The Ministry of Health of Vietnam proposes 10 places where smoking is completely banned

Specifically, according to Article 2 of the Draft Circular guiding the implementation of regulations on places where smoking is prohibited and the consideration and award of the title of smoke-free environment proposed:

1. Places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors or outdoors, including:

(1) Medical establishments;

(2) Educational institutions, except for higher education institutions and vocational education institutions with classroom blocks over 5,000 m3;

(3) Childcare facilities and recreation facilities for children;

(4) Facilities or areas with high risk of fire and explosion specified at Appendix II on List of construction posing a fire safety risk issued together with the Decree No. 79/2014/NĐ-CP dated July 31, 2014 of the Vietnam’s Government on guidelines for the Law on Fire Safety and Firefighting and the Law on amendments to the Law on Fire Safety and Firefighting of Vietnam.

2. Places where smoking is completely prohibited indoors, including:

(1) Workplaces of state administrative agencies, public non-business units, enterprises, political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, socio-professional organizations and other indoor workplaces, except for the cases specified in Clause 1 Article 2 of the Draft Circular;

(2) Educational institutions, except for higher education institutions and vocational education institutions with classroom blocks over 5,000 m3;

(3) Train stations, piers, bus stations, convention centers, theaters, cultural houses, cinemas, circuses, clubs, sports halls, covered stadiums, restaurants, coffee shops, food service establishments, entertainment service establishments and other public places, except for cases where smoking is completely prohibited indoors and outdoors; public transport; smoking is prohibited in the home, but a designated smoking area is permitted.

3. Public transport vehicles in which smoking is completely prohibited, including:

(1) Automobile;

(2) Aircraft;

(3) Electric train.

A total of 10 places are proposed to have smoking be completely prohibited, depending on each location, the scope of provision on completely banning smoking shall be indoors and within the premises or only indoors (can smoke on campus) and on public transport.

Besides, the Draft Circular also proposes places where smoking is prohibited indoors but are allowed to have designated smoking areas, including:

(1) The isolation area of the airport;

(2) Bars, karaoke, discos;

(3) Hotels, motels, guest houses, resorts and other tourist accommodation establishments;

(4) The means of public transport are ships and trains.

Related agencies, organizations and individuals implement regulations on places where smoking is prohibited.

Thus, if this Draft Circular is approved, in the near future there will be 10 places where smoking is completely banned and 04 places where smoking is prohibited indoors but allowed to have a place exclusively for smokers.

See details of other contents in the Draft Circular guiding the implementation of regulations on places where smoking is prohibited and the consideration and award of the title of smoke-free environment.

Thuy Tram

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