Vietnam Weighs Phased Indoor Smoking Bans at Bars, Karaoke Parlors and Hotels

Vietnam is weighing phased indoor smoking bans at nightlife and hospitality venues in the dossier amending the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. Reviewed by the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society ahead of the October 17 session, the bill proposes a July 1, 2027 effective date.

Smoke-Free Venues and Tighter Controls

Indoor venues can currently keep smoking rooms, but a draft decree option would phase in full indoor bans at bars, karaoke parlors, dance clubs, airport passenger terminals, and hotels and tourist accommodations, with roadmaps set in later regulations. Ships and trains would also become smoke-free public transport after the Health Ministry accepted a Public Security Ministry proposal.

The draft bans retail cigarette displays (with government exceptions), e-commerce, electronic, and vending machine sales, direct and affiliate marketing, and sales within 100m of school or medical entrances. Sellers must post under-18 ban signs and verify citizen ID, VNeID, or passports when needed. Expanding the November 2024 ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, the bill bars their production, trading, storage, transport, import, export, advertising, and use, and adds nicotine pouches and shisha. Pack warnings would rise from 50% to 85% front and back with a quitline number and two-year design changes. Health Ministry data (2010–2024) shows secondhand smoke dropped from 73.1% to 44.9% at home, 55.9% to 22.4% at work, and 34.4% to 22.9% on transit.

Since this remains a draft under review, expats frequenting bars, karaoke venues, or hotels should watch the National Assembly vote and follow-up rules, while remembering e-cigarettes are already banned.

Source: VnExpress International.