Smoke-free green hotels pave the way for sustainable tourism in Vietnam

For the first time nationwide, Vietnam organized the 1st Non-Smoking Hotel Ranking in 2025 with the theme "Green Hotel - No Tobacco" .

This is not only a program to improve the quality of accommodation services, but also an important initiative in preventing the harmful effects of tobacco, contributing to protecting public health and building a sustainable Vietnamese tourism brand.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Deputy Head of the Tourism Accommodation Department, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the program not only honors hotels that implement smoke-free criteria well, but also raises community awareness of the right to live in a clean, smoke-free environment.

“Tourists are now very concerned about their health. Hotels participating in the program will be honored, creating a ripple effect throughout the industry,” Ms. Binh emphasized.

Statistics show that the country currently has more than 24,800 accommodation establishments, of which about 2,800 hotels of 3 stars or higher have been classified.

In the early stages, this movement has brought significant added value to hotels, as the number of guests interested in health and green tourism has increased. The rankings are a vivid demonstration of the implementation of “green” hotels, enhancing brand reputation, attracting guests, and opening up opportunities to participate in international awards for sustainable tourism and green hotels.

Statistics show that the country currently has more than 24,800 accommodation establishments, of which about 2,800 hotels of 3 stars or higher have been ranked. In the first phase, the program focuses on mobilizing these hotels to participate, with the goal of about 50-100 hotels achieving the title of Typical Non-Tobacco Hotel before the deadline of December 31, 2025.

Regarding the evaluation criteria, the program sets out 14 main criteria with a total score of 80 and 9 bonus criteria with 20 points, based on the requirements of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention. The criteria focus on compliance with the law, clear arrangement of non-smoking areas, communication work for tourists, employees and partners, and assessment of customer and social satisfaction.

Hotels that have won similar awards will be awarded points, creating motivation to develop a civilized, safe and healthy accommodation environment.

Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Mr. Ha Van Sieu emphasized that the program is consistent with the Party and State's policy on sustainable development and green transformation in tourism. The introduction of no-smoking criteria in hotels not only enhances the image of the industry but also brings practical results in preventing the harmful effects of tobacco, building a civilized, green - clean - beautiful accommodation environment.

Mr. Sieu also affirmed that properly implementing the provisions of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and achieving the criteria of the ranking is completely feasible.

As long as the hotel has a clear management policy, reasonable zoning, regulations on prohibited and permitted smoking areas, combined with effective communication, this will not only not reduce the number of guests but also attract more health-conscious tourists, especially the group of guests who prioritize a smoke-free environment.

Deputy Director Ha Van Sieu emphasized that the ranking is a recognition of the "green" value of typical hotels, and at the same time a tool to spread awareness about smoke-free environments and tobacco harm prevention, contributing to forming healthy habits, improving the quality of life and community health.

For smaller hotels, Mr. Sieu said, many 4-5 star hotels have implemented the regulations well, while 1-2 star or 3 star hotels have not paid much attention due to their limited scale and number of guests.

However, he hopes that this movement will spread, creating a network of green, smoke-free hotels, thereby contributing to building a civilized, sustainable and competitive Vietnamese tourism industry on the international tourism map.

Obviously, the Non-Smoking Hotel Ranking is not only a prestigious title, but also an important tool in preventing the harmful effects of tobacco, protecting public health, improving the quality of accommodation services and directing Vietnam's tourism industry towards sustainable, green and civilized development.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/khach-san-xanh-khong-khoi-thuoc-mo-loi-di-ben-vung-cho-du-lich-viet-nam-d422066.html