Comparing Labor Productivity of Vietnam to Some Asian Countries

In Vietnam, social labor productivity is an indicator of the National Statistical Indicator System (specified in the Law on Statistics), which is calculated by the average GDP per employed worker per year. Research results show that in the 2016-2020 period, labor productivity of the whole economy has improved markedly, with an average increase of 5.78%/year in the 2016-2020 period. However, Vietnam’s labor productivity still has internal limitations that have not been overcome. In comparison with selected Asian countries, Vietnam’s labor productivity has a low absolute value despite its relatively high growth since 1991. In most of the sectors compared, it is basically at the lowest level. As a result, proposing solutions to improve and enhance labor productivity aimed at promoting sustainable economic growth in Vietnam in the coming time is an urgent issue for the development of the country

Travel Intention and Travel Behaviour in the Post-Pandemic Era: Evidence from Vietnam

Tourism is on the pathway of returning and contributes to the economic development of many countries. Understanding the decision-making process of tourism customers in the post-pandemic context is crucial for a strong recovery of the tourism sector. The paper aims to identify the determinants of travel intention and the link between travel intention and travel behaviour in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. A total number of 431 questionnaires regarding the individual behaviour of Vietnamese travellers were collected. The empirical results reveal that electronic word of mouth, crisis management, and destination image in COVID have positive relationships with travel intention. Besides, travel intention is positively linked with the customers’ travel behaviour during the post-pandemic era. By contrast, the results do not support the conclusion regarding the relationship between risk communication, the healthcare system, non-pharmaceutical interventions and the travel intention of customers. Finally, the practical implications are included for enhancing a faster recovery process of the tourism sector

When Vaccine Uncertainty Prevails: Association Between Online Social Influence and COVID-19 Vaccine Intentions

Guided by the integrative model of behavioral prediction and the social identity of deindividuation effects model, this study used an online experiment (N = 322) to test a moderated-mediation model that linked exposure to user comments posted to COVID-19 vaccine news stories and vaccine intentions. The study was conducted in Vietnam when the Delta variant of COVID-19 spread to the country and the efficacy and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine were controversial in the news. Results showed that, compared with vaccine-hesitancy comments, vaccine-acceptance comments significantly increased vaccine intentions through injunctive norms, response efficacy, and attitudes. This indirect association was only significant among participants who perceived commenters as in-group members. Compared with vaccine-hesitancy comments, a mixture of comments that featured both acceptance and hesitancy significantly increased perceived norms, perceived efficacy, and attitudes. Further, comments significantly changed participants’ perceived norms, perceived efficacy, and attitudes compared with the news stories. Theoretical and practical implications are presented

Impacts of Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services on Local livelihoods in A Luoi District, Thua Thien Hue Province, Viet Nam

This paper analyses the impacts of the national Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) policy in A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province, Viet Nam. There are mixed impacts of PFES in A Luoi district. While some surveyed households have experienced increases in income since PFES, for many other incomes have fallen. Our findings show PFES impacts on local communities and individuals are limited because most forest areas are managed by state agencies, leaving only 17.9% of PFES payments being channeled to these groups, while the rest goes to state government agencies and commune people’s committees. This disparity in PFES payments has further widened the income gap between state agencies and local households.  PFES payments currently contribute little to household incomes, averaging only 2.64% of total earnings. PFES has little impact and additionality in advancing land tenure security and reducing natural forest product exploitation for generating income as impacts are similar to those found in non-PFES villages. PFES poverty reduction impacts vary from village to village, but in general, percentages of poor households receiving PFES payments range from 1% to 59%