HO CHI MINH CITY, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Some 400,000 Vietnamese people die from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer, every year, an official said here on Monday.

Of the annual fatalities, up to 70 percent is due to non-communicable diseases, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long told the conference on preventing and fighting against non-communicable diseases.

Of the deaths caused by non-communicable diseases, up to 40 percent of the patients die before the age of 70, said the official.

According to him, many locals are not aware of preventing the diseases, with 49 percent of men smoking, and 77 percent of the Vietnamese population engaging in alcoholic drink. Smoking-related diseases in Vietnam are estimated to cause losses of some 1 billion U.S. dollars each year.

Besides, Vietnamese people use too much salt in their diets, doubling the amount recommended by the World Health Organization.

The health ministry has set targets of lowering the percentage of smokers by 30 percent, and that of heavy alcohol or beer drinkers by 10 percent by 2025. Vietnam currently has a population of some 90 million.