The rapid and widespread of COVID-19 has caused severe multifaceted effects on society but differently in women and men, thereby preventing the achievement of gender equality (the 5th sustainable development goal of the United Nations). This study, using data of 355 teleworkers collected in Hanoi (Vietnam) during the first social distancing period, aims at exploring how (dis)similar factors associated with the perception and the preference for more home-based telework (HBT) for male teleworkers versus female peers are. The findings show that 56% of female teleworkers compared to 45% of male counterparts had a positive perception of HBT within the social distancing period and 63% of women desired to telework more in comparison with 39% of men post-COVID-19. Work-related factors were associated with the male perception while family-related factors influenced the female perception. There is a difference in the effects of the same variables (age and children in the household) on the perception and the preference for HBT for females. For women, HBT would be considered a solution post-COVID-19 to solve the burden existing pre-COVID-19 and increasing in COVID-19. Considering gender inequality is necessary for the government and authorities to lessen the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the lives of citizens, especially female ones, in developing countries.

In response to insufficient understanding of the determinants of change in e-shopping behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries, this paper used the data from 355 respondents, collected in Hanoi during the social distancing period (April 2020), to explore the factors associated with shopping online more frequently (i.e., representing the growth of e-shopping) for five product types (food, medical products, clothing, electronics, and books) in Hanoi, Vietnam. The results showed that nearly 80% of the respondents engaged in e-shopping more frequently than they did before the outbreak of COVID-19. As regards shopping online more frequently in general (i.e., for at least one product type), females were more likely to do so. In-store shopping enjoyment and a decrease in income were a facilitator and a deterrent, respectively. Regarding specific product types, completely working from home had a positive association with more frequent e-purchasing for electronics. Fear of disease encouraged higher frequencies of e-shopping for food and medical products. Notably, the shortage of physical supply was not a determinant of buying any product type online more frequently. As for the implications of our findings, supporting and encouraging low-income shoppers, older persons, and females to engage in e-shopping is necessary to limit the detrimental effects of the pandemic on their lives. The growth of internet purchasing expresses a need to manage the development of urban delivery services, to limit the uncontrolled proliferation of motorcycles. E-shopping requires delivery to complete the online-to-offline process; therefore, protecting the health of delivery drivers to ensure the safety of the whole online shopping process would be necessary.

This study investigated the determinants of online shopping continuance intention of Generation Y and Z during the new normal. A conceptual framework, which was an extension of the Technology Acceptance Model, was empirically tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling, multi-group analysis technique, and the data collected from 847 Gen Y-ers and Gen Z-ers in Hanoi, Vietnam during March 2022. The results revealed that facilitators of repurchase intention included perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, satisfaction, and environmental awareness while perceived risks of online shopping served as a barrier. Notably, the barrier was found to affect Gen Y’s repurchase intention more severely. Personalization was not directly associated with the intention but had strong indirect effects through perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and satisfaction. The risk of COVID-19 was not a predictor of online repurchase intention. Understanding of the continuance intention of online shopping among consumers from different generations in an emerging country during the new normal may aid to enhance the quality of decision-making. Specifically, platforms and sellers should adopt customized marketing programs towards Gen Y and Gen Z. Additionally, a user-friendly and informative purchasing process with personalized features should be formulated. Demonstrating online shopping as a green behavior would be useful. This study differs from earlier research by considering and comparing factors influencing the intention to keep shopping online of Gen Y and Gen Z in a developing country when the COVID-19 is well controlled.