According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smoking rates in Vietnam are far higher among men than women, at 42.3% and 1.7%, respectively. Although only 1.7% of Vietnamese women, equivalent to more than 400,000 people, smoke, tobacco use still puts them at risk of numerous serious diseases.

More alarmingly, over 48% of Vietnamese women are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, while 25% encounter it in the workplace. The figures suggest that nearly half of the country's women face potential health risks even in their own homes, where they should feel safest.

According to the Disease Prevention Fund under the Ministry of Health, secondhand smoke can increase the risk of around 25 groups of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, and reproductive health problems.

Tobacco smoke can also harm reproductive organs, increasing the risk of breast cancer and premature birth. For pregnant women, exposure may disrupt fetal development and raise the likelihood of miscarriage, premature delivery or low birth weight.

Speaking at the "Women Run for a Smoke-Free Environment and a Green Future" event on October 11, Nguyen Thi Minh Huong, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union, stressed that protecting women's health benefits not only individual women but also the well-being and future of generations to come.

Huong said women need greater support from family members, workplaces and communities to make time for exercise and look after their health. Alongside regular physical activity, protecting women and children from tobacco smoke should become a personal responsibility shared by everyone.

"Not smoking at home, at work or in shared spaces, respecting the health of those around us, and taking the initiative to keep our surroundings clean and healthy are practical steps we can all take right away," she said.

Vo Thu