1. Vietnam Tobacco Control Program Policy and Accomplishments
MPH. Doan Thu Huyen
Ministry of Health Vietnam S.R

2. Tobacco use and its burdens in Vietnam
Tobacco Control Policy
Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund
CONTENTS

3. 1. Tobacco use and its burdens in Vietnam
Vietnam is among the top 15 leading countries having the highest prevalence of make smoking in the world
million tobacco users (smoked and/or smokeless) (45.3% in male, 1.1% in female)
53.5% of non smokers (28.5 million adults) were exposed to tobacco smoke at home
36.8% of non smokers (1.4 million adults) were exposed to tobacco smoke at workplaces
Each year about 40,000 people die because of tobacco-related diseases and without the timely intervention by 2030 this figure could rise to 70,000 people each year
Source: GATS, MOH 2015

4. Tobacco smoking: comparison 2010-2015 (%)

5. Percentage of adults ≥15 years old who are current smokers of cigarettes between 2010 and 2015, by region (%)

6. Second hand smoke at various places 2010-2015 (%)

7. 1. Tobacco use and its burdens in Vietnam
Tobacco tax: 70% of selling price
Estimated total yearly cigarette expenditure among all current cigarette smokers : 31 trillion VND (2.5 % GDP) (1.47 billion USD)
Cost of health treatment for top 5 tobacco used related diseases: 23,000 billion VND (1,15 billion USD)

8. 2. Policy development 2014- now
11 Nov 2004
President signed FCTC
17 March 2005
FCTC took effective
August 2005 Prime Minister ratified Master Plan 1315
18 June 2012 National Assembly passed TC law
Jan 2013 Prime Minister signed National Strategy on TC till 2020
2014- now
- 03 Govt Decree on tobacco business management; TC administrative sanctions,
tobacco cessation
- Circular on GHWs

9. 2. Policy development (cont.) Tobacco Control Law
Ban of smoking in most indoor public places and limited areas for Designated Smoking Room. (100% smoke free in health and educational settings, designated for children)
Comprehensive ban of advertising, promotion and marketing.
Ban of tobacco sale and buy for children under 18
Ban of tobacco sale at prohibited smoking areas
Ban of tobacco display as per pack/ cartoon of 1 branch at point of sale
Ban of sales of cigarettes within 100 meters of hospitals and schools
Ban of kiddies packs after 3 year TC Law taken effective
Fist application of graphic health warnings in tobacco packets (top and 50% surface, 6 samples with two year rotation)
Increase of tobacco tax (65% to 70% by 2016 and to 75% by 2018 of pre factory price).
Establishment of National Tobacco Control Fund

10. 4. Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund
The Fund is the State financial organization directly under Ministry of Health, and under state control of Ministry of Finance in term of finance.
Source of fund: A compulsory contribution from TI that registered, calculated and paid by the tobacco manufacturers or importers at the same time as the tobacco excise tax is paid.
It’s calculated on a percentage of the excise tax liable prices.
1% from May 2013
1.5% from May 2016
2% from May 2019.

11. 4. Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund (cont.)
Multi-sectoral ownership – ‘the fund does not belong to health alone’
Multi-sectoral from the outset.
Engagement across sectors and of government and civil society in advocating for VNTCF establishment.
Strategic to have the voice of non-health players – helps to convey that the importance and relevance of the Fund is universal and cross-sectoral.
Evidence based model for structure and purpose of the Fund: No previous precedent in Vietnam, hence, Govt and MOH country are cautious to step by step develop the model

12. Number of Fund’s grantees

13. WNTD ceremonies in localities

14. WNTD ceremonies in localities

17. Conclusions
Progress has been made in implementing SF policies resulting in the reduction of SHS exposure in Viet Nam. However, exposure to SHS remains high in homes, at workplaces, and in public places, especially inside restaurants (80.7%). 100% smoke-free policies and enforcement are critical.
It is important for communication activities to continue to be strengthened in order to sustain and increase public awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and toward changing smoking behaviors.
Increasing the price of tobacco products is an evidence-based strategy proven to reduce consumption
Monitoring and enforcing comprehensive prohibitions on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) can help protect youth from TAPS exposure, especially at points-of-sale

18. Challenges
Limited capacity on TC program management, esp at local level
- Skills for specific interventions and evaluation of some ministerial and local focal point agencies
- Limited skills of TC communication
Poor and ineffective monitoring checks and administrative sanctions, lack of skillful enforcers to monitor the compliance.
Still high prevalence of smoking in hospitality settings (esp. restaurant and other public places).
New emerging kind of tobacco products (Shisha..)
Tobacco industry interference Low tobacco price and tax