Guidelines for Authors

Guideline for Authors

I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Authors must submit their articles to the Journal via the online system at:
  http://jsde.nctu.edu.vn or by email to: tapchikh_ktpt@nctu.edu.vn, nttlinh@nctu.edu.vn (journal editor).
• The article must be original (not previously published). Authors must not submit the same manuscript to other journals until a decision is made by the Editorial Board.
• Authors must ensure that there are no copyright disputes concerning the article's content.
• Authors may be required to revise the content or format before the article is accepted.
• The article should not exceed 15 pages, with a recommended length of 3,500–6,000 words (including tables, figures, footnotes, and references). Formatting: Times New Roman font, size 11; A4 paper size; line spacing 1.5; margins: top 2 cm (0.79”), bottom 2 cm (0.79”), left 2.5 cm (0.98”), right 2 cm (0.79”).
• General structure suggested for an international-standard article:
• Abstract: 150–250 words
• Introduction: 1–1.5 pages
• Materials and Methods: 1–2 pages
• Results & Discussion: 3–6 pages
• Conclusion: 0.5 page
• References: 1–2 pages (about 20–30 references)
• Author names must be followed by superscript numbers indicating institutional affiliations. The article must include the name and email address of the corresponding author.
• Do not include titles or occupations of the authors. Do not include appendices or annexes.
• The article content must include the following numbered sections: Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and References (not numbered). Sections such as Abstract and Acknowledgments (if any) are not numbered.
• The article must include a Vietnamese abstract and an English abstract. Below each Abstract, Keywords must be provided.
• The title should be in lowercase (except proper nouns), bold, and contain no more than 20 words.
• Section headings should be formatted as follows:
• Level 1 headings: UPPERCASE, bold
• Level 2 headings: Capitalized, bold
• Level 3 headings: Capitalized, italic
• Level 4 headings: Not numbered, italic
• No more than four heading levels are allowed in the article.

• Article Title: lowercase, bold, no punctuation, font size 13, left-aligned.

Example: Impact of Covid-19 on the respiratory system

• Level 1 Heading: UPPERCASE, bold, no punctuation, font size 11, left-aligned.

Examples:

1. INTRODUCTION

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

• Level 2 Heading: Capitalize the first letter of each word, bold, no punctuation, font size 11, left-aligned.

Examples:
2.1 Transmission sources of Covid-19
2.2 Symptoms of Covid-19

• Level 3 Heading: Capitalize the first letter of each word, italic, no punctuation, font size 11, left-aligned.

Examples:
3.1.1 Symptom Characteristics
3.1.2 Preventive Measures

• Level 4 Heading: Capitalize the first letter of each word, italic, no punctuation, font size 11, left-aligned.

Example:
– Face mask: …

• Font and Alignment: Font size 11, text aligned to the left with a ½ tab indentation.

II. SUBMISSION REGULATIONS

During the submission process, authors must ensure that their manuscript complies with the following conditions. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in rejection of the submission:

• The article must align with the aims, scope, and subject areas of the Journal as previously announced;
• The article must comply with the Journal’s published submission, peer review, and editorial policies;
• The article must follow the formatting and structural guidelines as specified by the Journal;
• The manuscript must include all required author information (full name(s), institutional affiliation(s)), the name and email of the corresponding author, and any other declarations or commitments required by the Journal.

Once the submission is completed, the Editorial Board will review the manuscript and send a response via email indicating whether the article has been accepted for review, returned for revision, or rejected.

III. STRUCTURE OF A SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE

• Title
• Author(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and email address of the corresponding author
• Vietnamese Abstract
• English Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion (Results and Discussion may be combined)
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgments (if any)
• References

The article must be written in a clear, scientific style, truthfully and accurately reflecting the research findings. Spoken or colloquial language should be avoided. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

1. Title

The title should appear on the first page of the article. It must be written in lowercase (except for proper nouns), regular (non-italicized), left-aligned, without underlining or punctuation at the end, and without abbreviations. The title should be clear, easy to understand, and informative—avoid vague or overly general titles. It should adequately describe the content of the research and include relevant keywords. The title should not exceed 15 words. Scientific names must be italicized.

