I saw that on the bus there is a sign saying "No smoking". Thus, what are the regulations on the places where smoking is prohibited in Vietnam? – Ngoc Nhu (Hanoi, Vietnam)
Article table of contents
Places where smoking is prohibited in Vietnam (Internet image)
1. What is tobacco?
According to Clause 1, Article 2 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012, tobacco means a product wholly or partly manufactured from tobacco ingredients and processed in the form of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco shreds, or other forms.
2. Places where smoking is prohibited in Vietnam
2.1. Places where smoking is completely prohibited in Vietnam
- Places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors or outdoors, include:
= Medical establishments;
= Educational institutions, except for those specified in Point b Clause 2 of Article 11 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012;
= Childcare facilities and recreation facilities for children;
= Facilities or areas with high risk of fire and explosion.
- Places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors include:
= Workplaces;
= Colleges, universities and academies;
= Public places, except for the cases specified in Clause 1 of this Article and Clause 1, Article 12 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012.
- Means of public transportation where smoking is completely prohibited are automobiles, airplanes and trams.
(Article 11 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012)
2.2. Places where smoking is prohibited indoors but with separate areas for smokers in Vietnam
- Non-smoking indoor places allowed to have areas reserved exclusively for smokers include:
= International areas in airports;
= Bars, karaoke clubs, dance halls, hotels and tourist accommodation establishments;
= Means of public transportation being ships and trains.
Heads of places above are encouraged to prohibit smoking in all indoor areas.
- The smokers’ area must satisfy the following conditions:
= Having rooms with air ventilation systems separate from non-smoking areas;
= Having containers for tobacco filters and ashes and noticeable signboards;
= Having fire prevention devices.
(Article 12 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012)
2.3. Change of indoor non-smoking locations with places reserved for smokers to the indoor complete non-smoking locations in Vietnam
* The Ministry of Health shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant Ministries, sectors and localities in monitoring execution and assessing implementation of provisions on indoor non-smoking locations with places reserved for smokers and proposing to the Government for regulation which changes such locations to the indoor complete non-smoking locations when meet requirements.
* Change of indoor non-smoking locations with places reserved for smokers to the indoor complete non-smoking locations in conformity with each period must ensure the following requirements:
- To be suitable with orientations, policies of State on tobacco harm prevention; requirements on preventing and reducing tobacco harm for health;
- People’s awareness level of tobacco harm for health;
- Quantity of smoking persons at reserved places is not many;
- Having a suitable roadmap to ensure feasibility;
- Conformity with conditions and tendency of countries in region and on the world.
* Content of proposal about change of indoor non-smoking locations with places reserved for smokers to the indoor complete non-smoking locations must include:
- Assessment report about implementation of provision on non-smoking places;
- List and roadmap of places which need turn into the indoor complete non-smoking places under the following priority level:
= Public means of transport such as ships, trains;
= Isolation areas of airport;
= Hotels, tourism accommodation establishments, bars, karaoke rooms, discotheque.
-Tentative effects of changing the indoor non-smoking locations with spaces reserved for smokers into the indoor complete non-smoking locations.
(Article 10 of Decree 77/2013/ND-CP)
Diem My
