Hanoi aims for non-smoking tourism sites

The Health Department of Hoan Kiem District has announced that smoking will be banned at 30 tourist spots this month at the conference about implementing smoke-free tourism model.

Pham Thi Thanh Nhan, head of the Health Department of Hoan Kiem District, announced that smoking will be banned at 30 tourist spots this month at the conference about implementing smoke-free tourism model on October 1.

St. Joseph's Cathedral

Some of the tourist spots are Ngoc Son Temple, National Library, Hanoi Opera House, St. Joseph's Cathedral and Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. The authorities will put up signs with violators will be fined immediately.

12 restaurants and 11 hotels in Hoan Kiem already support the project. Nhan went on to say that they often carry out inspections at committed restaurants, hotels and banned spots. They have fined VND30m in the first eight months of 2019. The total amount of fine collected last year was VND88m and VND160m in 2017.

Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Health Ministry's Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, also supports the project.

Statistics from the World Health Organisation show that 40,000 people die in Vietnam every year due to tobacco-related diseases. 96.8% of lung cancer patients smoke. In Vietnam, non-communicable diseases kill 73% of the total patients every year. One of the main cause is the high smoking rate.

33 million people in Vietnam do not smoke but are often exposed to second-hand smoke at home and five million people are exposed to second-hand smoke at workplaces.

The Ministry of Health committed to collaborating with Hanoi authorities to promote anti-smoking activities. It is hoped that the project will help reduce the number of second-hand smoke.