Driving sustainable transportation: an in-depth exploration of influencing factors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This study investigates factors influencing sustainable transportation (ST) across social, economic, and environmental dimensions using Structural equation modelling. A survey of transportation enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, resulted in a final sample of 414. Findings show that historical context, political dynamics, facility quality, and environmental impact reduction strategies positively impact all three ST dimensions. E-commerce developments contribute positively to economic sustainability but not to social or environmental sustainability. Conversely, technological application significantly influences social and environmental dimensions but does not impact economic sustainability.Environmental impact reduction strategies exert the strongest positive influence across all sustainability dimensions, followed by historical context, political dynamics, and facility quality.Key drivers of environmental strategies include reduced congestion, minimized delays, decreased fuel consumption, and emissions control.Stability in residential area characteristics, road infrastructure, and property value accessibility are key attributes of historical context.Political dynamics are characterized by legal system transparency, clear tax policies, and simplified administrative processes.Facility quality is represented by the availability of convenient and high-quality transportation routes, stations, and stops.This study contributes to the theory by applying North’s conceptual framework (North, 1981, 1990, 1993), enhancing the understanding of ST dynamics. It underscores the institutional determinants driving transportation sustainability and advances discourse on the role of normative institutions. Grounded in North’s theory, this research highlights the significance of institutions in shaping transportation behaviour and outcomes, particularly in emerging and developing countries, offering a robust framework for understanding ST across diverse socio-political contexts.