Bank Restructuring and Financial Performance: A Case Study of Commercial Banks in Vietnam

Tam Thanh Nguyen DUONG,Hoa Quynh NGUYEN 한국유통과학회 2021 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.8 No.10

This study examines the impact of bank restructuring on the financial performance of commercial banks in Vietnam. The data for this study was obtained from the audited financial statements of 30 Vietnamese commercial banks from 2007 to 2019. Multiple regression analysis was used for investigation. Financial performance, as evaluated by ROAA, ROEA, and NIM, is the dependent variable. Financial restructuring, ownership restructuring, and operational restructuring are the independent variables. Pooled least squares (Pooled OLS), fixed effects model (FEM), random effects model (REM), and system generalized moment regression model (System GMM) are the estimate methods used to increase the accuracy of the regression coefficient. The research results show that the variables of financial restructuring activities such as government intervention and the ratio of equity to total assets; variables of ownership restructuring such as capital adequacy ratio, privatization of state-owned commercial banks, mergers, and acquisitions; variables of operational restructuring such as employees, branches, the cost to total assets; GDP variables and the second restructuring period have a positive impact on financial performance. Variables such as debt-to-capital ratio, bad debt ratio, state ownership ratio, expense-income ratio, and inflation have a negative effect on financial performance.

The Effect of Financial Restructuring on the Overall Financial Performance of the Commercial Banks in Vietnam

DUONG, Tam Thanh Nguyen,PHAN, Hai Thanh,HOANG, Tien Ngoc,VO, Tien Thuy Thi Korea Distribution Science Association 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.9

The study investigates and measures the impact of financial restructuring on overall financial performance of commercial banks in Vietnam. Survey data for this research were collected from audited financial reports of 28 commercial banks in Vietnam, for the period from 2008 to 2018. In the study, we have built a model of econometric regression with the dependent variable being financial results measured through ROA and ROE. The research methods used include Pooled Ordinary Least Square Model (POLS), Fixed Effects Model (FEM), Random Effects Model (REM), and different Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The results showed that the account payables restructuring and owners' equity restructuring are much needed. Increasing the owners' equity, decreasing the account payables would improve the overall financial performance, bad debts restructuring to decrease bad debts would also improve the financial performance as well. However, the financial restructuring in the period 2012-2015 and 2016-2018, indeed worsen the financial performance during those times. The findings of this study suggest that the evaluation of the financial performance after restructuring of commercial banks in Vietnam must be based on longer data. At the same time, it is necessary to examine differences between various banking groups to draw accurate conclusions on financial performance.

Thinning and drilling laser-assisted hatching in thawed embryo transfer: A randomized controlled trial

Le, Minh Tam,Nguyen, Thi Tam An,Nguyen, Thi Thai Thanh,Nguyen, Van Trung,Le, Dinh Duong,Nguyen, Vu Quoc Huy,Cao, Ngoc Thanh,Aints, Alar,Salumets, Andres The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine 2018 Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine Vol.45 No.3

Objective: In frozen and thawed embryos, the zona pellucida (ZP) can be damaged due to hardening. Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) of embryos can increase the pregnancy rate. This study compared thinning and drilling of the ZP before frozen embryo transfer (FET). Methods: Patients were randomly allocated into two groups for LAH using thinning or drilling on day 2 after thawing. Twenty-five percent of the ZP circumference and 50% of the ZP thickness was removed in the thinning group, and a hole $40{\mu}m$ in diameter was made in the drilling group. Results: A total of 171 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection FET cycles, including 85 cycles with drilling LAH and 86 cycles with thinning LAH, were carried out. The thinning group had a similar ${\beta}$-human chorionic gonadotropin-positive rate (38.4% vs. 29.4%), implantation rate (16.5% vs. 14.4%), clinical pregnancy rate (36.0% vs. 25.9%), miscarriage rate (5.8% vs. 2.4%), ongoing pregnancy rate (30.2% vs. 23.5%), and multiple pregnancy rate (7.0% vs. 10.6%) to the drilling LAH group. There were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between subgroups defined based on age (older or younger than 35 years) or ZP thickness (greater or less than $17{\mu}m$) according to the LAH method. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that partial ZP thinning or drilling resulted in similar outcomes in implantation and pregnancy rates using thawed embryos, irrespective of women's age or ZP thickness.

Micropropagation from root segments to improve seedling quality in Chinese foxglove crops

Thanh Loan Pham,Van Huy Nguyen,Thi Le Thu Hoang,Thi Tam Tien Ha,Trung Kien Tran,Xuan Duong Vu,Phi Bang Cao,Quang Trung Nguyen 한국식물생명공학회 2020 JOURNAL OF PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY Vol.47 No.3

This is the first study to establish a complete protocol for micropropagation of Rehmannia glutinosa from root segments. The study involved investigating the effect of plant growth regulators on in vitro shoot regeneration and rooting and identifying substrates supporting survival and growth performance of ex vitro seedlings. A Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 30 g/L sucrose for shoot induction and 0.2 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 1 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and 1 g/L polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for shoot multiplication resulted in the highest number of shoots per explant and shoot height. Applying a medium containing 0.5 mg/L IAA and 1 g/L PVP yielded optimal rooting of the shoots grown in vitro. Compost enriched with microbial inoculants and perlite enhanced seedling growth better than that with organic biofertilizer-free substrates (soil and sand). We recommend the continuous production of micropropagated R. glutinosa seedlings from root segments under the aforementioned conditions as a possible propagation technique for crops of this species.

Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance Syndrome among Infertile Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study from Central Vietnam

Minh Tam Le,Vu Quoc Huy Nguyen,Quang Vinh Truong,Dinh Duong Le,Viet Nguyen Sa Le,Ngoc Thanh Cao 대한내분비학회 2018 Endocrinology and metabolism Vol.33 No.4

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies among reproductive-age women. Its metabolic features often overlap with those associated with metabolic syndrome (MS) and insulin resistance syndrome (IRS). Theobjective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of MS and IRS in infertile Vietnamese women with PCOS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary fertility centre at Hue University Hospital from June 2016 to November 2017. A total of 441 infertile women diagnosed with PCOS based on the revised 2003 Rotterdam consensus criteria were enrolled. MS and IRS were defined based on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/American Heart Association Adult Treatment Panel III 2005 and American College of Endocrinology IRS 2003 criteria, respectively. Complete clinical and biochemicalmeasurements of 318 women were available for analysis. Independent predictors of MS and IRS were identified using multivariatelogistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of MS and IRS in women with PCOS was 10.4% and 27.0%, respectively. We identified older age(>30 years) and obesity as independent predictors of MS and IRS. Elevated anti-Müllerian hormone levels increased the risk of IRS,but not that of MS. Conclusion: MS and IRS are prevalent disorders among infertile Vietnamese women with PCOS. PCOS is not solely a reproductiveproblem. Screening and early intervention for MS and/or IRS based on anthropometric, metabolic, and reproductive hormone riskfactors should be an integral part of fertility care.

Double burden of malnutrition in ethnic minority school-aged children living in mountainous areas of Vietnam and its association with nutritional behavior

Truong Duong Thuy Thi,Tran Trang Huyen Thi,Nguyen Tam Thanh Thi,Tran Van Hong Thi 한국영양학회 2022 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.16 No.5

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Although children of ethnic minority groups are experiencing a transition from a predominance of undernutrition to overnutrition, there is little evidence of a dual-malnutrition burden. Therefore, this study examined the double burden of malnutrition among school-aged ethnic minority children living in mountainous areas and its association with their diets. SUBJECTS/METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to March 2020 in 3 mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam among 1,556 ethnic minority school-aged children. The prevalence of under-nutrition (stunting and thinness) and over-nutrition (overweight and obesity) were measured using the WHO 2006 child growth standards (height-for-age and BMI-for-age Z-score). Nutritional practices were evaluated by the frequency of food consumption based on a 4-level scale. RESULTS The percentage of children with stunting and thinness were 14.0% and 5.4%, respectively, while the figure for overweight/obesity was 9.4%. The factors positively associated with stunting were living in a family with more than 2 children or being Muong/other ethnicities compared to the Tay ethnicity. Children who consumed fish/shrimps/crabs or milk weekly/daily were less likely to be undernourished compared to those who never consumed these foods. By contrast, children who never consumed foods rich in vitamin A precursors and vitamin A and fruit or consumed daily snacks/junk food were more likely to be overweight/obese. CONCLUSIONS Undernutrition remains a common issue among school-aged children and adolescents of ethnic minority groups, while over-nutrition exists simultaneously. Public health nutrition programs promoting adequate diets and positive lifestyle changes related to nutrition are essential to tackle the double burden of malnutrition among ethnic minority children.

Determinants of Operational Self-Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions in Vietnam

LE, Thanh Tam,DAO, Lan Phuong,DO, Ngoc Mai,TRUONG, Thi Hoai Linh,NGUYEN, Thi Thuy Duong,TRAN, Chung Thuy Korea Distribution Science Association 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.10

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of the Operational Self-Sustainability (OSS) of Vietnamese microfinance institutions (MFIs). This research uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods: (i) qualitative research was via in-depth interviews with ten microfinance practitioners, policymakers and researchers; (ii) quantitative research was conducted by using panel data of 34 MFIs in the period 2011-2015 with binary logistics and OLS regressions. Results are as follows: (i) MFIs' OSS in Vietnam are mainly determined by five key factors: portfolio at risk (PAR>30), capital structure, gross loan portfolio, scope of activities and legal form; (ii) OSS are most affected by legal status (social organizations have better OSS than formal MFIs or programs/projects), location (MFIs focus in one province have higher OSS than working nationwide or just in one district), capital structure (MFIs with more equity proportion have higher OSS); (iii) surprisingly, average loan size per borrower and age of MFIs do not have statistically significant correlation with OSS. The key recommendations are: (i) MFIs should focus on its professionality and increase its equity; (ii) related stakeholders such as State Bank of Vietnam should promote the enabling ecosystem for microfinance development to enhance poverty reduction and economic development.

A Grey MCDM Based on DEMATEL Model for Real Estate Evaluation and Selection Problems: A Numerical Example

Phi-Hung NGUYEN,Jung-Fa TSAI,Thanh-Tam NGUYEN,Thi-Giang NGUYEN,Dang-Duong VU 한국유통과학회 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.11

Real estate markets play an essential role in the economic development of both developed and developing countries. Investment decisions in private real estate demand the consideration of several qualitative and quantitative criteria. Especially in Vietnam, demand for housing, apartments are rising which has resulted because of the migration from rural to urban areas. This study aims to determine the influencing factors of the real estate purchasing behavior and then recommend a grey Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) support model to evaluate real estate alternatives based on a numerical example in Vietnam. A set of essential criteria are identified based on experts’ opinion, and the proposed determinants are initial investment, maintenance cost, prestige location, distance to interesting places, parking lot, public transportation, property condition, total area size, number of rooms, and neighbors. The subjective weights were obtained by using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) model, and the Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) technique is employed to prioritize and rank real estate alternatives. The results reveal that this approach can be useful to make purchasing decisions for many kinds of real estate property under uncertain business environments. These findings indicate that the presented hybrid model has advantages in granting flexibility to the preferences of decision makers.