Cultural Factors Influencing the Intention to Participate in Voluntary Pension Insurance in the Mekong Delta

In the context of population aging, promoting participation in voluntary pension insurance in Vietnam has become increasingly essential; however, participation rates in the Mekong Delta remain low. This study adopts a cultural perspective to examine the role of regional cultural factors in shaping participation behavior. Using an integrative literature review combined with thematic analysis, the study finds that cultural characteristics such as community orientation, the central role of the family, and river-based culture do not directly influence participation intention, but rather exert indirect effects through behavioral mechanisms, including social norms, trust, time preferences, and risk perception. These mechanisms may either promote or hinder participation depending on the context. Based on these findings, the study proposes policy implications, including leveraging community-based communication, designing flexible insurance products, strengthening institutional trust, and simplifying information. The results also highlight the importance of incorporating cultural factors into the analysis of financial behavior.