This collaboration aims to build an science-based intervention model to effectively prevent and control, thus promoting the strong collaboration between health and education to effectively prevent the increasing use of electronic cigarettes in schools.
Hanoi University of Public Health and the VinFuture Foundation officially announced the collaboration to launch the project “School-based e-cigarette prevention intervention in metropolitan cities in Vietnam”.
In this first year, Hanoi University of Public Health and the VinFuture Foundation will establish a comprehensive intervention program tailored to Vietnamese recent context, in collaboration with the REACH research group led by Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher (Stanford University, USA). Furthermore, the project organizes specialized workshops with health experts, reaching thousands of students to enhance their awareness about the risk of electronic cigarettes.
Initially, the project will be piloted in a secondary school in Hanoi, and expand to 08 additional schools across metropolitan cities over the next two years.
The program is being launched in the context of the Resolution 173/2024/QH15, approved by the National Assembly in November 2024, which officially bans the production, trading, import, storage, transportation, and use of electric cigarette and heated tobacco products from 2025. Vietnam is the sixth ASEAN country to enforce a policy to ban the electric cigarette and new heated tobacco products as well.
Nevertheless, the implementation of this Resolution faces challenges since the shortage of comprehensive intervention programs and cohesive legal framework, while the rate of electric cigarette use among young generations is rapidly increasing. According to data from the Ministry of Health, the percentage of students aged 13-15 using e-cigarettes increased from 3.5% in 2022 to 8.0% in 2023.
Prof. Hoang Van Minh, Principal of the University of Public Health, expressed his expectations for the positive outcomes of the project
Emphasizing the Program’s urgency, the project’s leader – Prof. Hoang Van Minh, said: “Through developing intervention and science-based concepts in secondary schools, the project set a pioneer and timely foundation for developing policies and comprehensive programs to control cigarettes, and electronic cigarettes in particular.”,
Dr. Le Thai Ha, Managing Director of the VinFuture Foundation, also shared: “The collaboration between scientists and medical experts is making a positive impact on protecting the health and future of the Vietnamese young generation, while contributing to effective policymaking in order to prevent electric cigarette usage.”
The project is practical outcome of the InnovaConnect event, organized by Hanoi University of Public Health and the VinFuture Foundation in September 2024
This collaboration program is a practical outcome of the InnovaConnect event as well, organized by University of Public Health and the VinFuture Foundation in September 2024, with the theme “School-based e-cigarette prevention intervention in metropolitan cities in Vietnam”.
The InnovaConnect Series was piloted by the VinFuture Foundation in 2024 at several key universities in Hanoi, including Hanoi University of Science and Technology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Hanoi University of Public Health.
Through in-depth seminars on pressing global issues, the InnovaConnect Series has drawn thousands of leading scientists from around the world, introducing world-class experts to Vietnam’s research community, leading and fostering strong scientific collaborations that yield practical benefits for the community.
On January 2nd, 2025, the VinFuture Foundation announced the expansion of its InnovaConnect Series. Interested organizations can apply by visiting the VinFuture Foundation website at https://vinfutureprize.org/vi/tin-tuc/2025-innovaconnect/ to download the necessary application forms and documents. The application will be open for applications in four rounds throughout the year: January 2nd, April 2nd, July 2nd, and October 2nd. Partner organizations will have 60 days to complete and submit their applications (in digital format) to the following email address: secretariat@vinfutureprize.org.
