TRAN MINH PHUONG APPLYING THE EXTENDED THEORY OF APPLYING THE EXTENDED THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR TO UNDERSTAND PLANNED BEHAVIOUR TO UNDERSTAND CONSUMER PURCHASING BEHAVIOR FOR VEGAN COSMETICS IN HANOI CONSUMER PURCHASING BEHAVIOR FOR VEGAN COSMETICS IN HANOI TRAN MINH PHUONG BACHELOR IN MARKETING VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI BACHELOR OF BUSINESS (MARKETING) HELP UNIVERSITY APRIL 2025 APRIL 2025 APPLYING THE EXTENDED THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR TO UNDERSTAND CONSUMER PURCHASING BEHAVIOR FOR VEGAN COSMETICS IN HANOI BY TRAN MINH PHUONG Graduation Project Submitted to Vietnam National University, Hanoi – International School in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Marketing and Department of Business Studies, HELP University, in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Business (Marketing) Hons APRIL 2025 DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby declare that the graduation project is based on my original work except for quotations and citations which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted for any other course/degree at HELP University or other institutions. The word count is 11895 words. ______________________ TRAN MINH PHUONG Date: 29/04/2025 i ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported me throughout the process of conducting this research and completing my thesis on consumer behavior towards vegan cosmetics in Hanoi.
First and foremost, I would like to sincerely thank International School - Vietnam National University and Help University, Malaysia for providing me with the resources, knowledge, and opportunities to undertake this course. The academic environment at both institutions has played a pivotal role in enhancing my learning experience. I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to my research supervisor, Ph. Le Huong Linh, whose expert guidance, valuable insights, and continuous support have been instrumental in the success of this thesis.
Her dedication and encouragement have greatly contributed to shaping the direction and quality of my work. I would also like to thank all the respondents who participated in both the qualitative interviews and the quantitative survey. Their willingness to share their time and perspectives has provided essential data, enriching the quality of my research. Additionally, I am grateful to my peers for their constructive feedback and collaborative discussions, which helped refine my ideas and analysis.
The knowledge I gained from their perspectives greatly contributed to this work. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my family and friends for their unwavering emotional support and encouragement. Their belief in me has been a constant source of strength and motivation throughout this journey. This thesis would not have been possible without the generous support of all these individuals, and I remain truly thankful.
ii ABSTRACT APPLYING THE EXTENDED THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR TO UNDERSTAND CONSUMER PURCHASING BEHAVIOR FOR VEGAN COSMETICS IN HANOI By TRAN MINH PHUONG March 2025 Supervisor: DR. LE HUONG LINH Purpose: This study investigates the factors influencing consumers’ purchase behavior of vegan cosmetics in Vietnam using an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. It examines how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and green price shape both consumers’ purchase intention and their actual purchasing behavior. Design/Methodology/Approach: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative interviews of 10 participants with quantitavtive structured survey of 312 respondents in Hanoi.
Insights from the quantitative data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed relationships and hypotheses. Findings: The study found that attitudes and subjective norms significantly influence both purchase intention and actual purchase behavior of vegan cosmetics. Perceived behavioral control impacts purchase intention but not behavior. Green price positively affects both intention and behavior, indicating that consumers are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products.
These results were consistent across both the quantitative model and qualitative insights, suggesting that attitudes, social influence, and price considerations are key drivers of consumer behavior in this market. Implications: The study emphasizes the importance of clear communication about the environmental benefits of vegan cosmetics, highlighting the need for transparent iii labeling and accessible product information. It also provides actionable strategies for marketers to enhance product accessibility, leverage social proof, and build trust with environmentally conscious consumers, particularly targeting younger generations in Vietnam. Keywords: vegan cosmetics, attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, green price, purchase intention, purchase behavior, theory of planned behavior, Hanoi iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP.
iii TABLE OF CONTENTS. v LIST OF FIGURES. ix LIST OF TABLES. x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .1 Background of Study.4 Scope of the study .1 Scope of time .2 Scope of place .2 Gaps in Previous Studies .4 Factors and Hypotheses Development .3 Perceive Behavioral Control (PBC) .6 The difference between PI and PB .5 Proposed Research Model .1 Introduction and Purposes .1 The operational definition and measurement design .2 Data gathering procedure .5 Data Analysis Methods .1 Qualitative Research Results .2 Data Research Results .1 Background of Vegan Cosmetics .3 Attitudes to Vegan Cosmetics.5 Behavior and Future Intention .2 Quantitative Research Methodology .2 Measuring the Research Model .2 Construct reliability and validity .3 Structural model evaluation .1 Testing for multicollinearity (VIF) .2 Level of explanation of the model (R-Square) .3 Impact coefficient f-square .4 The result of research model.
43 DISCUSSION, LIMITATIONS AND CONCLUSION .3 Limitations and Future Research. 69 Appendix C: Overview of themes. 76 Appendix D: Literature Review Matrix. 77 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: Fortune Business Insights (2025) .2: Vegan Cosmetics Market .1: Theory of Planned Behavior model by Ajzen ( 1991) .2: Proposed research model .1: Sample size calculator .1: Structural Model Assessment Results.
