Vietnam strives with the international community to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco.

Many countries around the world are adopting tobacco control policies based on scientific evidence and guided by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This has helped reduce the prevalence of tobacco use globally, saving millions of lives from tobacco-related illness and premature death.

More and more organizations and individuals are actively responding to the movement to build a smoke-free environment.

The results of tobacco control worldwide are considered one of the outstanding achievements of the public health sector. About 5.6 billion people (71% of the world's population) are protected by at least one tobacco control policy under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Prestigious international organizations have actively, creatively and persistently contributed to cooperation with countries to implement effective interventions.

At the global conference on tobacco control, delegates agreed that despite progress, tobacco control still has much to do. The implementation of public health policies still faces many challenges. In some countries, the tobacco industry has used sophisticated marketing techniques such as social media promotion, attractive product flavors and brand positioning to attract young people - especially in areas near schools.

Investing in tobacco control has clear benefits: protecting health, reducing health care costs, increasing tobacco tax revenues and gaining public support. In a context of tight health budgets, this is a reasonable and sustainable solution - a prerequisite for strong political will and inter-sectoral coordination.

In our country, under the direction of the Party and the Government, the work of preventing the harmful effects of tobacco has achieved many outstanding results. Sharing lessons learned with international friends, Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund ( Ministry of Health ) said that the strong commitment of the Government in the work of preventing the harmful effects of tobacco is one of the important factors.

Vietnam has issued the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention (2012) and established the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (2013). The Fund is formed from compulsory contributions from tobacco manufacturing and importing enterprises.

In addition to the financial mechanism, the Fund management model is also highly appreciated for its multi-sectoral, transparent and evidence-based nature. The Fund is chaired by the Ministry of Health and has the participation of many ministries and sectors, operating on the principle of funding based on output results. The selection, planning, monitoring and evaluation processes are all carried out publicly and scientifically, with programs built and implemented based on reliable data and practical evidence.

Thanks to that, the smoking rate among adults decreased from 23.8% (in 2010) to 20.8% (in 2021); the rate of exposure to secondhand smoke also decreased sharply, from 73.1% in 2010 to 45.6% in 2021; in November 2024, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15 stipulating "Prohibiting the production, trading, import, storage, transportation, and use of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, gases, and addictive substances that are harmful to human health from 2025".

In June 2025, the National Assembly passed the Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended), including the application of a mixed special consumption tax system from 2027, with a roadmap for continuous tobacco tax increases until 2031 with the aim of helping reduce usage rates and protect public health.

The World Health Organization representative in Vietnam affirmed that evidence from around the world shows that the most effective and cost-effective intervention to reduce tobacco use is through increasing taxes and prices. Higher taxes and therefore higher prices will encourage smokers to quit and prevent young people from starting.

Tobacco taxes are like a vaccine against the harmful effects of tobacco on the health of young people. By preventing them from starting to smoke, we are helping to protect them from the risks of lifelong tobacco use. Tax reform will achieve win-win results by reducing tobacco consumption and therefore the harmful effects of tobacco on people’s health, while also raising tobacco tax revenues to invest in key government priorities.

Hoang Minh

Source: https://nhandan.vn/viet-nam-no-luc-cung-cong-dong-quoc-te-trong-cong-tac-phong-chong-tac-hai-cua-thuoc-la-post915681.html