Where smoking is banned under Vietnamese law

The governing instrument

The Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms (2012) sets out where smoking is prohibited in Vietnam.

It distinguishes two groups: places where smoking is completely prohibited, and places where indoor areas are prohibited.

Complete prohibition

This includes health facilities, educational facilities, childcare facilities, children’s play areas, and places with a high risk of fire or explosion.

What that group has in common is that the people present either cannot leave, or are the group most affected by smoke.

Indoor prohibition

Many public places and workplaces prohibit smoking in indoor areas. The specific list and how it applies has to be read from the text of the law.

Why the rules exist

According to GATS Vietnam, published by WHO, 45.6 percent of adults are still exposed to secondhand smoke, down from 73.1 percent in 2010. Most of that improvement came from places with rules and enforcement.

At home there are no rules. That is why 33 million people still breathe secondhand smoke inside their own homes.

This page gives no legal advice

We name the instrument so you can read it directly, and we do not summarise the list of places.

Common questions

Can you smoke in restaurants and cafes?

The law restricts indoor areas of many public places. How it applies depends on the type of establishment and has to be read from the text. We do not summarise the list here.

Why are health facilities and schools completely prohibited?

These are places concentrating patients and children, the two groups most affected by secondhand smoke. WHO states there is no safe level of exposure.

Where is smoking banned in Vietnam?