The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of the Operational Self-Sustainability (OSS) of Vietnamese microfinance institutions (MFIs). This research uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods: (i) qualitative research was via in-depth interviews with ten microfinance practitioners, policymakers and researchers; (ii) quantitative research was conducted by using panel data of 34 MFIs in the period 2011-2015 with binary logistics and OLS regressions. Results are as follows: (i) MFIs’ OSS in Vietnam are mainly determined by five key factors: portfolio at risk (PAR>30), capital structure, gross loan portfolio, scope of activities and legal form; (ii) OSS are most affected by legal status (social organizations have better OSS than formal MFIs or programs/projects), location (MFIs focus in one province have higher OSS than working nationwide or just in one district), capital structure (MFIs with more equity proportion have higher OSS); (iii) surprisingly, average loan size per borrower and age of MFIs do not have statistically significant correlation with OSS. The key recommendations are: (i) MFIs should focus on its professionality and increase its equity; (ii) related stakeholders such as State Bank of Vietnam should promote the enabling ecosystem for microfinance development to enhance poverty reduction and economic development.

Disclosure level in interim financial reporting is important for information users to make business decisions. This has received much attention from the information users. The article is aimed at determining the factors of financial ratios, which impact on the disclosure level in interim financial reporting. The authors use the ordinary least squares to test. The sample consists of 418 VN100 over a 6-year period from 2014 to 2019. The results show that there are four factors that positively impact on the disclosure level in interim financial reporting: Enterprise size (SIZE); Liquidity (LIQI); Sales growth (GROW) and Profitability (ROE). The article proposes some policy recommendations to contribute to improving disclosure level in interim financial reporting. Accordingly, State Securities Commission of Vietnam should strengthen the regular inspection of VN100’s disclosure level in interim financial reporting and also should enforce strict sanctions or may consider delisting in cases of listed enterprises with incomplete disclosure. The managers of VN100 need to raise the sense of responsibility of information providers to ensure adequate information in interim financial reporting. Investors should also pay attention to the financial ratios of VN100 such as firm size, return-on-equity, liquidity, and sales growth to get useful information and ensure sound business decisions.

The paper focuses on understanding fintech and the application of fintech in the banking sector in Vietnam. To solve this research objective, the authors analyze fintech development trends, especially the fintech application in the banking sector in Vietnam. To improve the quality of fintech services at banks, the authors conducted consideration of factors affecting customers’ intention to use fintech services. To accomplish this, the authors collected data through a survey of 620 customers of the banks located in Ho Chi Minh City – the largest economic center in Vietnam. For the analytical method, the authors used multivariate regression to estimate the research model. Research results show that fintech service is very important for the banking sector in Vietnam. Moreover, this paper has achieved great success by identifying the factors that influence customers’ intention to use fintech services. Accordingly, the intention to use fintech (INT) services is positively affected by the perception of usefulness (PU), social impact (SI), customer trust (TRU), and perceived ease of use (PEU). Based on the results of this study, bank managers will have a basis to improve the quality of fintech services. Not only that, the results of this study are also valuable for policymakers and researchers.

The human and capital resources from foreign investors are important sources of finance for developing countries. Foreign ownership can help the firm to raise funds for operations and the foreign management can help the firm expand the market and improve management. However, does this really happen to Vietnamese firm? To find the answer to that question, this paper examines the impact of foreign ownership and management on the financial performance of listed firms on Vietnam’s stock market. The data collected include 427 listed firms in all fields over five years, from 2014 to 2018. The financial performance is measured by Tobin’s Q, ROA and ROE. The study carried out testing of each model by the least squares method of Pool OLS, assessing random effects (REM) and evaluating fixed effects (FEM). The most effective model is the FEM model. The results show that the foreign ownership ratio and the size of the firm have a positive impact on the financial performance. The foreign management, the age of the firms, the liquidity and financial leverage have a negative impact on the financial performance. Based on the research results, the study proposes some recommendations to improve the financial performance of listed firms in Vietnam.

