A communication campaign was launched on December 26 in an effort to raise awareness among young people in Vietnam about the harmful effects of consuming tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Nguyen Binh Minh, Chief Administrative Officer of the HCYU, addresses the event

The event was jointly held by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee (HCYU), the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund, and the Global Public Health Organization, with the campaign being named Vital Strategies.

The start of the drive can be considered of great significance in the context of tobacco corporations accelerating the consumption of new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) that specifically target adolescents.

Addressing the event, Nguyen Binh Minh, Chief Administrative Officer of the HCYU, emphasised that the campaign equips local youths with knowledge about the harmful effects of cigarettes and helps to build a healthy lifestyle with a smoke-free environment.

Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment under the Ministry of Health, highlighted the crucial role and joint efforts of the youth in disseminating information relating to the harmful effects of consuming traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

At the event’s launching ceremony, approximately 1,000 students signed up to the campaign of "Vietnamese youth say no to cigarettes and e-cigarettes". Many did this by scanning a QR code with a link to the website vn0khoithuoc, the official website of the campaign.