This was reiterated by Vuong Bich Thang, director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training and vice-president of the Organising Committee.

He claimed such a measure is vital for a successful Games.

All athletes, coaches, referees, officials and volunteers will be banned from smoking in public areas, he said, as well as anywhere while on duty.

Organisations and individuals have been asked not advertise and market cigarette in any form and use the images of cigarette on any Games-related publications.

Action is due to take place in Danang from September 24 until October 3.

A total of 14 sports are due to be contested, consisting of 22 disciplines and 172 medals events.

In total, around 5,000 people are expected to take part, including team and technical officials, as well as athletes.

It will mark the fifth edition of the Asian Beach Games after Bali in Indonesia in 2008, Muscat in Oman in 2010, Haiyang in China in 2012 and Phuket in Thailand in 2014.

Vietnam does have a history of fruitless attempts to curb smoking.

A fresh blanket ban on smoking in public places was introduced in 2012 to replace old rules that were only loosely enforced.

Cigarette consumption is still considered a major problem in the Southeast Asian nation.