TTLV: Women's participation in tourism activities in Yen Minh district, Ha Giang province

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: Trinh Thi Khanh Linh

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: January 21, 2001

4. Place of birth: Quang Ninh

5. Decision No. 5410/QD-XHNV dated December 21, 2023, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: Decision on extending the study time for postgraduate students No. 9028/QD-XHNV dated December 23, 2025, by the Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

7. Thesis title: Women's participation in tourism activities in Yen Minh district, Ha Giang province

8. Major: Tourism; Code: 8810101.01

9. Scientific supervisor: Dr. Bui Nhat Quynh, Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This thesis systematizes the theoretical basis of women's participation in tourism activities by applying Longwe's (1991) Women's Empowerment Framework combined with social cognitive theory, social identity theory, and the social norm influence approach. Based on a case study in Yen Minh district, Ha Giang province (now part of Tuyen Quang province), the results show that women participate in many tourism activities such as accommodation, food and beverage, agricultural product sales, handicraft production, cultural performances, and tourism support services. However, the level of participation varies across different levels. Women have seen significant improvements in welfare, income, and employment opportunities, but still face many limitations in accessing resources, participating in decision-making, and controlling the benefits from tourism activities. The study also identifies four main groups of factors affecting women's participation: personal, family, community, and institutional factors. The results show that tourism has created many new opportunities for women, but their participation is still not truly full and equal.

11. Practical applications:

The research findings can serve as a reference for state management agencies, local governments, the Vietnam Women's Union, tourism businesses, and communities in developing policies, programs, and solutions to enhance women's participation in tourism activities. The research findings can support the design of tourism vocational training programs, improve the capacity of ethnic minority women, enhance access to capital, expand opportunities for participation in management and decision-making, and contribute to promoting inclusive, gender-equal, and sustainable tourism development in mountainous and ethnic minority areas.

12. Future research directions:

This study was conducted in a few typical areas of Yen Minh district and primarily used qualitative research methods. Therefore, further studies could expand the scope of the survey to other localities, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the impact of factors influencing women's participation in tourism activities. Simultaneously, more comparative studies are needed between different ethnic groups, types of tourism, and different stages of destination development to further clarify the process of empowering women and ensuring their genuine participation in sustainable tourism development.

13. The published works related to the thesis:

Trinh Thi Khanh Linh. (2026).Enhancing the rights and participation of ethnic minority women in sustainable tourism development: A case study in Lo Lo Chai village, Lung Cu commune, Tuyen Quang province.. Journal of Educational Equipment, 350 (2), 206-208.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Trinh Thi Khanh Linh 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: January 21, 2001 4. Place of birth: Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam

5. Admission decision number: Admission Decision No. 5410/QD-XHNV dated December 21, 2023, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: Decision No. 9028/QD-XHNV dated December 23, 2025, issued by the Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, regarding the extension of the study period for master's students.

7. Official thesis title: Women's Participation in Tourism Activities in Yen Minh District, Ha Giang Province

8. Major: Tourism Studies 9. Code: 8810101.01

10. Supervisors: Dr. Bui Nhat Quynh - Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis systematizes the theoretical foundations of women's participation in tourism activities by applying Longwe's Women's Empowerment Framework (1991) in combination with Social Cognitive Theory, Social Identity Theory, and the Social Norms Approach. Based on a case study conducted in Yen Minh District, Ha Giang Province (currently part of Tuyen Quang Province), the findings indicate that women participate in a wide range of tourism-related activities, including accommodation services, food and beverage services, agricultural product sales, handicraft production, cultural performances, and tourism support services.

However, the level of participation varies across different dimensions of empowerment. While women have notable improvements in welfare, income generation, and access to employment opportunities, they continue to face significant constraints in accessing resources, participating in decision-making processes, and exercising control over tourism-related benefits. The study identifies four major groups of factors influencing women's participation: individual, family, community, and institutional factors. Overall, tourism has created new opportunities for women, but their participation remains neither fully inclusive nor equitable.

12. Practical applicability:

The findings of this study can serve as a reference for government agencies, local authorities, the Vietnam Women's Union, tourism enterprises, and local communities in formulating policies, programs, and interventions aimed at enhancing women's participation in tourism activities. The results may also contribute to the design of tourism vocational training programs, capacity-building initiatives for ethnic minority women, improved access to financial resources, and expanded opportunities for women to engage in management and decision-making. Furthermore, the study provides practical implications for promoting inclusive, gender-responsive, and sustainable tourism development in mountainous and ethnic minority areas.

13. Further research directions:

This study was conducted in several representative locations within Yen Minh District and mainly employed a qualitative research approach. Future studies may expand the geographical scope to other localities and combine qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the magnitude of factors affecting women's participation in tourism activities. Comparative research across different ethnic groups, tourism types, and stages of destination development is also recommended to provide a deeper understanding of women's empowerment and meaningful participation in sustainable tourism development.

14. Thesis-related publications:

Trinh Thi Khanh Linh. (2026). Empowering and enhancing the participation of ethnic minority women in sustainable tourism development: A case study of Lo Lo Chai Village, Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.Journal of Educational Equipment, 350(2), 206–208.