, a project manager at Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Centre (TRC), said e-cigarette businesses have adjusted the appearance of their products to look more like figurines of famous cartoon characters or cute miniatures of toys, food, stationery items, and so forth.