Earnings management behavior is the use of accounting procedures, through accounting policies, to intentionally purposeful control in the provision of information to users. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between ownership structure factors and earnings management behavior of 30 Vietnamese commercial banks. The paper uses the ordinary least square method to examine this relationship and employs time series data of 15 years from 2005 to 2019. The study also uses agency theory an asymmetric information theory. The authors examined six independent variables related to the ownership structure and these variables are typical of Vietnamese commercial banks. The results of the study show that the foreign ownership ratio is an opposite effect, while the ownership concentration variable has a positive effect on earnings management behavior of Vietnamese commercial banks. Based on that, the article proposes a number of policy suggestions for the State bank of Vietnam and Board of directors of commercial banks as well as investors to identify and to limit the earnings management behaviors of Vietnamese commercial banks. This contributes to ensuring information transparency as well as improving the quality of accounting information of Vietnamese commercial banks in the coming years.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of consumer price index, infrastructure, human resources, trade openness, and private credit on the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Tay Ninh province as well as to emphasize the important role of FDI in economic growth of developing areas. The research data was collected from Tay Ninh Statistical Office with 80 samples of a 20-year period from 2000 to 2019. Also, OLS regression method using Eviews software was employed to analyze the data obtained. The findings revealed that human resources, infrastructure and private credit have a positive and significant impact on FDI attraction in Tay Ninh province, while consumer price index was proven to affect FDI attraction negatively. Accordingly, competent authorities of Tay Ninh province should focus on stabilizing prices as well as implementing policies for developing local human resources and attracting high-quality personnel from foreign countries. Tay Ninh province also needs to pay more attention to information technology investment for synchronous development of infrastructure. Moreover, the State Bank of Tay Ninh branch needs to consider more credit sources to provide support packages for businesses, creating a strong basis for establishments to attract FDI for the province’s economic development.

This is a quantitative research, underpinned by the philosophy of natural science and deduction approach that examines the impact of the various aspects of corporate governance mechanism on the choice of capital structure of Vietnamese listed firms. We focus on the effect of factors such as the board size, the board independence, and especially different ownership structures, which include the managerial ownership, the state ownership, the concentrated ownership, and the foreign ownership. They are the main scopes of corporate governance and are supposed to be relevant to determine the corporate financing choice. To explain the causal relationship between factors, we construct the regression model and then test it by using different statistical method approaches, including the pooled OLS, the fixed effects model, and the random effects model. Data are collected from 336 firms with shares listed in the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange in Vietnam, totaling 1583 observations. Overall, the results reveal that the board size, state ownership, and concentrated ownership have positive impact on the firm’s capital structure, whereas foreign ownership appears to have negative influence on the capital structure. The research does not find evidence of a the correlation between board independence, managerial ownership and corporate capital struture.

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors affecting the leadership capacity of middle managers and then evaluate the corresponding effect on the performance of subordinates in Vietnamese economic and defense enterprises. Data for the study was collected from questionnaire survey of 15 economic and defense enterprises, preceded by in-depth interviews with respondents who are subordinates of the departments/divisions of these enterprises. The research used logistic regression estimator to address econometric issues and to improve the accuracy of the regression coefficients. Our results show that the determinants of the leadership capacity of mid-level managers in defense and economic enterprises include: (i) personal qualities and qualities of managerial officials (understanding, courage), fairness, assertiveness and compliance), and leadership behaviors of two leadership styles – (ii) a transforming leadership style (influenced by ideals, inspirations, concerns) subordinates, stimulating intellect) and (iii) transactional leadership style (rewarding, detecting and handling problems for subordinates). Based on these results, our study suggests that middle managers should possess superior knowledge, care more about subordinates, understand the strengths and weaknesses of each subordinate, always be creative, assertive and courageous people as well as have high standards of competency and morality in order to become outstanding leaders in Vietnamese economic and defense enterprises.

