Driving factors of Vietnamese youth in using compressed natural gas bus for environmental protection and sustainable development

Purpose Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s financial center, faces challenges such as air pollution, noise and traffic congestion due to its growing population. In response, going by bus, especially those run by compressed natural gas (CNG), is increasingly popular among young people, thus promoting sustainable urban development. This study aims to explore the habits of the young in the city in comparison between CNG bus and private transport by employing the stimulus-organism-response theory. Design/methodology/approach Key stimulus variables include trip characteristics, infrastructure, transportation services, environmental awareness and work characteristics. Organism variables encompass travel experience and personal attitudes, while the response variable focuses on CNG bus usage and private transport usage. The online survey resulted in 452 responses. Data were statistically examined using the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique. Findings The findings demonstrated that the choice of CNG bus and private transportation was indirectly influenced by the stimulus variables – trip features, infrastructure, environment and work characteristics – through organism factors (attitude and travel experience). When travel experience served as the stimulus variable, there was a considerable indirect impact on using public transportation through attitude as the organism variable. Depending on the organism and stimulus given, the reaction to the usage of transport modalities displayed dynamic behavior among Vietnamese youth. Based on the findings, stakeholders in the field of urban planning should prioritize mixed-use developments that connect residential areas with public transport hubs, reducing reliance on private vehicles for work-related travel. Research limitations/implications First of all, because it is limited to Ho Chi Minh City, the results are less applicable to other areas or nations with distinct transportation circumstances and difficulties. Second, using self-reported data could lead to biases such as recollection errors or social desirability, which could compromise the veracity of the findings. Practical implications Based on the finding, stakeholders in the field of urban planning should prioritize mixed-use developments that connect residential areas with public transport hubs, reducing reliance on private vehicles for work-related travel. Originality/value This is one of the first studies focusing on Vietnamese youth’s motivation to act for the environment by changing their travel habits daily.