Evaluating the entrepreneurial profile of Vietnam using the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem index

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the performance of Vietnam’s digital entrepreneurship ecosystem and provide policy recommendations to improve its performance. Research Design & Methods: The study used the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem (DEE) index to evaluate the ecosystem performance and the penalty for the bottleneck method to provide policy suggestions. The study used data collected by a project of the University of Pécs including 115 countries for the period from 2019 to 2021. Findings: The results show that although Vietnam’s digital entrepreneurship ecosystem performance is better than its economic development level and has improved over time, its ecosystem is considerably unbalanced. The country has relatively strong and comprehensive legal frameworks to support access and usage of digital infrastructures and to ensure cybersecurity in the digital space. However, it has the biggest problem in granting sufficient freedom to develop digital infrastructures and advancing financial services to facilitate and accommodate digital transactions and activities. Implications & Recommendations: The study suggests that strengthening the digital freedom and financial facilitation pillar would lead to the greatest improvement in Vietnam’s ecosystem performance. Contribution & Value Added: The study provides additional evidence for the entrepreneurship paradox and data-driven policy recommendations for policymakers to facilitate productive entrepreneurship in Vietnam.