In recent decades, the research field of entrepreneurship phenomenon has significantly increased in both quantity and sophistication. In Vietnam, paradoxically, while creating a new business venture has become a tendency, the interest in studying entrepreneurs seems not to be thoroughly investigated. This research aims to evaluate the factors that affect the entrepreneurial intention of information technology (IT) students in Vietnam. The authors make use of mixed methods including both quantitative research method and qualitative research method. The qualitative research method is employed to identify meanings, confirmations, adjustments, and compliments for concept-measurement variables in the conceptual model. Quantitative research is conducted from a sample of 424 IT senior students across many universities in Vietnam. Questionnaires have been sent to students to evaluate the measurement scale and appropriateness of the research model. Results from multiple regression highlighted five independent variables affecting the dependent variable, the entrepreneurial intention, in a descending order as following: entrepreneurial educational environment, personal characteristics, perception of feasibility, entrepreneurial supports, and financial accessibility. In addition, this research has proved that the variable attitudes towards entrepreneurship partially mediated among the interrelationship of the aforementioned variables. From this research, the authors make some recommendations to enhance entrepreneurial intentions of IT students in Vietnam.

This research has four specific objectives: (1) identifying factors that affect customer satisfaction with less than container load (LCL) cargo services of logistics companies in HoChiMinh City (HCMC), (2) measuring the level of impact of the factors, (3) testing the difference in satisfaction among groups of customers with different characteristics in terms of type of business and time of using LCL cargo services, and (4) proposing some management implications to improve the quality of LCL cargo services. Researchers interviewed 210 customers who enjoyed the LCL cargo service in HCMC for at least the last six months, using the convenient sampling method. SPSS 20 was used to analyze the reliability of the scale through the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, then exploratory factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used. The results identified the six factors that influence positively customer satisfaction of LCL cargo services of logistics companies in HCMC, by decreasing importance: service process, image, resource, price, management, and outcomes. The results show that there is no difference in customer satisfaction with LCL cargo services by types of business as well as time of using services. The research suggests some implications for the management of logistics companies in HCMC to enhance customer satisfaction.

This study aims to investigate the effect of oil price and exchange rate on the two Vietnamese stock market indices: VN index and HXN index. This study uses the daily data from August 1st 2000 to October 25th 2019 of the two Vietnamese stock indices: VN index and HNX index, the two oil price indices: BRENT and WTI, and the two exchange rates: US dollar to Vietnamese dong and Euro to Vietnamese dong. Due to the presence of heteroskedasticity in our data, we use GARCH (1,1) regression model to perform our analysis. Our findings show that the oil price has a significant positive effect on the two Vietnamese stock market indices. In terms of the stock index volatility, both the VN index and HNX index volatilities are negatively impacted by the return of oil price. While the conclusion about the impact of oil price remained consistent through all three robustness tests, the effect of exchange rate on Vietnamese stock market indices is not consistent. We find thatchanges of the USD/VND exchange rate significantly impact the return and volatility of HNX index only in GARCH (1,1) setting. Our analysis also survives a number of robustness tests.

The purpose of this study is to provide benefits and ethically-rooted managerial implications based on theoretical underpinnings through an empirical study using correlation between wages, bank credit, government expenditure on economic growth, and employment via a case study in Indonesia. Besides that, managerial implications strive to provide benefits to the government regarding the importance of establishing effective and pro-development regulations to realize economic growth and employment through the efficient role of wages, bank credit, and government spending. This study uses secondary macroeconomic data from the period 2010-2019 with analysis using the correlation test with the Pearson correlation method. Out of eight hypotheses tested, two hypotheses do not have a significant correlation. The details of the statistical results obtained the following correlations: the correlation between bank credit and wages has a significant, but indirect (negative) correlation. However, the correlation between bank credit and economic growth has a direct and significant (positive) correlation. Government expenditure correlates positively with wages, but correlates negatively with bank credit. Wages are positively correlated with economic growth, but have no significant effect on employment. Finally, economic growth has a positive correlation with government expenditure, but does not have a significant correlation with employment.

