4 November, Hanoi: In a meeting today with Vietnamese government officials, the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) shared expert insights on tobacco taxation and the growing popularity of electronic smoking devices (ESDs).
Dr Ulysses Dorotheo, Executive Director of SEATCA, said “Vietnam, like its ASEAN neighbors, is facing a problem with the rising uptake of electronic smoking devices (ESD), particularly by the youth. A ban on ESDs is the most effective way to address this issue and avoid repeating the mistake of allowing the cigarette epidemic to grow.”
More than forty countries and jurisdictions have banned ESDs. In ASEAN, Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Singapore, and Thailand have bans, while Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines, which bowed to industry pressure and allowed sale and marketing of these harmful and addictive products, are struggling to cope with youth vaping. Vietnam and Myanmar should learn from these other countries as they decide on banning or restricting these products.
Contrary to industry claims, ESDs are not safe. They contain nicotine and other toxic and cancer-causing substances. Cases of E-cigarette or Vaping Product-Use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) are increasing globally, including a 22-year-old Filipino, who died in early 2024 from heart and lung injuries after using an e-cigarette daily for two years.
ESDs are also not effective smoking cessation aids. Smokers who attempt to quit using ESDs often end up using both e-cigarettes and cigarettes. In addition, youth using e-cigarettes are three times more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes. Some countries with ESD bans have among the lowest smoking prevalence in the world, like Singapore (10.1%), Brazil (9.1%), and Hong Kong (9.5%).
“By aligning its tobacco control strategies with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, enforcing a ban on ESDs and implementing stronger tobacco taxes, Vietnam can significantly reduce the number of young people addicted to nicotine. These measures are essential for protecting the health and well-being of future generations,” noted Dr Dorotheo.
The meeting also highlighted tobacco taxation as a cost-effective and proven tobacco control strategy, noting that Vietnam has among the cheapest cigarettes in the ASEAN region at less than 1 USD per pack, making cigarettes accessible to many, including the youth.
The WHO recommends that Vietnam should increase taxes on cigarettes by adding a specific amount to the current tax, starting with 5,000 VND (0.20 USD) per cigarette pack in 2026 and up to 15,000 VND (0.59 USD) per pack by 2030. This will make cigarettes less affordable and discourage people from smoking.
In Vietnam, about 16 million adults smoke, leading to 100,000 annual tobacco-caused deaths. Tobacco use costs the country VND 108.2 trillion (USD 4.6 billion) annually due to healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
Apart from tobacco taxation and banning ESDs, Vietnam must also protect its bureaucracy from tobacco industry interference. “Eight ASEAN countries have laws to protect their public health policies from tobacco industry interference.Vietnam should also develop and implement a national policy on how the government should avoid unnecessary interactions with the tobacco industry,” noted Ms Tan Yen Lian, Knowledge and Information Manager of SEATCA.
Contact Information:
Ms Val Bugnot, Media and Communications Manager, SEATCA
Email: val@seatca.org
Mobile: +63 917 312 4600
About SEATCA
SEATCA is a multi-sectoral non-governmental alliance promoting health and saving lives by assisting ASEAN countries to accelerate and effectively implement the tobacco control measures contained in the WHO FCTC. Acknowledged by governments, academic institutions, and civil society for its advancement of tobacco control in Southeast Asia, the WHO bestowed on SEATCA the World No Tobacco Day Award in 2004 and the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Award in 2014. SEATCA is an accredited ASEAN entity and an official Observer to the WHO FCTC Conference of Parties.