More than 1,000 students performed synchronized dancing in the central city of Da Nang on Sunday as part of an activity helping sharpen public awareness of the harm of smoking.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Health in the lead-up to World No Tobacco Day, observed annually around the world on May 31, and on the occasion of Vietnam’s National Non-smoking Week, between May 25 and 31.

The health ministry wanted to draw general attention to the consequences of using tobacco, including cardio-vascular conditions.

Vietnam is amongst the 15 countries with the highest number of smokers in the world, with 45.3 percent of the population smoking now, according to WHO.

Students are pictured during their dance performance in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on May 27, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The figure covers some 15 million active smokes, and 33 million people exposed to second-hand smoking.

More than 40,000 Vietnamese die every day from diseases associated with smoking, the organization said.

A WHO representative in Vietnam said a cause for the country’s high figures is that in 2017 it was one of the 15 nations which had the lowest prices for cigarettes globally, with a package of cigarettes usually fetching under VND20,000 (nearly US$1).

Vietnamese adult smokers collectively spend around VND31 trillion ($1.4 billion) on cigarettes a year, according to the latest survey on smoking in Vietnam.

Students pose for a photo before a dance performance in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on May 27, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Students pose for a photo before a dance performance in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on May 27, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!