42 ix LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: Dimensions and Indicators of Purchase Intention .2: Dimensions and Indicators of Purchase Behavior .3: Dimensions and Indicators of Attitude .4: Dimensions and Indicators of Subjective Norm .5: Dimensions and Indicators of Perceived Behavioral Control .6: Dimensions and Indicators of Green Price.1: Characteristics of participants interviewed……………………………….2: Qualitative data coding layout……………………………………………22 Table 4.3: Characteristics of the research subjects based on factors.5: Construct reliability and validity .6: Heterotrait-monotrait ratio (HTMT) - Matrix .7: Fornell-Larcker criterion .8: Inner model – Matrix .11: Hypothesis testing result (Direct effects) .12: Hypothesis testing result (Indirect effects). 41 x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Meaning TPB Theory of Planned Behavior PI Purchase Intention PB Purchase Behavior AT Attitude SN Subjective Norm PBC Perceived Behavioral Control GP Green Price SEM Structural Equation Modeling AVE Average Variance Extracted TRA Theory of Reasoned Action KAB Knowledge-Attitude-Behaviour HTMT Heterotrait-Monotrait xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of Study In modern society, the demand for beauty has become an indispensable part of people’s daily lives. The advancement of the economy, technology, and the media has transformed individual’s perception of beauty (Solomon, 2020). Particularly, with the rise in awareness of personal health and the environment, consumers worldwide are increasingly focusing on selecting products that meet both requirements of effectiveness, safety, and sustainability.
(Nguyễn et al. Wang et al. (2019) also emphasized the significant change in consumption concept and the increase in the purchase behavior of green products. On a global scale, the cosmetics market is experiencing a significant growth stage.
According to reports from Fortune Business Insights (2025), a market research organization, the global cosmetics market size stood at USD 374.18 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 393.75 billion in 2024, and then USD 556.1: Fortune Business Insights (2025) Source: Fortune Business Insights (2025) In Vietnam, the cosmetics market follows the same vibrant growth pattern. Vietnam is considered one of the most promising markets in Southeast Asia. Data from global market research firm Mintel shows that the value of the Vietnamese cosmetics market is approximately $2.63 billion, with a projected annual growth rate of 3. A report from Nielsen indicates that while the average spending on cosmetics in Vietnam remains low compared to other countries in the region 1 (around $4 per person per year, compared to $20 in Thailand), it is increasing rapidly, especially in large cities (Kantor World Panel, 2019).
Considering these shifts in the market and the growing emergence of more sustainable and long-lasting industries, the growth of the vegan cosmetics sector is being observed (Dos Santos et al. According to data in figure 1.1 from Mordor Intelligence Research & Advisory (2023), the Vegan Cosmetics Market size is estimated to reach USD 2.84 billion by 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.95 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 6.83% during the forecast period (2024-2029), emphasizing this trend in the coming years. In Vietnam, the rise of vegan cosmetics is evident through domestic brands like Cocoon, Cỏ mềm Homelab, M.I Cosmetics, and Herb n’ Spice which leverage local ingredients such as turmeric, coffee, and coconut oil. The vegan cosmetics market also includes international brands like The Body Shop, Lush, Nuxe and Burt’s Bees, all emphasizing sustainability, cruelty-free practices, and eco-friendly packaging.
Cocoon has established a strong presence by promoting the benefits of Vietnamese natural ingredients. Meanwhile, international players like The Body Shop and Lush are targeting urban, eco-conscious consumers in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Cocoon holds a significant share in the local market, while global brands focus on high-end products, primarily appealing to middle and upper-income groups and trend-sensitive youth willing to invest in sustainable products.2: Vegan Cosmetics Market Source: Mordor Intelligence Research & Advisory, (2023) In light of such rapidly changing global and Vietnamese cosmetics markets, understanding consumer behavior for vegan cosmetics is not only an academic 2 necessity but also a practical imperative. The rise of sustainable consumption trends, coupled with intense competition between domestic and international brands in Vietnam, underscores the urgent need for businesses to understand the motivations and factors influencing consumer purchasing decisions (Nguyen & Le, 2021).
In this research, the geographic range to study vegan cosmetics purchasing behavior is Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam as its prestigious demographic and socio-economic characteristics. With a population of over 8 million (according to 2023 data), Hanoi is the largest political, economic and cultural hub in the northern region. The city comprises a wide range of customers from the middle to upper class who earn higher- than-average national incomes and are willing to spend on quality beauty products. Moreover, Hanoi has a high proportion of young people from many universities, big companies, and startup communities, forming a dynamic and trend-sensitive consumer group.
Notably, the growing awareness of sustainable lifestyles and health in Hanoi makes it a reliable representative for studying the trend of vegan cosmetics use among consumers. Recognizing the significance of the issue, the author has chosen the topic “Applying the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Consumer Purchasing Behavior for Vegan Cosmetics in Hanoi” as the subject for a graduation thesis majoring in Marketing. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991), the study will examine factors such as attitudes, social norms, perceptions of behavioral control, and extended green prices to explain the motivations driving consumers to choose vegan cosmetics. Through in-depth interviews, collecting and analyzing data from consumers in Hanoi, the research aims to provide insights into consumer behavior, thereby providing suggestions for businesses in developing products and marketing strategies suitable for the Vietnamese market.2 Research Objectives RO1: To explore the deeper motivations and barriers behind the purchase intention and purchase behavior of vegan cosmetic products using qualitative insights from people in Hanoi.
RO2: To explore how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and green price influence the purchase behavior of users in Hanoi toward vegan cosmetic products.3 Research Questions RQ1: What are the key motivations and barriers that affect the purchase behavior of vegan cosmetic products in Hanoi? RQ2: How do attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and green price predict the purchase behavior of users in Hanoi toward vegan cosmetic products? 1.4 Scope of the study This research explores a deeper understanding of the purchasing behavior of vegan cosmetics among consumers in Hanoi, Vietnam, by applying the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior.