Lawmakers in Vietnam are looking to turn Hanoi's major tourist sites and workplaces in the region into smoke-free environments “for the sake of society and health.”
Vietnam’s capital city will introduce smoke-free tourist sites, restaurants, hotels and offices, according to the
Vietnam News Agency. The scheme is also expected to be rolled out to several public places within Hanoi.
Attractions affected by the new ruling include the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, Old Quarter, Museum of Ethnology and Thang Long Puppet Theatre – some of Hanoi’s most popular tourist sites.
According to the Hanoi government, the smokeless model will “contribute to a civilised lifestyle in public places and bring beautiful images of the capital city to both domestic and international visitors.”
Smoking is a huge problem for Vietnam, with smoking-related diseases killing around 40,000 people each year, according to official statistics. In addition to the smoking bans, the Hanoi People’s Committee has directed press agencies for the region to publish articles on the harmful effects of smoking on human health in an attempt to cut smoking numbers.
