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• Pollution and Potential Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Water Bodies in the Vicinity of Industrial Zones

  Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Trinh Quang Huy, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Le Tien Hung, Ho Thi Thuy Hang

  Received: Jul 02, 2023 / Accepted: Aug 28, 2024 / Published: Sep 30, 2024

   Abstract PDF

  This research was undertaken to determine the concentrations of heavy metal ions in the surface water and sediment in water bodies that receive wastewater from the Dinh Tram and Pho Noi A industrial zones. The pollution status of the heavy metal ions and their potential ecological risks were evaluated by using the potential ecological risk index (RI) and risk assessment code (RAC). The results showed that some metal ions, namely Fe3+, Ni2+, and Pb2+, exceeded the allowed standards of QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT. The sediments were polluted by Zn2+, As2+, Cr6+, and Fe3+ at concentrations 2.4, 3.7, 1.9, and 2.0 times higher, respectively, than the QCVN 43:2017/BTNMT. The potential ecological risk indices for the heavy metal ions were in order as: (As2+) = 7.94 > (Cd2+) = 3.68 > (Cr6+) = 3.39 > (Pb2+) = 2.73 > (Cu2+) = 2.74 > (Zn2+) = 2.4 (T6 channel) and (As2+) = 11.1 > (Cd2+) = 7.74 > (Cu2+) = 2.64 > (Cr6+) = 2.31 > (Pb2+) = 1.9 > (Zn2+) = 0.87 (Bun River). The risk assessment code (RAC) ranged from 0.17 to 39.42 (T6 channel) and from 0.03 to 38.96 (Bun River). The RAC-based risk assessment results showed that both the T6 channel and Bun River presented a medium risk for Cd2+, a low risk for Mn2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+, and no risk for the remaining metals, Cr6+, Pb2+, As2+, and Fe3+. These results were caused by the differences in environmental quality assessments between using separate parameters versus biological risk assessments.

• The Effect of Credit Risk on the Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Vietnam

  Dang Thi Hai Yen, Pham Le Thao Trang, Nguyen Thi Huong, Dao Thi Hoang Anh

  Received: Dec 15, 2023 / Published: Jun 28, 2024

   Abstract PDF

  Creating credit is the main income-generating activity for banks. However, granting credit always comes with risks. Credit risk is the risk of losing part or all of a debt due to failure to pay on time or default. Credit risk is considered the most important risk affecting banking performance. Therefore, this study measured the effect of credit risk on the financial performance of Vietnamese commercial banks. The research sample was made up of 30 commercial banks in Vietnam during the period from 2017 to 2022. There were a total of 180 observations in the balanced data panel. To control for unobserved individual effects, this study used a fixed effects model (FEM) with adjusted standard errors. Return on equity (ROE), return on asset (ROA), and net interest margin (NIM) were the indicators for bank financial performance. The non-performing loan (NPL) rate variable represented credit risk. The control variables were cost to income ratio (CIR), equity to asset (ETA), total loans to total assets (LTA), GDP growth (GDP), and Covid. The research results showed that credit risk had a negative and statistically significant effect on the banks' financial performance. This can be explained by the increase in the NPL ratio, causing banks to increase provisions for loan losses, thereby reducing profits. Reduced profits were also because of poor risk management, information asymmetry, and moral hazards. The study also provided a number of solutions and recommendations to improve bank financial performance.

• Determinants of Liquidity Risk in Vietnamese Commercial Banks

  Nguyen Thi Huong, Dang Thi Hai Yen

  Received: Dec 12, 2022 / Published: Mar 29, 2024

   Abstract PDF

  Liquidity risk, which tends to compound other risks such as credit and market risks, has become one of the principal risks in banks. Thus, this study examined the determinants of liquidity risk measured by the loan deposit ratio (LDR). The sample included 30 commercial banks in Vietnam based on secondary data coverage from 2017-2021. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the general situation of the banks' assets, liabilities, and business performance. The random effects model (REM) was chosen to determine factors affecting liquidity risk. The results show the huge gap in the business performance of the four state-owned banks and the rest of the joint-stock commercial banks, and the state-owned banks always accounted for over 50% of the total credit, assets, and deposits of the whole banking system. The average banks’ credit and profit growth rates were around 17% and 30%, respectively, and the bad debt ratio was about 2%. Increasing a bank’s credit growth rate and profitability would push up its liquidity risk. On the other hand, holding several liquid securities that banks could sell immediately to meet solvency requirements and maintaining a high capital adequacy ratio (CAR) would reduce their liquidity risk. These findings are valuable to the banks in understanding how to minimize liquidity risk, such as controlling the credit growth rate and CAR, setting appropriate profit targets, and investing in liquid securities. Additionally, by conducting monetary policies, the State Bank should regulate market liquidity and bank liquidity for the safe operation of the financial system.