2. Author(s)

Author names should be listed below the title, with full given name and family name, left-aligned. Do not include occupations, academic titles, or phone numbers. Superscript numbers (1, 2, 3, ...) should be used after each name to indicate the corresponding institutional affiliation. The corresponding author should be marked with an asterisk (*) and their email address must be provided.

3. Guidelines for writing article content

3.1 Title and author information

Example of a English article:

Title:
Impact of Covid-19 on the respiratory system of elderly patients in the Mekong Delta Region (lowercase, bold, left-aligned, font size 13)

 Nguyen Van Binh^1*, Huynh Van An², Tran Huu Hanh¹, Le Van Phuc²  (lowercase, left-aligned, font size 11)

¹Nam Can Tho University

 ²Tay Do University

^*Corresponding author: Nguyen Van Binh (email: nguyenvanbinh@gmail.com) (italic, lowercase, font size 10)

Received on:

Revised on:

Accepted on:

Keywords

(italic, lowercase, font size 10)

3.2 Abstract

The abstract should present the main findings of the research. This section helps readers decide whether the article is relevant to their interests. Therefore, the author must write it briefly yet comprehensively, covering the following key elements:

• Introduction
• Objective
• Materials and Research methods
• Key findings
• Conclusion

The Vietnamese abstract is the translation of the English abstract. It should be italicized and range between 150–250 words. No citations should be included in the abstract.

Example of an Abstract (173 words):

Abstract
The southwestern shrub Juniperus communis (Juniper berry) holds significant medicinal value in Native American culture, although these properties have not been scientifically proven. One of the commonly attributed uses of the berries, in addition to detoxification, is their insect-repellent capability. This study focuses on developing an insect repellent from the essential oil obtained through steam distillation. A total of 50 grams of fresh berries were collected and dried for five days, then placed in a still with 100 mL of water for steam distillation using the Flinn Scientific Borosilicate Lab Kit. The extracted oil was collected and diluted to 70%, then distributed into three separate containers for transfer into spray bottles. The experiment involved spraying the diluted sample into glass jars containing Anopheles juidthae (a common NM mosquito) and comparing the results with a commercial insect repellent. Upon testing and comparing the outcomes, the commercial insect repellent was clearly more effective than the diluted J. communis essential oil. However, the essential oil still demonstrated insect-repellent properties.

Keywords: Juniperus communis, essential oil, insect repellent

The five content elements included in the abstract above:

- (Introduction): The southwestern shrub Juniperus communis (Juniper berry) holds significant medicinal value in Native American culture,...

- (Objective): This study focuses on developing an insect repellent from the essential oil obtained through steam distillation.

- (Materials and Methods): A total of 50 grams of fresh berries were collected and dried for five days,…

- (Results): The extracted oil was collected and diluted to 70%, then distributed into three separate containers for transfer into spray bottles.

- (Conclusion): However, the essential oil still demonstrated insect-repellent  properties.

3.3 Keywords

Keywords should be listed below the abstract, consisting of 4–6 terms that reflect the main topics of the research. Do not write keywords in paragraph form; each keyword phrase should contain 1–3 words. Keywords should be written in lowercase letters (except for proper nouns), in italics, and arranged in alphabetical order. These keywords are important for automatic indexing by search engines and databases (e.g., Google Scholar, Web of Science, Mendeley, Scopus), helping researchers discover relevant literature.

3.4 Introduction

The Introduction should clearly and accurately present the background, current situation, and significance of the research problem. Authors should review and cite existing studies published in scientific journals, books, or other academic sources, or rely on observations of real-world conditions to identify the knowledge gaps that require further research.

Based on that, the author should pose research questions, propose hypotheses, and define the objectives of the study. All referenced materials must be properly cited.

To avoid plagiarism, authors should paraphrase referenced content instead of copying and pasting. When a direct quote is necessary, it must be placed in quotation marks, and the author’s name must be clearly cited.

3.5 Materials and Methods

The Materials and Methods section is particularly important as it demonstrates how the research was conducted and how the data were collected to ensure statistical reliability and significance. This section must be described clearly and in detail so that other researchers can replicate the experiment or study if necessary.

• Materials:

This part should include details about the location, duration of the study, the materials, research subjects, instruments, equipment, and statistical software used for data analysis. It should also describe the analysis indicators used. These elements allow readers to assess the credibility and reliability of the research findings.

