The survey also showed that Vietnamese were more optimistic about the job market, with 39 per cent rating their job prospects as good/excellent, an increase of 5 per cent from the last quarter.—Photo dubaonhanluchcmc

HA NOI(Biz Hub) -- Vietnamese consumers are more optimistic about job prospects and personal finance than they were a year ago, but they still have a long way to go to be as jubilant as their regional neighbours.

These were the findings of a Q1 survey by market-research company Nielsen, which quizzed more than 29,000 online consumers in 58 countries between February and March on consumer confidence and spending intentions.

Vietnamese respondents were more upbeat about both topics in Q1 compared to the previous quarter, sending the consumer confidence index up to 96, its highest level in over a year.

According to Nielsen's index, Viet Nam was 8 points higher than the last quarter and 2 points up on Q1 2012.

The survey also showed that Vietnamese were more optimistic about the job market, with 39 per cent rating their job prospects as good/excellent, an increase of 5 per cent from the last quarter.

Despite the increase, Viet Nam still ranks far lower than the Asia Pacific average of 61 per cent, encompassing Thailand (plus 2 to 72 per cent ), Malaysia (plus 4 to 67 per cent), Singapore (plus 4 to 50 per cent) and India (plus 12 to 76 per cent).

Similarly, Vietnamese optimism over personal finances increased 9 points to 50 percent, but this figure is also well adrift of the 62 per cent regional average.

Asked about buying intentions, nearly one third of Vietnamese felt the next 12 months was the best time to buy new things or invest in shares, 4 per cent higher than last quarter and 7 per cent higher than the same term last year.

Meanwhile, the remaining 71 per cent said they intended to save, up 11 per cent over the last quarter. --VNS