Farmers’ Acceptance of Aquaponics in Vietnam’s Coastal Mekong Delta: An Extended Technology Acceptance Model under Climate Stress, Post-COVID Livelihood Risk, and Industry 4.0 Readiness

Aquaponics—an integrated recirculating aquaculture and hydroponic production system—has been proposed as a climate-resilient livelihood alternative for coastal households in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where saltwater intrusion, erratic rainfall, and market volatility interact with post-COVID income fragility. This study examines the determinants of farmers’ acceptance of household-scale aquaponics across three coastal communes/districts: Thạnh Hải (Bến Tre), Duyên Hải (Trà Vinh), and Bình Thắng (Bến Tre). We developed an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) incorporating Trust, Facilitating Conditions, and Climate-Risk Perception to reflect Industry 4.0–enabled advisory and monitoring ecosystems. Using a structured questionnaire (N = 432) and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we evaluated measurement reliability/validity and tested hypotheses under a stringent significance threshold (p < .005) consistent with contemporary recommendations for reducing false-positive claims. Results indicate that Perceived Usefulness is the strongest antecedent of Attitude (β = .41, p < .001), while Attitude is the dominant predictor of Behavioral Intention to adopt aquaponics (β = .49, p < .001). Facilitating Conditions also exert a direct effect on intention (β = .27, p < .001), underscoring the practical importance of training, micro-finance, and technical support. Climate-Risk Perception positively influences Attitude (β = .16, p = .004), suggesting that climate stress can catalyze openness to integrated, water-efficient production. The sample is predominantly fishing-based; qualitative prompts reveal a strong desire to reduce hazardous offshore fishing and transition toward safer, home-proximate livelihoods. Policy implications emphasize targeted public investment for pilot training, standardized “starter kits,” and digital extension systems that lower perceived complexity while preserving perceived autonomy and trust.