Le Kieu Oanh Dao

The recent crisis of non-performing loans in the banking system has hit the Vietnamese economy hard. The GDP has been fallen down, while the bad debt ratio in the banking system has risen dramatically to 17.2 percent, and it takes more time to restore the economy and banking system. This research aims to define aspects that impact non-performing commercial bank loans in Vietnam. It covers the period of 2008–2017 using 200 identified banks of Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange and Hanoi Stock Exchange, and applies methods based on the regression of pooled ordinary least squares, fixed and random effects models, in particular, generalized least squares to confirm the stability of the regression model. The results show that non-performing loans this year will positively affect those in the next year. In addition, a raise in bank performance and credit growth also leads to the reduction in non-performing loans from banks. Regarding macroeconomic factors, higher interest rates would have a major and beneficial influence on failed loans in terms of macroeconomic dynamics, and, therefore, little effect on economic activity and inflation. Therefore, Vietnamese banking system should reduce the systematic risk and improve monitoring processes, drawing on the experience of global banks with extensive experience in risk management.

This study examines the impact of authentic leadership on job satisfaction in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam, focusing on the mediating role of psychological empowerment and the moderating effect of organizational culture. A survey of 638 employees in the trade and service sectors in Ho Chi Minh City was conducted, and structural equation modeling was used for analysis. The findings reveal that authentic leadership positively influences psychological empowerment (β = 0.195, p < 0.001). Further, this factor also impacts job satisfaction both directly (β = 0.364, p < 0.001) and indirectly through psychological empowerment (β = 0.459, p < 0.001). Psychological empowerment significantly enhances job satisfaction (β = 0.424, p < 0.001), while organizational culture moderates the relationship between authentic leadership and job satisfaction (β = 0.234, p < 0.001). These results underscore the importance of transparent, ethical, and empowering leadership in fostering a supportive workplace environment. The study contributes to understanding leadership dynamics in non-Western, collectivist cultures and provides practical insights for improving employee satisfaction in Vietnamese SMEs.