Journal of Sociology and Psychology - Sociology
Journal of Institute of Sociology and Psychology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences
Promoting the Role of Grassroots Socio-Political Systems and Citizens in Ensuring the Principles of Democratic Implementation in Contemporary Rural Communities
The grassroots political system constitutes key actors in the model of social development management. The grassroots political system plays the role of implementing legal documents, policies, and laws, while the people are the beneficiaries of those documents, policies, and laws. The grassroots democracy regulation is a legal document that creates opportunities for political-social organisations, especially the people, to exercise their mastery rights in social life activities. Based on secondary data sources, this article examines the relationship and the promotion of the role of the political-social system and the people in implementing grassroots democracy regulations in rural communities, proposing several implications to maximise the relationship between these two actors in the process of democracy implementation and sustainable rural community development management amid the nation's transition and integration.
Characteristics of fertility in Vietnam when beginning below the replacement level: Research and policy implications
Vietnam has identified one of its strategic goals as “firmly maintaining fertility at the replacement level”, but has not been successful in recent years. Therefore, scientific studies that update and supplement information on the actual situation of fertility in Vietnam and its influencing factors are essential to develop and implement more effective fertility-adjustment policies. Based on recent national survey data, the article shows that the fertility in Vietnam in 2024 is not only below the replacement level but also varies significantly across regions, areas, and population groups, such as ethnicity and religion. The current situation of fertility dynamics indicates that it is necessary to consider applying a comprehensive and multidimensional approach with modern theoretical perspectives in studying the factors that determine fertility in Vietnam. When fertility rates are low, the implementation of pronatalist policies is necessary, but considering a more feasible target of fertility rate, combined with adaptation to low fertility and population aging, rather than just efforts to maintain the replacement fertility.
Durkheim’s Regulation Theory on the relationship between suicide and divorce
This article presents Durkheim’s analyses of conjugal anomic suicide within the framework of his theory of marital regulation. According to this theory, marriage brings numerous benefits to men but not necessarily to women. Conversely, the destabilisation of the marital institution disadvantages married men more than married women. Another characteristic noted is that the male suicide rates are consistently higher than the female rates. The article also synthesises and analyses the work on suicide of sociologists after Durkheim, whose findings generally confirm his theory. Furthermore, the severe phenomenon of suicide among young rural women in certain Eastern countries such as China and India, referred to as “protest suicide”, has led to a female suicide rate higher than that of males (in China), and to a convergence of suicide rates between the two sexes (in India). This enriches the typology of suicides developed by Durkheim.
The role of the People’s Public Security press in protecting cybersecurity in current Vietnam
In the context of rapid digital technological advancements, cybersecurity protection has become an urgent priority, as current cyber threats target not only the safety of organizations and individuals but also national security. Drawing on information related to cybersecurity reported by the People’s Public Security Newspaper and the People’s Public Security Television from January 2024 to March 2025, and employing a review-based methodological approach, this article assesses the role of Public Security journalism. Public Security media not only provide timely and accurate information but also enhance public awareness and equip communities with essential skills for safeguarding personal data and cybersecurity, contributing to creating a safe and reliable online environment, thereby promoting social stability and sustainable development.