• Methods:

- Research design:

+ Quantitative methods: Provide a brief description of the experimental layout, names of treatments, number of replications, and sample size (if applicable). For surveys, state the sampling method, sample size (and its calculation), and the main contents of the questionnaire.

+ Qualitative methods: Clearly specify the research method, relevant reference documents, expert involvement, sample size, etc.

- Data collection:

+ If analytical equipment is used, provide the device name, technical specifications, and manufacturer (if available).

+ State the analysis methods, including the author(s) of the method if applicable, indicators, research procedures, and data collection process.

- Data analysis:

+ Describe the data analysis methods using formulas or equations where necessary.

+ Specify the software used for data processing and statistical analysis.

+ Clearly indicate the statistical methods and hypothesis testing procedures (if applicable).

3.6 Results

The Results section presents the findings of the study and answers the previously stated research objectives. Tables and figures must be formatted according to the journal’s guidelines. All results must be presented truthfully, based on statistical significance (especially for quantitative research). For each set of findings, choose either a figure or a table, not both, to avoid redundancy.

3.7 Discussion

The Discussion section should explain the findings of the study, comparing them with those of other researchers—highlighting similarities or differences and providing explanations. Emphasis should be placed on novel discoveries, supported by actual data presented in figures or tables, along with notes or annotations (if applicable).

Main points to include in the discussion may include:

- A summary of the research objectives and key findings (first paragraph);

- A comparison of the results with previous studies (if any);

- Emphasis on the novelty and originality of the findings;

- Implications and potential real-world applications;

- Limitations of the study (and whether they affect the results);

- Proposed solutions to improve or expand upon the research.

Avoid excessive paragraph breaks. Short paragraphs under 100 words should be merged into larger paragraphs for coherence.

Results and Discussion may be combined into a single section if appropriate.

3.8 Conclusion and Recommendations

The Conclusion summarizes key takeaways based on the results and discussion. Authors should highlight the most significant meaning of their findings:

- Do the results meet the research objectives?

- Are any hypotheses accepted or rejected?

Based on the findings, authors should propose practical applications, improvements, or future research directions. This section should be written as a single paragraph, without a heading or line breaks. Do not restate numerical results, do not re-explain findings, and do not include citations.

3.9 Acknowledgements (if any)

The Acknowledgements section is for expressing gratitude to organizations, agencies, or individuals who provided financial support, technical assistance, or intellectual contributions to the completion of the study. This section should not be numbered.

3.10 References

Use relevant and up-to-date references to support arguments in the introduction, methodology, and discussion sections. Ensure consistency in citation style, following the Journal’s requirements. The maximum number of references is 30, of which about 80% should be published within the last 10 years.

References must be formatted using the APA (American Psychological Association) style (see examples below) and arranged alphabetically by the authors' surnames.

The number of references listed must exactly match the number of citations in the manuscript (no more, no less). The References section must not be numbered.

3.11 In-text Citation Guidelines

When writing the introduction, results, or discussion sections of a scientific article following APA style, avoid excessive use of direct quotations. Instead, paraphrase the ideas of other authors and cite the sources properly.

3.11.1 Paraphrased Citations (Recommended)

Formatting rules:

• Restate the idea in your own words.
• Do not use quotation marks.
• Include the author’s surname and publication year right after the paraphrased content.
• Page numbers are not required unless referencing a very specific detail.

Examples:

• The transition to a circular economy requires not only technological innovation but also changes in business models and policy frameworks (Geissdoerfer et al., 2017).
• Geissdoerfer et al. (2017) argue that the circular economy involves systemic shifts in both production and consumption patterns.

3.11.2 Citing Multiple Authors

Case	Citation Format
One author	(Nguyen, 2020)
Two authors	(Nguyen & Tran, 2021)
Three or more authors	(Le et al., 2022)
Multiple sources, same idea	(Nguyen, 2020; Le et al., 2022)

Notes:

• Avoid overusing direct quotations.
• Each paragraph should include at least one citation to support its claims—unless the idea is original and belongs to the author.

