Hanoi, Oct. 20 -- Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are piloting programmes to reduce smoking .

The cities are trying to encourage people not to smoke in hospitals, hotels, restaurants and bus stations in order to reduce the harmful effects of passive smoking.

Phan Thu Huong, deputy head of Respiratory Centre under Bach Mai Hospital, said at a recent workshop that the hospital had not only printed posters and leaflets but also improved the capacity for doctors and medical staff so that they could consult smokers about harmful effects of tobacco and give them smoking cessation methods.

The meeting was held in Hanoi by the Ministry of Information and Communication, aiming to provide data for local media about projects implementing smoke-free en...