Gender equality in contemporary Vietnam: From perspectives to practice
Gender equality is an issue that cannot be overlooked in Vietnam, as it is both an objective in building socialism and a driving force for sustainable social development. Therefore, throughout the process of renovation and international integration, the Party and the State of Vietnam have always paid attention to, directed, and implemented the goal of gender equality. This is reflected in the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and legal framework, and the practical realization of this goal. This article primarily employs secondary sources and uses the overview and analytical methods to synthesise the Party and State's orientations and policies on gender equality; identify several achievements and limitations regarding gender equality in Vietnam; and thereby suggesting a number of solutions to effectively realise gender equality in Vietnam in the current context
Credit activities of the Khmer community in coastal areas of Can Tho city during urbanisation
Credit is one of the aspects reflecting dynamism in production, business, and daily life in urbanising environments. Among the Khmer communities, it is further supported by preferential policies through national target programs. This article employs a mixedmethods approach, focusing on two coastal communes undergoing urbanisation with significant Khmer populations in Can Tho city. The data include quantitative data from 120 randomly selected Khmer households and 12 in-depth interviews. The study finds that: (i) borrowing sources are relatively diverse, including both interest-bearing loans and community-based support; (ii) loans are primarily used for building/renovating houses and investing in production; (iii) the most important lending source is the Policy Bank; and (iv) loans for purchasing land, constructing or repairing houses, and building clean water reservoirs,… have improved living conditions, whereas production loans have not yet yielded economic benefits. Overall, production activities of Khmer households in the urbanising coastal areas are still facing numerous difficulties and challenges, with debt remaining one of the three main concerns.
Pilot testing a composite index for social adaptation to epidemics: The case of the Covid- 19 pandemic
This study presents the development and pilot testing of a Composite Index for social adaptation to the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam, aiming to provide a quantitative tool for assessing the response and recovery capacity of the nation and localities during the 2020- 2022 period. The methodology was developed based on a risk governance cycle approach, structuring the index around two main pillars: (1) Readiness Capacity and (2) Risk Management and Response. Data were aggregated from official statistical sources of government agencies and sociological surveys, then normalised using the Min-Max method and combined using equal weighting. Pilot calculations conducted in Hanoi and Bac Ninh demonstrate that the index serves as an effective diagnostic tool, quantitatively identifying strengths and weaknesses in response capacity. The findings underscore the importance of establishing a flexible social welfare system and highlight the role of good governance in enhancing resilience to future shocks.
Marital disagreements in households in several provinces in Northern Vietnam
Based on a survey of 604 residents in Hanoi, Nam Dinh, and Yen Bai in 2017, the study’s findings indicate that: The majority of couples in Northern Vietnam experience harmonious marital life, with conflicts occurring infrequently; Not all types of disagreements between spouses vary according to socio-demographic characteristics such as place of residence, living standards, duration of marriage, or educational level; Several types of marital disagreements are associated with the length of the marriage and the spouses’ income; All types of marital disagreements are related to marital satisfaction and positive perceptions of the marital relationship. These findings provide important empirical evidence for a deeper understanding of how cultural norms, gender roles, and socioeconomic conditions shape spousal interaction dynamics, thereby suggesting avenues for interventions aimed at promoting marital harmony, reducing conflict, and enhancing the quality of marital life in contemporary Vietnamese families.
Social risks of Vietnamese labour migration across the China border: The case of the Lao Cai international border gate
Labour migration across the Vietnam-China border brings many economic opportunities for workers and border regions, yet it simultaneously poses significant social risks. This article aims to analyse the social risks faced by migrant workers, while proposing protective policies from the Vietnamese side. The study is based on a quantitative survey with 85 migrant workers and in-depth interviews of 3 cases at the Lao Cai international border gate. The results show that Vietnamese migrant workers often face exploitation, unsafe working conditions, lack of labour contracts, and heavy dependence on brokers. This article provides micro-level evidence of this reality while suggesting policies such as strengthening the regulation of brokerage activities, enhancing workers’ awareness and skills, establishing appropriate insurance mechanisms, and promoting socio-economic development in border regions. These findings provide a basis for improving the policy framework aimed at protecting migrant workers in the context of integration.
Religious life in the digital space in Vietnam: Theory and research findings
Internet, smartphones, and social media have made the digital space an essential part of life, including religious life in Vietnam. Research on religion in the digital space in Vietnam is a new field, still lacking comprehensive studies and solid theoretical foundations. Based on the proposed integration of Stig Hjarvard’s theory of the mediatization of religion and Evolvi’s hypermediacy theory as an analytical framework, and employing data collected through document analysis, surveys of the digital presence of religious organisations, and case studies of online communicaion channels of Buddhism and Catholicism, this article contributes to reaffirming these two theoretical perspectives and demonstrates that media is governing and shaping religious institutions whilst the digital space is increasingly becoming an indispensable component of religious life.
