Main Findings

• In Vietnam, minority ethnic people occupied 12.6% of total national population, about over 10 million people. Groups of minority ethnic people mainly lived in mountainous and rural areas. 75% of minority ethnic people lived in 2 areas: Northern Mountains sharing border with China, Central Highland sharing border with Laos, Cambodia; the main livelihoods of minority ethnic people were associated with agriculture and forestry. Thus, residential areas and livelihoods of minority ethnic people were vulnerable to climate change.
• Research was conducted within 5 communities of 5 representative provinces with various minority ethnic people (Ha Giang, Lao Cao, Gia Lai, DakLak and An Giang). The result showed that the impacts of climate on each area were different. Traffic in Northern Mountainous area was affected bylandslide. Access to water and healthcare services in the Central Highland was suffered. In Southwest, traffic in flooding season was affected and simultaneously affected other access to social services, however, some characteristics of livelihoods remained similar to each other: little capital, outdated farming practices, psychological inertia, limited information of market were the main reasons hindering the development, adaptation of household livelihoods.

Solutions

• Regarding access to basic social services: Strengthen infrastructure; prepare for flood prevention, implement fully and effectivelythe Four On – The – Spot Motto: Planning, building areas, constructing stormand flood prevention buildings.
• Regarding lives and livelihoods: Create a favorable environment for institutions, policies; provide opportunities for citizen to increase livelihood resources; strengthen income generating activities and improve current livelihood. Develop supplementary or alternative livelihood activities.

2011-2012, M.A Dang Kim Chung and research team