Capital mobilization is a traditional business of commercial banks and is one of the core foundations for the development of a bank. Capital mobilization is the main input in the operation of a bank, and this is also the basis for generating output for credit activities as well as other banking activities. This study aims to determine the main factors that affect the decisions of individual customers to put savings deposit in Vietnamese commercial banks. Survey data collected from 403 individual customers were analyzed to provide evidence. The results from the multiple regression analysis by using SPSS software revealed that all scales in this study were reliable, and there were six components impacting the savings deposit decision of individual customers from the strongest to the weakest in the following order: the form of promotion, bank brand, service quality, interest rate policy, and employee knowledge and attitude. Besides, the finding showed customers who have high income tend to have a stronger decision on savings deposits in commercial banks. The main findings of this article provide some empirical implications for marketers in banks and serve as a suggestion to improve these factors in order to retain and attract individual customers’ savings deposit decisions.

This research investigates the impact of vocational training on wages of ethnic minority labors in emerging countries; Vietnam is the case study. The study uses secondary data from 2014 to 2018 collected through Vietnam Household Living Standards Surveys (VHLSS) conducted by the General Statistics Office. In order to analyze the impact of vocational training on wages of ethnic minority areas in Vietnam, this research creates ethnic area variables. According to Vietnamese regulations, ethnic areas are communes of 51 different provinces, inhabited by ethnic minority people. The statistics from VHLSS in 2018, show that the proportion of labors of working age with a certificate was 22.5%. The research employs Heckman Sample Selection Model to estimate the impact of vocation training on wage of labors in ethnic minority areas. The results show that vocational training plays a crucial role in improving the wages of ethnic minorities and has a positive impact. However, apart from the achieved outcomes, vocational training and job creation for ethnic minorities are not without limitations and shortcomings. Based on the findings, some recommendations to ethnic minority labors, enterprises and the Government are proposed to encourage participation in vocational training for the purpose of promoting the efficiency of the labor market.

This research examines the affect of destination image factors on revisit intention of domestic tourists at Ba Ria Vung-Tau (BRVT), by questioning directly 510 domestic tourists. The convenient sampling method is used in dividing the crowds into four groups; the four main surveyed areas in BRVT are: Vung Tau, Long Hai-Phuoc Hai, Xuyen Moc and Con Dao. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies were utilized. A focus group of 10 domestic tourists was set up to review and explore the various factors as well as the conceptual model. An in-depth interview with 12 participants was developed to fine-tune measurement items. The questionnaire applied a 5-point Likert scale. Checking the reliability by Cronbach’s Alpha, exploratory factor analyzing and linear multiple regression were used with the SPSS program. The results show that there are eight main destination image factors affecting domestic tourists revisit intention to BRVT using linear regression and arranged by decreasing importance: Infrastructure, Variety Seeking, Accessibility, Local food, Atmosphere, Environment, Price Value, Leisure and Entertainment. From that, the research offers some suggestions and policy recommendations for the tourism business and provincial policy-makers to identify the main issues and develop better customer services to increase domestic tourists’ revisit intention.

This study attempts to analyze trade flows between Vietnam and China in order to understand the mutual influence of bilateral trade relations. China is a country with the world’s leading economic potential. China and Vietnam are neighboring countries sharing a border of 1,281 km. Trade relations between the two countries are a necessity and, with a right policy, are beneficial to both. Vietnam has a trade deficit with China. This situation is exacerbated by the continuing rise in the gap. Vietnam trade deficit from China was USD12.5 billion in 2010, increasing to USD24 billion in 2018. Data are extracted from the 2015 national input-output tables of Vietnam and China as well as Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey statistics. The research identified 36 sectors of bilateral input-output trade between Vietnam and China. A bilateral output-input model is applied to analyze how final demand and use of input in the production of this country induces output and value added of the other country. The results show that China benefits more from Vietnam’s production and consumption than Vietnam does. Vietnam’s inter-sector structure does not stimulate domestic production due to the absence of supporting products as inputs in the production process.

