QUALITY OF SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING AND BANK STABILITY: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM VIETNAMESE COMMERCIAL BANKS

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, we attempt to quantify the quality of bank sustainability reporting (QSR) since the 2016 mandatory sustainability disclosure in Vietnam. Content analysis of banks’ annual reports is performed to assess 11 QSR items that are used to build the QSR index. Second, we investigate whether the quality of sustainability reporting influences banks’ financial stability. Employing a sample of 159 banking firm observations over the period 2016–2021, we document that the quality of sustainability reporting in Vietnamese commercial banks increased from year to year. Importantly, our empirical evidence shows that a higher level of QSR contributes to better bank stability. This result is robust to various estimation methods, different components of QSR, an alternative measure of bank stability, and controlling for reverse causality. Our findings provide important implications for bank managers by highlighting that the enhancement of QSR increases bank stability

EFL TERTIARY STUDENTS' PERCEPTION AND PRACTICE WITH LANGUAGE LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: THE CASE OF VIETNAM

While language teaching is widely acknowledged as preparation for real-life language use, attention is still focused mainly on classroom-bounded learning. However, the development of technology allows language learners to extend their learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Using a mixed method design that included questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, this study aims to explore how Vietnamese EFL tertiary students perceive and utilize language learning beyond the classroom (LLBC) resources in learning English. This study finds that the students perceived well the feasibility of the LLBC, and believed in the benefits of LLBC resources and activities in improving pronunciation and vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills. In addition, the students are found also to try to develop strategies for making the most of individual LLBC resources and activities to improve their English proficiency. The study also provides implications for the teachers to prepare and equip themselves with the effective utilization of LLBC resources and activities to provide their students with helpful advice.  Article visualizations

THE IMPACT OF DATA SECURITY ON THE INTENTION OF VIETNAMESE CONSUMERS TO USE E-WALLETS

E-wallets are used as a form of payment that brings many benefits to users. This article studies the impact of data security on consumer intentions to use e-wallets in the rapidly growing economy of Vietnam. The data consist of 236 observations from a survey of consumers in Vietnam. Covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. Research results show that security trust has the greatest impact on the intention to use e-wallets, followed by perceived privacy risk, social influence, and information sensitivity. The study also reveals the role of privacy policies and security concerns in consumer intentions to use e-wallets. Based on the research results, the study provides recommendations for consumers, e-wallet providers, and governmental agencies to increase awareness of and responsibility for information security among the consumers who use e-wallets

Impacts of pollution discharges from Dinh Vu industrial zone on water quality in the Hai Phong coastal area

The hydrodynamic and water quality models (the Delft3D model) were established based on the measured data and the estimated pollution discharges from Dinh Vu industrial zones to Nam Trieu estuary. With seven separate simulation scenarios, the results show that in case of increased wastewater with the control of pollution discharge (water and concentration), the impact of pollution is only limited to a small area around the discharge point. Their influences on water quality in other areas in Nam Trieu estuary are quite small. Meanwhile, in case of environmental risk, a strongly increasing pollution load would cause the significantly increasing pollutant concentration in this area, they have almost exceeded the value in the National Technical Regulation on surface water quality (QCVN 10-MT:2015/BTNMT), such as NH4, COD, and BOD. Dissolved oxygen in the water would also decrease significantly. The spatial influence extends from the discharge point to Nam Trieu estuary, inside Cam, Bach Dang rivers, and Cat Hai coastal area

Synthesis and characterization of polythiophenes from hydrazone derivatives sidegroups

Polythiophenes with various substituted hydrazone side groups were synthesized using a chemical oxidative coupling reaction. Analyses of IR and NMR spectra confirmed the expected structure of new synthesized polymers and confirmed suitability of the suggested synthetic route. Surface properties, morphology and thermal stability of the prepared polymers were studied by SEM and TGA methods. Two derivatives were found to have a good solubility in several water-miscible solvents. They can be used as active materials in electrochromic and electronic devices

Etiology and epidemiology of diarrhea in children in Hanoi, Vietnam

SummaryObjectivesThis paper provides a preliminary picture of diarrhea with regards to etiology, clinical symptoms, and some related epidemiologic factors in children less than five years of age living in Hanoi, Vietnam.MethodsThe study population included 587 children with diarrhea and 249 age-matched healthy controls. The identification of pathogens was carried out by the conventional methods in combination with ELISA, immunoseparation, and PCR. The antibiotic susceptibility was determined by MIC following the NCCLS recommendations.ResultsOf those with diarrhea, 40.9% were less than one year old and 71.0% were less than two years old. A potential pathogen was identified in 67.3% of children with diarrhea. They were group A rotavirus, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Shigella spp, and enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, with prevalences of 46.7%, 22.5%, 4.7%, and 7.3%, respectively. No Salmonella spp or Vibrio cholerae were isolated. Rotavirus and diarrheagenic E. coli were predominant in children less than two years of age, while Shigella spp, and enterotoxigenic B. fragilis were mostly seen in the older children. Diarrheagenic E. coli and Shigella spp showed high prevalence of resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Children attending the hospitals had fever (43.6%), vomiting (53.8%), and dehydration (82.6%). Watery stool was predominant with a prevalence of 66.4%, followed by mucous stool (21.0%). The mean episodes of stools per day was seven, ranging from two to 23 episodes. Before attending hospitals, 162/587 (27.6%) children had been given antibiotics. Overall, more children got diarrhea in (i) poor families; (ii) families where piped water and a latrine were lacking; (iii) families where mothers washed their hands less often before feeding the children; (iv) families where mothers had a low level of education; (v) families where information on health and sanitation less often reached their households.ConclusionsGroup A rotavirus, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Shigella spp, and enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis play an important role in causing diarrhea in children in Hanoi, Vietnam. Epidemiological factors such as lack of fresh water supply, unhygienic septic tank, low family income, lack of health information, and low educational level of parents could contribute to the morbidity of diarrhea in children