Some contemporary theoretical perspectives on fertility
In the course of studying the demographic transition worldwide from the mid-20th century to the present, various theoretical perspectives on fertility have been developed, disseminated, and effectively applied. The article selects and summarises 11 modern theoretical perspectives on fertility from diverse approaches, including those that are quite new and unfamiliar among existing studies in Vietnam. Considering the appropriate and flexible application of these theories in sociological research on reproductive behaviours is necessary and highly promising, contributing to explaining the dynamics of fertility in Vietnam and its influencing factors in the context of industrialisation and modernisation, towards building and implementing more effective fertility-adjustment policies, in line with Vietnam’s sustainable development goals in the new period.
Factors affecting fertility: An interdisciplinary approach and practical implications for Vietnam
Using a literature synthesis and analysis approach, this study classifies the factors affecting fertility into three main groups: socio-economic, biological-medical, and psychological-spiritual, while clarifying the mechanisms through which each group influences reproductive behavior. An interdisciplinary approach facilitates the integration of these factor groups within a unified analytical framework, reflecting the complexity of fertility decisions in a transforming society. The processes of industrialization, urbanization, and migration in Vietnam have produced significant changes in fertility patterns, manifested in delayed marriage and childbearing, increased rates of abortion, and infertility. At the same time, shifts in values, beliefs regarding children, and individualized lifestyles also strongly affect reproductive behavior. The study emphasizes the pivotal role of an interdisciplinary approach in providing a scientific basis for adjusting population policies appropriately. Standardizing and integrating data within the digital transformation process constitute a foundation for developing effective and sustainable population policies, particularly in the context of declining fertility in Vietnam.
Social deviance and corrupt behavior: Approaches from sociological theories and practices in Vietnam
Corruption is a form of deviant social behavior that not only violates the law but also reflects deviations within the social norm system, such as ethics, culture, and customary practices. The article analyses corrupt behaviour through the lens of sociological theories and the practical context of anti-corruption and corrupt asset recovery in Vietnam. The author applies theoretical concepts to interpret the actual situation of corruption in current context, particularly clarifying the relationship among social structures, cultural norms, and mechanisms of controlling deviant behaviour. On that basis, the article presents several research findings and proposes solutions aimed at enhancing the efficacy of corruption prevention and control, and corrupt asset recovery.
Social capital theory and its application in community tourism development in the context of digital transformation
Social capital theory has become one of the key theoretical frameworks in modern sociological and economic research. With its distinctive advance in linking social capital and economic development, th theory is particularly important when applied to community-based tourism, as such model relies not only on material resources but also on the cohesion and cooperation embedded within social relationships among community members and tourists. Based on secondary sources mainly in English and employing a literature review approach, the article discusses the applicartion of social capital theory developed by Western scholars to the practice of rural community tourism development in the context of increasingly pervasive digital transform
Vocational training and employment issues among rural laborers (A case study of several communities in Gia Lai province)
In recent years, following the Party’s orientations and the State’s policies on vocational training and job creation, the Party Committee and authorities of Đăk Đoa district have directed and led the implementation of policies on vocational training and employment for rural laborers. Vocational training, counseling, and job placement activities for rural workers have yielded positive results, contributing to an increase in the number of trained laborers, job creation, and improved incomes for local residents, particularly among ethnic minority groups in the area. Alongside these achievements, vocational training and employment generation activities still face several difficulties and limitations, such as obstacles in policy implementation, issues regarding awareness of ethnic minorities and local economic conditions. This reality raises questions that require further research. Based on qualitative research findings collected from officials and residents in several communes in Gia Lai province, this article analyses the achievements and existing limitations, and proposes solutions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of vocational training and employment generation in the coming period.
