The management authorities of Ha Tinh Market in Vietnam have successfully enforced a strict smoke-free zone policy within the trading area. This step was taken to create a healthy shopping environment and minimize the risk of fire at this regional economic center, which houses thousands of traders.
In the two-story market area dominated by clothing vendors, a noticeable change is felt. Despite busy trading activities over the weekend, there were no puffs of smoke or smell of cigarettes detected inside the building. This collective awareness has been appreciated by traders who feel more protected from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
Tran Thi Hoa, one of the stall owners, expressed relief over the drastic decline in smoking activities at the market. The danger of cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer due to exposure to secondhand smoke no longer haunts traders who spend their entire day at the market. Similarly, visitors also admitted to feeling more comfortable shopping in a cleaner and healthier environment.
This success is inseparable from the concrete steps taken by the Market Management Board. Every day, announcements regarding the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms are continuously broadcasted via loudspeakers. Additionally, no-smoking signs are strategically placed at entrances and in sensitive areas prone to fire hazards.
Vo Thai Hoa, Deputy Head of the Ha Tinh Market Management Board, explained that the 33,000-square-meter market accommodates around 1,800 businesses and 2,300 stalls. Given the large scale of the market, the smoke-free campaign will continue to be expanded in the future by utilizing digital platforms such as Facebook and Zalo to reach the trading community more extensively.
