In recent years, peer-to-peer lending has emerged as a hallmark innovation within the Fintech landscape—celebrated for its disruptive potential but also recognized for the risks it carries. This lending model has gained particular traction in developing nations such as Vietnam, where nearly 60% of the population is of working age and where consumer behavior reflects a dramatic increase in purchasing activity over the past five years. However, the recent downturns and instability in global peer-to-peer lending markets have intensified scrutiny and sparked renewed debate regarding its sustainability and inclusivity. In response, the current study explores the Accessibility of individual users to peer-to-peer lending in the context of a transitional country, using Vietnam as the focal point. The research methodology employed a structured questionnaire and adopted a quantitative approach for data analysis. Findings indicate that variables related to Finance and demographic characteristics exhibit little to no significant influence on users’ ability to access peer-to-peer lending services. Conversely, the role of Social capital emerges as a dominant factor shaping the Accessibility of individual users within Vietnam’s evolving financial ecosystem. Drawing from these insights, the study puts forward targeted strategies aimed at improving user Accessibility to peer-to-peer lending platforms in transitional country environments.