This study examines the relationship between brand authenticity, brand equity, and customer satisfaction. A total of 263 participants participated in this study. Participants rated a set of three brands: Apple, Starbuck, and Nike. Each participant rated the extent to which the items described his or her authenticity with the brands listed, the equity of the brands listed, and feelings of satisfaction toward the brands. This study employs confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results indicate that 1) brand authenticity positively relates to brand equity, and 2) brand authenticity effects to customer satisfaction. The findings suggest that marketers can use the brand authenticity for assessment, planning, and tracking purposes to understand the authenticity of their brands for their customers. Products of authenticity brand are better liked, viewed as higher quality, offer greater value and are more likely to be purchased than less authenticity brand. They can command a significant price premium. The findings provide useful support and evidence for brand management, as well as companies in other developing countries, to engage more in brand practices as a core element of their strategic and brand management. This means that managers should work to increase perceptions of authenticity for their offerings.

The paper aims to examine the relationship of emotional intelligence on the project success, the causal relationship between emotional intelligence and project success, and also investigate the influence of emotional intelligence and the mediating role of transformational leadership as well as the moderating effect of organization commitment on the relationship between emotional intelligence and project success. Cross sessional research is applied to collect the data in this study. By applying quantitative research and survey question, the study collects 325 respondents who are the project managers. Snow-ball sampling method is used to distribute the questionnaires by face to face survey (68% of respondents) and online survey (32% of respondents). The collected data is analyzing by applying partial least square (PLS-SEM) via software SmartPLS 3.0.The result shows that the emotional intelligence and the transformational leadership making the project even more successful as the mediation actor. Furthermore, the project commitment also has the moderator effect between transformational leadership and project success. With the result of study, project managers should be aware of the importance of emotional intelligence and their commitment to the ability to manage projects successfully. A successful project is a combination of many actors, the most critical actor is the leader of the project.

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors influencing risk assessment of material misstatement in Vietnamese enterprises listed on stock market. Expert interview method was conducted to discover the scales for three variables including information system, trademark, and risk assessment of material misstatement. Survey method was used to examine the impacts of eight factors on risk assessment of material misstatement. Data is collected from 317 auditors who have excellent experience in auditing financial statements of companies listed on stock market. Then, data is processed by descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, factor extracted analysis, correlative regression analysis, and analysis variance of residual change. The research findings showed that business characteristic, stakeholder pressure, and economic environment have positive relationships with risk assessment of material misstatement. Three variables including operation control and monitor, control environment, and information system negatively affect to risk assessment. Specially, business characteristic and information system, which are elements in internal control, have strongest impact on risk assessment. One the other hand, assessment of internal control plays an important role not only in the audit plan stage but also throughout the stages of the audit implementation and ending. Therefore, appropriate solutions are proposed to carry out all audit stages.

The study aims to investigate the impact level of earnings quality on firm value. The study has used data with 3,910 observations at listed firms on Vietnam Stock Exchange for the period from 2010 to 2018, and GLS regression analysis is employed in this research. Earnings quality is measured in the aspects of earnings management, earnings persistence, and timeliness of profitability. This study also considers a number of controlled variables that positively influence the firm's value such as firm size, fixed asset investment rate and dividend payout ratio. The results show that earnings quality is positively associated with firm value with having statistical significance. In contrast, some determinants negatively influence firm value such as financial leverage, ratio of market value to book value, and revenue growth. Determinants of firm size, the rate of investment in fixed assets, the rate of dividend payment positively affect the firm value. In contrast, determinants of financial leverage, revenue growth rate and market value to book value ratio are inversely related to firm value according to economic value, Tobin’s Q or Price. Based on the findings, some recommendations are proposed for investors, management and policy makers as well in the context of emerging countries including Vietnam.