Some theoretical perspectives on urban community culture research
In the world, particularly in Western countries and the United States, the study of community culture has undergone significant fluctuations due to changes in social structures, especially the impact of industrialisation and urbanisation. Using a review-based approach, this article introduces several theoretical perspectives for examining urban community culture, including functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and especially theories of modernisation and cultural change. These theoretical trends can be applied to the study of urban community culture in contemporary Vietnam. The application of these theories helps to identify the role of community culture in social stability, whilst also opening the possibility of comparison between urban community cultures in Vietnam and those in other international urban settings, thereby drawing lessons and suitable directions for future research.
Discussing administrative human resources in Ho Chi Minh City in the context of transition from urban government to digital government
Ho Chi Minh city has developed from an urban government to a digital government. Despite achieving notable successes, the city government has faced significant human resource challenges, as many personnel have not fully adapted to and mastered the public administrative system as effectively as anticipated. Employing a comparative analysis of secondary documents, the article illuminates the challenges of human resources in Ho Chi Minh city in the context of implementing Resolution 98 of National Assembly. Research findings reveal that measures to enhance human resource quality, such as policies on attraction, treatment, training, fostering, and planning etc. are effective, but failed to produce breakthrough transformations. Therefore, the article proposes supplementary supportive solutions, creating conditions to reduce workload pressures on public officials, civil servants, and public employees, which should be actively implemented.
Tourism shapes the development process of tourism sociology
Since the mid-20th century, the sociology of tourism has emerged as an independent sub-discipline, reflecting the increasingly profound impact of tourism on social structures and cultural transformation processes. This article employs a historical epistemology approach to clarify the role of tourism phenomena in shaping the developmental trajectory of tourism sociology. Based on a historical tracing of sociological research on tourism and an analysis of scholarly discourse in their process: formation of concepts and research objects; transformation of theories and central themes; contemporary trends in mobility, materiality, emotions, and sustainability. The study affirms that tourism is not only an object of sociology but also an intellectual agent promoting theoretical and methodological innovation in modern tourism sociology.
The participation of elderly women in household economic development (A case study of Bac Ninh province)
As Vietnam enters a period of rapid population aging, elderly women represent not only a group requiring special attention in terms of health and social welfare, but also a force with the potention to contribute to household economic development. Through an analysis of current policies and data from a quantitative survey conducted in Bac Ninh province, the article elucidates the roles, labor participation levels, incomes, and spending patterns of elderly women. The research findings indicate that, despite barriers such as declining health, family caregiving burdens, and low economic autonomy, many elderly women still chose to continue working in order to maintain physical and mental health and contribute to supporting their families. The article underscores the multifaceted roles of elderly women in organising multigenerational family life, thereby proposing policy orientations to promote their potential, experience and resilience in household economic development, towards the goal of active and sustainable aging.
The actual situation of digital intergration among rural women (From a survey conducted in two communes of Hung Yen province)
Digital inclusion plays an important role in promoting social participation within the context of digital technology development. However, disadvantaged groups, including rural women, face numerous barriers to digital inclusion. Based on quantitative and qualitative research results conducted in 2024 in two rural communes of Thai Binh province (now Hung Yen province), the article reveals that rural women have opportunities to access digital devices, especially smartphones; nevertheless, they still encounter significant barriers to digital inclusion due to financial constraints and gender norms. They often do not prioritize investing in high-quality digital devices and lack time because of family caregiving burden. Older women with lower income and education levels have lower levels of digital inclusion. Although rural women recognize the importance of digital technology and show willingness to use digital devices and the Internet, many still lack confidence and digital skills, particularly regarding digital safety.
