Fintech use cases for generation z travel to vietnam a systematic literature review

Abstract

The convergence of financial technology (fintech) and tourism is reshaping how Generation Z engages with travel. As digital natives, Gen Z travelers are enthusiastic adopters of e-wallets, mobile payments, and emerging tools such as cryptocurrencies and crowdfunding. However, existing research on the intersection of fintech, Gen Z, and tourism remains fragmented. This study systematically reviews global scholarly work to synthesize current knowledge on fintech use cases in Gen Z travel and assess their implications for Vietnam’s tourism and fintech industries. A systematic literature review was conducted using databases such as ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, yielding 30 peer-reviewed articles. The review was combined with keyword analysis using VOSviewer software. The results show that while there are a considerable number of studies addressing Gen Z’s Fintech adoption, research comprehensively integrating Fintech, Gen Z, and tourism remains limited. Research purpose This study systematically maps fintech use cases relevant to Generation Z (Gen Z) travel to Vietnam, synthesizes technological, social, and behavioral adoption drivers, and proposes a parsimonious conceptual model with testable hypotheses explaining Gen Z’s actual fintech usage in travel contexts. Research motivation Prior work is fragmented across adoption studies and general fintech applications in tourism but rarely centers on Gen Z’ fintech usage in travel. Given Gen Z’s mobile-first behavior and growing purchasing power, a consolidated view and a Vietnam-specific roadmap are needed for scholars and industry. Research design, approach, and method A PRISMA-guided systematic literature review (2020–June 2025) identified 43 peer-reviewed papers from Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Studies were coded using open–axial–selective procedures and complemented by keyword co-occurrence analysis with VOSviewer to surface themes and gaps. Main findings Four use-case families emerge: mobile payments/e-wallets (mature, dominant), BNPL at booking (growing), blockchain applications including crypto/NFTs (emergent), and crowdfunding for cultural engagement (niche). Adoption is most strongly associated with performance expectancy, perceived ease of use, trust, social influence, and habit, while facilitating conditions (merchant QR acceptance, connectivity, interoperability) act as boundary constraints. Benefits concentrate in convenience, inclusion, and experience quality; challenges cluster around security/privacy, financial literacy and debt risks, interoperability, and regulatory uncertainty. The proposed seven-variable model specifies PE, PEOU, Trust, Social Influence, and Habit → Behavioral Intention → Actual Usage, with a direct Habit → Usage path and Facilitating Conditions moderating PE→Intention, PEOU→Intention, and Intention→Usage.