In 2025, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) continued to maintain a smoke-free policy across the entire grounds of all its campuses, both indoors and outdoors, applying to learners, lecturers, staff, employees and visitors.

The policy is established in the Regulations on Student Affairs under Decision No. 3744/QĐ-ĐHKT-CTCT of 2016, further specified in the Dormitory Rules under Decision No. 4475/QĐ-ĐHKT-CSNH of 2024, and maintained in the learner disciplinary framework in 2025. By combining regulations, compliance monitoring and communication on the harmful effects of tobacco, UEH aims to build a safe and healthy university environment, protect community health and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke.

1. Smoke-free policy and enforcement mechanism at UEH

UEH maintains a Smoke-free campus policy covering the entire grounds of all its teaching, learning, working and residential facilities. The ban is not limited to classrooms, offices or indoor areas but also covers outdoor spaces within UEH’s grounds, protecting learners, staff, employees and visitors from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.

Regulations on Student Affairs for full-time undergraduate programmes, issued under Decision No. 3744/QĐ-ĐHKT-CTCT dated October 24, 2016: Appendix 1, Item 11 of the Regulations defines “Smoking on UEH grounds and in places where smoking is prohibited by law” as a disciplinary offence, with no designated smoking areas anywhere on campus. Students who commit fewer than 3 violations receive a reminder; from the 3rd violation onwards, they receive a reprimand or a more serious disciplinary measure. The Regulations remained in force in 2025.

In the dormitories, the UEH Dormitory Rules, issued under Decision No. 4475/QĐ-ĐHKT-CSNH dated October 31, 2024, further specify the ban in the places where resident students live every day: no smoking or drinking alcohol in self-study and common areas (Appendix 1, Clause 2); and no smoking or use of flammable or explosive substances in lifts (Appendix 3, Clause 5). Violations are handled in accordance with the UEH Residence Regulations. This document, issued for the 2022–2026 period and applied in 2025, strengthens the enforcement of the policy in student living areas.

Decision No. 1113/QĐ-ĐHKT-CSNH dated April 10, 2025 on the establishment of the UEH Learner Disciplinary Council for 2025: The accompanying appendix again lists smoking on UEH grounds as offence No. 11 in the learner disciplinary framework: fewer than 3 violations result in a reminder, and the 3rd violation results in a reprimand. Including this provision in the 2025 Disciplinary Council documentation demonstrates the continuity of the management and compliance monitoring mechanism.

In addition to these regulations, the smoke-free policy is communicated as part of the UEH Green Campus Project (2021–2025), managed by the Sustainable University Project Board. The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) continues to publish information on UEH’s smoke-free policy, specifying that it applies to all University facilities and grounds and to learners, staff, employees and visitors. The policy is implemented through awareness-raising, inspections, reminders and the handling of violations, with the aim of maintaining smoke-free learning, working and living spaces.

2. Implementation in 2025

In 2025, UEH continued to communicate and enforce the smoking ban across the entire grounds of all its campuses. Implementation combined no-smoking signage in shared spaces, inspections and reminders by the managing units, and tobacco harm prevention communication programmes for learners.

Notably, the smoking ban was again included in the Appendix to Decision No. 1113/QĐ-ĐHKT-CSNH dated April 10, 2025 on the Learner Disciplinary Council, providing the basis for handling violations during the year.

At the same time, the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) maintained communication to learners on a smoke-free environment, including the article “UEH builds a smoke-free learning and working environment” on the DSA website.

The UEH Student Association carried out communication activities on preventing the harms of e-cigarettes, publishing content on the Youth Union and Student Association website and through e-newsletters (email marketing) sent to the UEH student community. The activities focused on the negative effects of e-cigarettes on physical and mental health and encouraged learners to avoid new-generation tobacco products and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

On January 1, 2025, the UEH Student Association published the article “UEH students say no to e-cigarettes – Choose health, choose the future” on the UEH Youth Union and Student Association website, warning of the harms of e-cigarettes to young people’s physical and mental health and calling on students to help build a smoke-free campus.

Maintaining the policy alongside communication and a disciplinary mechanism helps raise awareness and accountability for compliance and protects a smoke-free learning and working environment at UEH.

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“No Smoking” signs in lift lobbies, ground-floor lobbies, UEH English Zone and self-study and common areas on UEH grounds

3. What is new in 2025 compared with 2024

In 2025, UEH continued to maintain a smoke-free policy across the entire University grounds, combining disciplinary regulations for learners, smoking bans in residential areas, and communication and compliance monitoring for the UEH community. The policy goes beyond legal compliance, aiming to build a safe and healthy educational environment and minimize the risk of exposure to second-hand smoke.

Compared with 2024, the highlights of 2025 were the continued inclusion of smoking on campus in the learner disciplinary framework and the launch of e-cigarette prevention communication through the Youth Union and Student Association. 2025 was the first full year in which the new Dormitory Rules, issued at the end of October 2024, were applied, extending the smoking ban to every self-study area, common area and lift. In the same year, Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly banned the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 2025; in response, on January 1, 2025, the UEH Student Association called on students to say no to e-cigarettes.

Going beyond the legal minimum of an indoor smoking ban, UEH maintains a ban across its entire grounds, so that learners, employees and visitors are protected from second-hand smoke at every campus.

By maintaining a smoke-free campus and raising awareness of the harms of tobacco products, UEH continues to demonstrate its commitment to protecting the health of learners, staff, employees and visitors, contributing to SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being.

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