Pressure from social media use among university students - An assessment study at Da Lat university
The use of social networks has increasingly become an essential part of human life. However, uncontrolled usage and dependence on social media platforms heighten the risk of mental disorder symptoms among young people, including university students. Through an online survey using a Google form with 383 students from Da Lat University, preliminary research results indicate that frequent use of social media platforms leads to dependence and negative feelings among students. Furthermore, dependence on social networks and negative feelings exacerbate mental health problems (anxiety, depression, stress) among students. These findings pose many policy implications for students themselves, educational institutions and families in control social netwwork usage. Simultaneously, these results open up numerous avenues for more specialised research in the future.
Socio-cultural factors influencing low fertility in the Southeast and the Mekong River Delta
Based on data from a combined quantitative and qualitative survey on fertility in four provinces/cities - Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh city, Soc Trang, and Ca Mau, this article shows that shifts in perceptions and values regarding children, pressures from modern life and the role of women in society, along with inadequate familial and social supports, are primary factors contributing to delay or reduction in childbearing. Traditional norms, such as son preference, have markedly diminished in influence, whereas the emphasis on the quality of child-rearing over the quantity of children is on the rise. The analysis in the article not only emphasises the role of practical barriers but also shows the impact of the change in family values concerning the number of children and the trend of individualisation that sustains the current low fertility rates.
The Vietnamese diaspora: Development dynamics, integration challenges and policy implications
Based on secondary resources, the article analyses the transnational characteristics of the overseas Vietnamese community (OVC) and clarifies the drivers and barriers in harnessing its potential in the context of globalization. The OVC is an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation; it constitutes an important transnational resource, simultaneously integrating into host societies while contributing to the home country’s economic development, investment, and culture. Through the transfer of knowledge, economic resources, and financial investment, the OVC serves as an active force of development, while also requiring support to strengthen cohesion, preserve Vietnamese cultural identity, and achieve sustainable integration. The article proposes several policy implications and research directions aimed at maximizing the potential of the OVC and contributing to the sustainable development of the nation.
Durkheim’s analysis of altruistic suicide
One of the four types of suicide identified by Durkheim is altruistic suicide. It stands in contrast to egoistic suicide, which is determined by the degree of social integration. Whilst egoistic suicide results from insufficient integration of the individual into social groups or society, altruistic suicide stems from excessive integration. This makes the concept of social integration or social integration theory more attractive. Drawing on evidence from primitive, exotic societies, and suicide statistics within the armies of contemporary societies, Durkheim developed this type of suicide to explain the phenomena of widows committing suicide after their husbands died, and why suicide rates among soldiers are higher than among civilians, and why soldiers with higher ranks have a higher incidence of suicide in military environment etc. Durkheim concluded that too strong social integration leads to loss of individuality and over-conformity, contributing to high suicide rates in ancient societies and among the armies of contemporary societies.
The role of Sociology in cultural studies
This article clarifies the role of sociology in cultural studies from three aspects. Firstly, sociology provides a distinct system of concepts and methodologies for studying culture from a sociological perspective, which has been effectively applied by Vietnamese scholars in numerous specific studies. Secondly, sociology offers a practical foundation for monitoring, assessing, and forecasting cultural changes in modern society through field studies, community surveys, and structural-functional analysis of cultural phenomena. Thirdly, sociology helps connect cultural studies with social life and the practical needs of communities through the application of cultural knowledge in areas such as family relationships, traditional craft villages, beliefs, rituals, etc. As a result, cultural studies not only affirm their academic value but also enhance their applicability and contribute directly to community development.
The role of Sociology of Law in the legislative process in Vietnam
The sociology of law is an interdisciplinary science between sociology and jurisprudence, studying the process of emergence, formation, and development of legal events. Therefore, sociology of law plays a crucial role in analysing and assessing the actual state of social relations that require legal regulation, assisting lawmakers to objectively and comprehensively evaluate social relations, thereby promulgating laws in accordance with social realities. On the other hand, after laws are promulgated, research in the sociology of law is significant in evaluating the process of laws implemented in practice, addressing questions such as: "Do legal subjects understand and comply with legal regulations?" or "Are there any obstacles or shortcomings in enforcement?", thereby proposing solutions for amending and supplementing the laws. Given its significance, in that sence, the sociology of law has been taught and studied in many universities, particularly institutions specialising in law and sociology, as well as applied research to serve law-making activities and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement activities.
