Jump to full article: Vietnam News Agency (VNA), 2010-01-08
Intro: The Government's ban on smoking in public places took effect on January 1 but around the country, people can still be found smoking in parks, stations and hospitals.
Eight of 10 interviewed smokers at Saint Paul Hospital in Ha Noi said they did not know about the ban while another two said they did not care. Between blowing smoke rings, Nguyen Van Long, 43, said: "I heard about the ban, but it's cold now and I need a smoke." Others agreed with Long and kept smoking after being informed of the ban.
Nguyen Van Quan, whose son was under treatment in the hospital's Paediatric Department, exclaimed: "My son is in a terrible condition and I must smoke. If I can't smoke here then where can I?"
. . .
Another obstacle to enforcing the ban was the unlicensed sale of cigarettes in public places.
"I sell 20-25 boxes of cigarette a day and so do others," claimed Nguyen Thi Trang who runs a tea stand outside Saint Paul Hospital.
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