The Ministry of Health included this proposal in the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. The draft has largely completed its policy formulation process and is awaiting a government resolution for approval. It is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly during its second session, 16th National Assembly, in 10/2026.

At a workshop responding to World No Tobacco Day 2026 on 22/5, Ms. Tran Thi Van Ngoc, Deputy Chief of Office of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration (Ministry of Health), stated that the draft proposes two major policy groups. The first is to prohibit the production, trade, transportation, advertising, sponsorship, and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other new tobacco products. The second is to prohibit wholesale and retail establishments from displaying tobacco products in any form.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health recommends that the Government consider adding a regulation "banning individuals born from 1/1/2010 onwards from purchasing and using tobacco" to this draft law or incorporating it into a roadmap more suitable for socioeconomic conditions. According to the drafting agency, this solution aims to gradually create a generation of non-smoking Vietnamese people, reduce nicotine addiction rates among young people, and limit passive smoking.

The Ministry of Health has assessed the policy's impact. If strictly implemented, this regulation could significantly reduce smoking rates, save healthcare costs, and limit productivity losses due to tobacco-related diseases.

However, to ensure feasibility, the policy requires consensus from the National Assembly, the Government, relevant ministries, and the public. Control also demands many synchronized solutions, such as age verification for tobacco purchases, reducing retail outlets, increasing penalties for violations, and maintaining smoking cessation support programs.

An e-cigarette device used by a student. Photo: Phan Duong.

The "smoke-free generation" model has been researched and implemented by many countries to prevent adolescents from accessing tobacco from the outset, rather than solely focusing on current smokers.

Health experts believe children and adolescents are more susceptible to nicotine addiction because their brains are not fully developed before 25 years old. This group is also targeted by the tobacco industry through disguised advertising on social media, event sponsorships, attractive packaging, or celebrity endorsements.

A study in the United Kingdom showed that if the "smoke-free generation" policy is effectively implemented, smoking rates among the 14-30 age group could decrease from 13% in 2023 to almost 0 by 2050.

The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2026 is "Exposing the False Allure - Action to Combat Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction". This theme highlights the risks from new marketing strategies that lure young people into using nicotine-containing products under the guise of being "modern", "less harmful", and "trendy". These disguised promotions in the digital environment, social media, sponsorship activities, and celebrity marketing are increasing the risk of nicotine addiction in the community.

According to experts, in any form, tobacco and nicotine products harm health, creating a burden of disease, economic, and social costs. Tobacco is the cause of many dangerous diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and many other health problems. Beyond affecting users, tobacco smoke also causes serious harm to those nearby, especially women and children.

Le Nga