• The Roles of Perennial Crop Systems to Rural Households: A Case Study in Dak Lak Province, Central Highlands, Vietnam

  Phan Thi Thuy, Vo Xuan Hoi, Le The Phiet, Nguyen Ngoc Thang, Le Duc Niem, Lebailly Philippe

  Received: Feb 14, 2023 / Published: Sep 29, 2023

   Abstract PDF

  This study investigated the role of perennial crop systems in enhancing sustainable livelihoods among rural households in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, with a particular focus on coffee and pepper crops. To gather data for this study, structured interviews were conducted with 86 households (90 farms) through a multi-stage sampling approach from January to May 2019. Moreover, the effectiveness of two agroforestry systems, monoculture and multitrophic agroforestry, was compared. The findings highlighted numerous significant conclusions. First, perennial crop systems contributed significantly to the improvement of rural households' livelihoods through improved monetary income, job creation, the participation of women, and expanded work prospects. Second, intercropping systems were the most economically viable sources of income and less susceptible to market price risk. This conclusions emphasize the importance of farmers and local governments understanding the roles of perennial crops to livelihoods.

• Impacts of Climate Change on Hazelnut (Corylus avellane L.) Cultivation in Bhutan

  Nepal Arjun, Tashi Sonam, Chhetri Rekha, Dorji Tshering, Dorji Ugyen, Sapkota Sunil

  Received: Nov 18, 2021 / Published: Jun 27, 2022

   Abstract PDF

  This study was conducted to evaluate the factors contributing to the spatial distribution of European hazelnut (Corylus avellane L.) in Bhutan and determine the suitable areas for cultivation of the crop in the near future (2040-2060) and distant future (2060-2080) under different climate scenarios of Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)  2.6 and RCP 4.5 in Bhutan. The environmental layers were obtained from WorldClim and processed in ArcGIS and R software prior to running the model in MaxENT. The multicollinearity test showed six bioclimatic factors and three topographical factors contributing to the distribution of European hazelnut in Bhutan. The findings indicated that approximately 10,744.8 sq. km is potential for hazelnut crop cultivation in Bhutan, with Wangduephodrang District harboring the highest area of 1,227.9 sq. km (11.4%) and Gasa district the least at 130 sq. km. The primary factors affecting climate suitability of European hazelnut were elevation, contributing 87.9%, followed by Bio3 (3.7%), BIO2 (3%), and Bio1 (2.5%), and the least factors were Bio15 and aspect at 0.1% each. The model showed that the most suitable elevation for the growth of hazelnut ranges from 1500-1900 masl. The suitability area for the crop projected under the RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5 scenarios showed a decline in the near future (2040-2060) in the southern part of the country and a slight increase in the distant future (2061-2080) in Central, Eastern, and Western Bhutan. Therefore, there is an urgent need for climate risk assessment, community-based mitigation measures, and spatial monitoring techniques on agriculture crops in Bhutan.

• The Impacts of Climate Change on Agricultural Production and Sustainable Agriculture of Smallholder Farmers in Vietnam

  Nguyen Van Phu

  Received: Nov 15, 2020 / Published: Aug 11, 2021

   Abstract PDF

  Climate change is one of the greatest threats to human beings, and agriculture is one of the fields that is most negatively affected by climate change. Farmers around the world and global food supply chains are impacted by the more extreme weather phenomena and increased damage of diseases and pests caused by climate change. Today, almost all agricultural enterprises and farms consider climate change a serious long-term risk for their production. Agricultural land systems can produce significant greenhouse gases (GHGs) by the conversion of forests to crop- and animal lands, and also through the weak management of crops and livestock. Around the world, cultivation and cattle production accounts for 25% of global GHG emissions (Javeline, ‎2014). However, under suitable conditions, agriculture can create environmental conditions that can help minimize pollution and the negative effects of climate change including carbon absorption by green plants in forests, and fields for watershed protection and biodiversity conservation. Sustainable agriculture helps farmers to adapt, maintain, and improve productivity without applying harmful techniques. In turn, this allows farms to manage and mitigate climate-related risks in their supply chains. The Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) has found new ways to incorporate smart climate cultivation methods into all farming practices to help farms and enterprises carry out agriculture sustainably.

• Swine Production and Challenges in Vietnam after African Swine Fever: A Case Study in Peri-Urban Hanoi, Vietnam

  Nguyen Thi Duong Nga, Pham Van Hung, Le Thi Long Vy, Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, Duong Nam Ha, Giang Huong

  Received: Dec 15, 2020 / Published: Jun 18, 2021

   Abstract PDF

  The goal of this paper was to identify major challenges in rebuilding the swine industry in Vietnam, using the Chuong My district, Hanoi as a case study. Primary data was gathered in 2020 mainly through a survey of 97 swine producers in the district. Analysis tools were descriptive and comparative statistics. Results show that after the ASF outbreak, the recovery of the swine industry in Vietnam faced several challenges, including the issues of piglet quantity and quality, changing consumer preferences which were worsened by the current Covid-19 pandemic, relatively cost disadvantage of domestic production under the context of new free trade agreements, disease risk (ASF under the condition of no effective and safe vaccine), insufficient resources of farms to restock, and environmental issues caused by swine production in rural areas. The paper proposed several recommendations to rebuilding the swine herd in order to address the issues and overcome the challenges, mainly focus on improving sow quality, market information and linkages, good practices in production, training for labor, and address environmental issues.