IV. STRUCTURE OF A REVIEW ARTICLE

In addition to original research articles, authors may submit review articles formatted as follows:

• Title of the article
• Name(s) of the author(s), institutional affiliations, and email address of the corresponding author
• Abstract in both Vietnamese and English, and keywords
• Introduction to the topic of the review
• Materials and Methods (i.e., the method used for literature synthesis)
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusion and Recommendations
• Acknowledgements (if any)
• References

V. OTHER FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ARTICLE

1. Abbreviations

If abbreviations are used, the full term must appear at least three times in the text. The abbreviation should be defined at its first occurrence in the article and used consistently thereafter.

Do not use abbreviations in the article title or abstract.

2. Tables, Figures, and Diagrams

2.1 Tables

• Tables must be clearly presented and easy to read. Each table should contain no more than 7 data columns. The first column should be left-aligned; other columns should be right-aligned.
• Tables must be numbered sequentially, e.g., Table 1, Table 2, etc.
• The table title should be written in lowercase (except the first letter), bold, placed above the table, left-aligned, and without a period at the end. Table titles should not exceed 15 words.
• Footnotes must be placed below the table, written in lowercase, font size 10 (smaller than the main text), italicized, left-aligned, and without a period at the end.
• If statistical analysis is included in the table, use superscript letters (e.g., a, b, c) to denote differences and provide notes below the table about the statistical test method used.
• Do not format tables with vertical or horizontal lines (i.e., no gridlines or striped formatting).

Example:

Table 1. Effects of DCAP-blended phosphorus fertilizer on the biomass of sweet potato, cassava, and yam

Note: *: Significant at 5% level; **: Significant at 1% level; ns: Not significant.
Within the same column, values followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at the 5% significance level.
DCAP: dicarboxylic acid polymer

2.2 Figures

• Figures must be numbered sequentially as Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.
• The figure title should be placed below the figure, center-aligned, bold, with the first letter of each main word capitalized.
• If the figure is adapted or taken from another source, the source must be cited below the figure in italics.
• If an explanation or legend is required, place it below the figure, written in italics, font size 10 (smaller than the main text).

Example:

Figure 1. Key factor contributing to the economic efficiency of rice production
Source: Adapted from Nguyen et al. (2020)
3. Units and Scientific Notation

3.1 Units of Measurement

• Length, area, volume: mm, cm, km, mm², cm², m³, µL, mL, L, …
• Mass: g, kg, ng, µg, mg, t, Da, kDa, …
• Concentration: nM, µM, mM, M, %, µg/L, mg/L, g/L, …

Use a space between the number and the unit (e.g., 5 L, 5 kg, 5 ppm), except for percent and temperature (e.g., 5%, 60°C).

• In Vietnamese articles:
• Use a comma for decimals and a dot for thousands separator (e.g., 1.234,56).
• In English articles:
• Use a dot for decimals and a comma for thousands separator (e.g., 1,234.56).

The number of decimal places should match the precision of the measurement method used in the research.

3.2 Scientific Names

Scientific names must be written in italics. Use the full name in the title and the first appearance in the text, then use abbreviations consistently throughout the rest of the article.
For example:
Escherichia coli (first mention) → E. coli (subsequent mentions)

3.3 Equations

Equations or formulas should be written on a separate line, center-aligned.
Use the Equation tool in MS Word or MathType to write mathematical expressions.

Example:
(dhkl)⁻² = (h² + k² + l²) · a⁻²                                              

4. Referencing Style According to APA (American Psychological Association)

4.1 Books

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book in italics. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx (if available)

Example:
Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2016). Marketing management (15th ed.). Pearson Education.

4.2 Journal Articles

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Example:
Nguyen, H. T., & Tran, L. M. (2020). Circular economy in Vietnam: Opportunities and barriers. Journal of Sustainable Development, 13(4), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.1234/jsd.2020.13405

4.3 Websites

Format:
Author, A. A. (or organization). (Year, Month Day). Title of the webpage. Website Name. URL

Example:
World Bank. (2023, October 10). Vietnam economic update: Navigating the path to recovery. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/vietnam-economic-update

When citing a webpage with no author and no date, apply the following:

In-text citation:

• Use the title of the document (shortened if lengthy) in place of the author.
• Use "n.d." (no date) in place of the year.
• Italicize the title if it's a book or long document; use quotation marks if it's a webpage or article.