Urban sociology research and training in the Doi moi era
Over the past four decades, urban sociology has focused on researching various social issues in Vietnam’s urban areas during the Doi Moi period. Some of these studies were ordered by state management agencies, while others were fundamental research examining newly emerging social strata in urban settings during this period. Urban housing has been a consistent research topic of urban sociology from before Doi moi to the present. Research on this topic has always been in collaboration with planners, architects, policymakers, and urban managers, contributing to the urban housing and development policies. In practice, there were many studies consultating, assessing social impacts of urban development projects. Urban sociology has been taught not only at universities specialising in social sciences and humanities but also at technical universities such as the University of Architecture and the University of Civil Engineering. Numerous theses and dissertations have integrated sociological knowledge and approaches with knowledge of spatial organization, planning, and urban development and management policies. Urban sociology textbooks have been regularly supplemented and updated with new knowledge. All of these efforts have contributed to affirming the role of urban sociology knowledge in the construction, development, and governance of urban areas in Vietnam over more than 40 years of Doi moi.
The contribution of Sociology to the building of strong Vietnamese families in the Doi Moi period from practice of the Institute for Human, Family and Gender Studies
Building strong Vietnamese families has been an important goal of the Communist Party and the State of Vietnam. With its strengths in analysing family-related issues, the sociology has made various contributions to achieving this goal. Through an analysis of publications and practical activities at the the Institute for Family and Gender Studies (now merged into the Institute for Human, Family and Gender Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) over the past nearly four decades, the article outlights some contributions of researchers at the Institute to the building of strong Vietnamese families from specific research findings. These contributions are examined through aspects of approaches and methods of family sociology research, providing scientific agurments for policy consultation, and disseminating family-related knowledge to the public consultation, and disseminating family-related knowledge to the public.
Renovation in agriculture and the contribution of sociological thinking
Within Vietnam’s broader process of social reform, agricultural renovation was the first, the most difficult, the most extensive in scope, but also the most successful. The most impressive success of agricultural renovation was that it served as a key driver behind Vietnam’s achievements in poverty reduction. Only when implementation of Contract-10 policy, the collectivized production model and the household economic model in agriculture began to be considered comprehensively from a scientific perspective, and was no longer limited to ideological thinking aimed at maintaining socialist production relations, even though they were no longer suitable with the reality of the economy. Affirming the superiority of the household-based agricultural economy in Vietnam’s socio-economic context during the early Doi Moi period was the innovation of scientific thinking and sociological thinking is the core.
Sociology and 40 years of Doi moi in Vietnam: The aging and older adults research program at the Institute of Sociology, 1991-2005
Research on the elderly in Vietnam has a history of over half a century, starting in 1970 when the Ministry of Health established the Research Program on Gerontology. Up until the mid-1980s, the elderly was almost exclusively a field of interest of research and clinical gerontologists. In 1977, they conducted a large-scale survey with a sample of more than 13,000 people, sketching an epidemiological and health portrait of the elderly. Near the mid-1980s, sociologists began to take an interest in the subject of the elderly. By the late 1980s, with support from international organizations, the Vietnamese had the first country report on the elderly. The early 1990s marked the beginning of a good collaboration between the Institute for the Protection of Elderly Health and the Institute of Sociology. Since then, Vietnamese sociologists have engaged more extensively and vigorously in this area of study. The article reflects on the contributions of research on the elderly conducted by the Institute of Sociology under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences during the period 1991-2005, reviewing some academic achievements and policy contributions.