Entrepreneurial Pathways in Rural Vietnam. The Case of Nam Ty commune

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how motivations and ambitions for entrepreneurship among ethnic minority women and men in rural Nam Ty, northern Vietnam, are shaped by gender dynamics and structural conditions. Using a multilevel framework: integrating the push-pull typology, micro-, meso-, and macro-levels, social capital, and feminist economic concepts of empowerment and structures of constraint, the research draws on interviews with local entrepreneurs. The thesis begins by situating rural entrepreneurship within Vietnam’s evolving economy, followed by a presentation of the theoretical framework and methodology, including thematic analysis. Findings reveal that entrepreneurship is often driven by the desire to improve economic status, especially following financial hardship. Men were frequently motivated by prior industry experience and perceived market opportunities, while women’s motives were often influenced by the need to stay close to home and fulfill domestic roles. Ambitions varied by gender and enterprise type, with women typically reliant on the local market and men expressing broader ambitions, though both faced constraints such as market saturation and limited infrastructure. These findings highlight the complex, intersecting factors shaping entrepreneurial pathways in rural Vietnam.