Few studies have focused on the health effects of vibrating tools in the tropical area. Work conditions and health effects related to rock drill operation were studied in Vietnam. In this study on 102 workers, including 73 rock drill operators, we aimed to clarify:​ (1) risk estimation of vibration exposure (2) occurrence of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) (3) prevalence of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Total equivalent unweighted r.m.s. acceleration of rock drills. made in China or Russia, were 45~55 /sec 2 . According to the work observation, daily exposure time were 160-210min.. We found no clear evidence of VWF. There a several reason that no worker indicated VWF:​ (1) warmer work conditions (2) younger in age and less work experience (3) seasonal change in operation work (4) healthy worker’s effect. On the other hand, 5-10% of rock drill operators could be suffered from moderate HAVS which was sensori-neural type dominant. There may be some different feature of HAVS in the tropical area.