Examples (in-text):

• … according to the report “Circular economy in Asia” (n.d.) by an international organization, many countries are transitioning to circular economic models.
• … as noted in Circular economy in Asia (n.d.).

Reference list format:

Format:
Title of the document. (n.d.). Website Name. URL

Examples:
Circular economy in Asia. (n.d.). Asian Development Knowledge Platform. https://www.adkp.org/ce-asia
Vietnam green growth strategy. (n.d.). Ministry of Planning and Investment. https://www.mpi.gov.vn/green-growth

Notes: How to Handle Special Cases in APA Referencing

Situation	How to Handle
No author	Use the title of the work as the first element in the reference
No year	Use (n.d.) to indicate “no date”
No retrieval date	Do not include a retrieval date unless the content is likely to change (e.g., Wikipedia). When necessary, format as:
	Retrieved July 24, 2025, from URL

Example with no author and no date:

Circular economy in Asia. (n.d.). Asian Development Knowledge Platform. https://www.adkp.org/ce-asia

Example with retrieval date (for frequently updated content):

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Circular economy. Wikipedia. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_economy

4.4 Theses and Dissertations

Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of thesis or dissertation [Type of work, Name of institution]. Repository (if available)

Example:
Le, T. P. (2022). Sustainable development strategies for SMEs in the Mekong Delta [Doctoral dissertation, Can Tho University]. Can Tho University Repository.

4.5 Organizational Reports

Format:
Organization. (Year). Title of the report. Publisher (if different from the organization). URL (if available)

Example:
OECD. (2021). Circular economy in cities and regions: Synthesis report. https://www.oecd.org/circular-economy

4.6 Quoting Passages in the Manuscript

4.6.1 Short Quotations (Fewer than 40 words)

Formatting guidelines:

• Place the quoted text within double quotation marks: "…".
• Cite the source immediately after the quotation, including author’s last name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses.

Examples:

"Innovation is the key to circular economy success" (Nguyen, 2020, p. 45).

Or:
Nguyen (2020) stated that "innovation is the key to circular economy success" (p. 45).

4.6.2 Long Quotations (40 words or more)

Formatting guidelines:

• Format the quotation as a block quote, in a separate paragraph.
• Do not use quotation marks.
• Indent the entire block 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) from the left margin.
• Place the period before the in-text citation.

Example:

css

CopyEdit

Innovation plays a central role in the successful implementation of a circular economy. 

Without continuous technological, organizational, and policy innovations, it would be 

impossible to restructure production and consumption systems sustainably. 

(Nguyen, 2020, p. 45)

Example:

According to Nguyen (2020):

  Innovation in SMEs is not only driven by technology, but also by mindset
  and policy support. A holistic view of business and environment is
  essential to transition to a circular economy. (p. 76)

Notes:

• Use “p.” for a single page (e.g., p. 12), and “pp.” for multiple pages (e.g., pp. 12–14, pp. 120).
• If the source has no page numbers, use paragraph number, formatted as (Author, year, para. X).
   Example: (Nguyen, 2020, para. 3)

4.7 How to Format References with Multiple Authors (APA Style)

4.7.1 Two Authors

Format (for books):
Author 1, A. A., & Author 2, B. B. (Year). Title. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxx (if available)

Example:
Nguyen, T. H., & Le, V. M. (2021). Circular economy in Vietnam: Concepts and practices. Green Economy Press.

4.7.2 Three to Twenty Authors

Format (for books or journal articles):

• List all author names, separated by commas.
• Use an ampersand (&) before the last author's name.

Format:
Author 1, A. A., Author 2, B. B., Author 3, C. C., ..., & Author Z, Z. (Year). Title. Publisher.

Example (journal article, 4 authors):
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The circular economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048

4.7.3 Twenty-One or More Authors

• List the first 19 authors, followed by ellipsis (…), then the last author.

Format:
Author 1, A. A., Author 2, B. B., ..., Author 19, S. S., ... Author Last, Z. Z. (Year). Title. Source. https://doi.org/xxx

Example (journal article, shortened):
Smith, J., Tran, A., Kim, L., Zhao, Y., Chen, X., ... Williams, R. (2020). Mass collaboration in renewable energy systems. Energy Policy, 138, 111230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111230