Purpose – The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of governmental support policies and
socio‐cultural influences on female entrepreneurship in rural Vietnam. As such, the study addresses
an important literature gap concerning female entrepreneurship within rural communities in South
East Asia.
Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative in‐depth interviews were conducted with six female
entrepreneurs and six female non‐entrepreneurs in northern Vietnam to examine the influence of
various environmental factors on female entrepreneurship in a rural setting.
Findings – The results suggest that government pro‐entrepreneurship policies, together with private
sector interventions, have had an impact on rural Vietnam. Yet females in rural and remote Vietnam
are still constrained by societal prejudices, financial limitations, and limited entrepreneurship
educational opportunities.
Originality/value – The paper’s originality lies in its review of the circumstances confronting women
in rural Vietnam and its findings concerning the impact of environmental factors on female
entrepreneurship in this setting.