In Vietnam, smoking is far more common among men than women—42.3% of men smoke compared with just 1.7% of women. Yet more than 400,000 Vietnamese women still smoke, and far more are exposed to other people's smoke.

Over 48% of Vietnamese women encounter secondhand smoke at home, and 25% are exposed while at work. This means almost half of the country's women breathe polluted air in places that should feel safe.

The Disease Prevention Fund under the Ministry of Health says secondhand smoke can increase the risk of around 25 groups of diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory and reproductive illnesses.

Tobacco smoke also raises the chance of breast cancer, premature birth, miscarriage, low birth weight and other reproductive problems for women.

Nguyen Thi Minh Huong, Vice President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, called for greater support from families, workplaces and communities to protect women’s health. She urged people to keep homes, offices and shared spaces smoke‑free.

Reducing exposure not only safeguards women's own wellbeing but also protects future generations, because healthier mothers lead to healthier children.