Sustainable livelihoods in coastal red river delta in the context of climate change a case study in nam dinh province

1. Relevance of the study
Sustainable livelihoods has been a topic of interest in the debate on development,
poverty reduction, and environmental management in both theoretical and practical
perspectives. Integrating Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLA) with Climate
Change, it is realized that climate change is a key factor causing vulnerability of
livelihoods, because climate change does impact livelihood assets and that the
impacted livelihood assets will affect livelihood strategies which in turn will affect
the livelihood outcomes. In the context that climate change is increasingly complex in
the future, livelihoods should be not only sustainable, but also adaptive in order to
reduce vulnerability caused by climate change. Therefore, integrating sustainable
livelihoods framework with climate change will help build sustainable and adaptive
livelihoods in the context of climate change.
The threats of climate change, such as sea level rise, storm, flooding, and saltwater
intrusion are really serious for Vietnam because it is a country with a long coastline
and two low-lying deltas located near the sea. Coastal area in the Red River Delta,
which includes 4 provinces namely Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh,
is an area with a high population density and heavy dependence on the climate and
water resource of agriculture and fisheries. Main livelihoods of coastal communities
in the Red River Delta are composed of agricultural production (rice cultivation,
livestock breeding and salt production) and fisheries (fishing and aquaculturing) that
are increasingly threatened by climate change due to high dependence on the natural
resources sensitive to climate change. Therefore, it is an urgent need to build
sustainable and adaptive livelihoods in the context of climate change for coastal area
in Vietnam in general and coastal Red River Delta in particular.
2. Literature review
Studies about livelihoods at household level in the context of climate change have
been reviewed from 3 aspects: (i) impacts of climate change on coastal area in the
world and in Vietnam; (ii) vulnerability and adaptation practices of households to the
impact of climate change on their livelihoods in the world and in Vietnam, and (iii)
household livelihoods in the context of climate change in coastal Red River Delta in
Vietnam. The review indicates the following main findings:

- About the content of studies:
• Current status of household livelihoods has not been comprehensively
analysed using Sustainable Livelihoods Framework approach (SLA);
• Vulnerability to the impact of climate change of different groups of
household livelihoods has not been analyzed in details: impacts on
livelihood assets, livelihoods strategies, and livelihood outcomes.
• Livelihoods adaptation to climate change at household level has not been
evaluated whether it is passive adaptation or active adaptation.
• Sustainability and adaptability to the impact of climate change of
livelihoods in coastal area are not comprehensively analysed.

• For coastal Red River Delta in general and Nam Dinh province in
particular, some issues such as current status of household livelihoods,
vulnerability of household livelihoods and household’s adaptation practices
to the impact of climate change, livelihoods support of the government,
sustainability and adaptability of livelihoods have not been addressed in a
comprehensive manner in order to provide recommendations on sustainable
and adaptive livelihoods for households in the context of climate change.
- About theoretical framework:
• Most studies used the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLA) approach
to analyze household livelihoods in the context of climate change. Very few
studies integrated sustainable livelihoods framework with climate change to
analyze vulnerability of household livelihoods.
• The sustainability and adaptability of livelihoods have not been analyzed in
details in terms of economic, social, environmental, and institutional
sustainability and adaptability to the impact of climate change.
- About methodology:
• No quantitative studies have been done to show the vulnerability of the
different livelihood groups to the impact of climate change.
• Multi-Criteria Analysis method has not been applied to analyze the

sustainability and adaptability of livelihoods.
The thesis “Sustainable Livelihoods in Coastal Red River Delta in the context of
Climate Change: A case study in Nam Dinh province is expected to fill the gaps in
the previous studies.
3. Research objective and question
3.1. Research objective
The overall objective of the thesis is to propose sustainable and adaptive livelihoods
for coastal households in Nam Dinh province in line with local capacity and policy
direction of the government.
The specific objectives of the thesis include:
(i) Analyse current status of livelihoods at household level in coastal Red
River Delta,
(ii) Identify some main impacts of climate change on coastal Red River Delta,
(iii) Analyse household’s perception about vulnerability to climate change of
different livelihood groups through a case study in Nam Dinh,
(iv) Assess household capacity to adapt to impact of climate change on their
livelihoods through a case study in Nam Dinh,
(v) Identify supporting policies of the government to help households in
coastal districts of Nam Dinh province to adapt effectively to climate
change impacts,
(vi) Propose sustainable and adaptive livelihoods for households in coastal
districts of Nam Dinh province and some policy implications for coastal
Red River Delta in Vietnam.

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INTRODUCTION

3.2. Research questions
In order to achieve six specific research objectives mentioned above, the thesis
focuses to answer the following six research questions:
(i) What are livelihoods assets, livelihoods strategies, and livelihoods
outcomes of households in the Red River Delta?
(ii) What are the main impacts of climate change on coastal area in the Red
River Delta?
(iii) How do households in coastal districts of Nam Dinh province perceive
vulnerability to the impact of climate change on their livelihoods?
Specifically: How does climate change affect livelihood assets? How do
impacted livelihood assets affect livelihood strategies? and How do
impacted livelihoods strategies affect livelihoods outcomes?
(iv) How do households in coastal districts of Nam Dinh province adapt to
risks associated with impacts of climate change on their livelihoods?
(v) What are government policies to support households in coastal districts of
Nam Dinh province to adapt to climate change?
(vi) What are sustainable and adaptive livelihoods for households in coastal
districts of Nam Dinh province? What policy implications can be drawn
for the coastal provinces of Red River Delta?
4. Object and scope of the research
4.1. Object of the research
Object of the thesis is household livelihoods in coastal communities in the context of
climate change, including such issues as livelihood assets, livelihoods strategies,
livelihood outcomes, vulnerability of household livelihoods and adaptation practices
to the impact of climate change on their livelihoods, and government policies on
climate change adaptation.
4.2. Scope of the research
4.2.1. From geographical aspect
• Coastal Red River Delta, which consists of 4 provinces/cities: Hai Phong,

Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh, is the context of the study.
• A household survey conducted by the author was carried out in three coastal
districts of Nam Dinh Province as a case study.
4.2.2. From timeline aspect
• Secondary data used for the analysis and assessment of household
livelihoods in coastal Red River Delta was collected for the period from
2000 to 2010.
• Primary data was collected in 2012 to analyze the household livelihoods in
coastal districts of Nam Dinh province in the context of climate change.
4.2.3. From content aspect
• Climate change: is represented by 5 main variables, including drought,
storm, increased temperature, sea level rise, and saltwater intrusion.

• Coastal livelihoods in the context of climate change: are represented by 2
groups: agriculture and fisheries since these livelihoods are highly
dependent on natural resources sensitive to the impacts of climate change.
• Sustainable Livelihoods Framework mentions five components: (i)
livelihood assets, (ii) livelihood strategies, (iii) livelihood outcomes, (iv)
institutions and policies at different levels, and (v) external context.
• Sustainability of livelihoods is evaluated in terms of four aspects: economic,
social, environmental, and institutional sustainability.
• Vulnerability of household livelihoods to the impacts of climate change: is
analyzed as follows: climate change affect livelihood assets and that the
impacted livelihood assets will affect livelihood strategies which in turn
will affect the livelihood outcomes.
• Household capacity to adapt to climate change impact: is assessed through
adjustments on their livelihoods and divided into two levels of adaptation: (i)
active adaptation and passive adaptation.
5. Structure of the thesis
In addition to the introduction, conclusion, table of contents, list of acronyms, list of

tables, list of figures, list of references and appendix, the thesis is structured into 4
chapters as follows:
Chapter 1: Theoretical framework on sustainable livelihoods in coastal area in the
context of coastal climate change.
Chapter 2: Research methodology.
Chapter 3: Household livelihoods in Coastal Red River Delta in the context of
climate change: A case study in Nam Dinh province.
Chapter 4: Policy implications.
6. New contributions of the thesis
The thesis has new contributions to the topic of climate change and coastal
livelihoods from both theoretical and practical perspectives:
From a theoretical perspective:
• Previous studies mostly used the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLA)
approach to analyze household livelihoods in the context of climate change.
This thesis integrates the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework with Climate
Change to analyze vulnerability of household livelihoods to the impact of
climate change in coastal areas and indicates that climate change does impact
livelihood assets and that the impacted livelihood assets will affect livelihood
strategies which in turn will affect the livelihood outcomes.
• This thesis shows that, in the context of climate change, livelihoods should be
not only sustainable, but also adaptive in order to reduce vulnerability caused
by climate change. In addition, this thesis uses a Multi-Criteria Analysis
method to propose criteria for evaluating economic, social, environmental, and
institutional sustainability and adaptability of the livelihoods in the context of
climate change.

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From a practical perspective:
Results from a survey of 286 households in three coastal districts in Nam Dinh
province indicate the following main findings:
• Household awareness on vulnerability to the impact of climate change of
different livelihood groups are shown as follows:
- Storm, drought, and saltwater intrusion have positive effects on natural capital
(cultivation land, aquaculture land, and salt production land) and physical
capital (road and irrigation systems). These are livelihood assets that are very
sensitive to climate change. In addition, storm, drought, and increased
temperature have positive effects on human capital (health). Financial capital
(access to bank loans) and social capital (access to information) is less affected by
climate change.
- The impacted livelihood assets (cultivation land, livestock breeding facilities,
fishing facilities, aquaculture land, and salt production land) have positive
effects on respective livelihood strategies (rice cultivation, livestock breeding,
fishing, aquaculture practices and salt production). In addition, physical capital
(irrigation system) has positive effect on rice cultivation; social capital (access
to information) has positive effect on fishing; financial capital (access to bank
loans) has positive effect on livestock breeding, fishing and aquaculturing.
- The impacted livelihoods strategies and livelihoods outcomes have a positive
relationship. The more livelihoods strategies are affected by climate change, the
more livelihoods outcomes are affected.
• Households in three coastal districts of Nam Dinh province are implementing
passive adaptation activities on their livelihoods rather than active adaptation
activities to counter the impact of climate change.
• In order to help households move from passive adaptation to active adaptation, it
is necessary for the government to support households to improve their
livelihood assets, especially natural and physical capital and to enhance
institutions and policies on climate change adaptation at national and local levels.

• Using a Multi-Criteria Analysis and scoring methods, five main livelihoods in
three coastal districts in Nam Dinh province in the context of climate change
are prioritized in the following order: aquaculturing, livestock breeding, rice
cultivation, salt cultivation, and fishing. New livelihoods that would be feasible
in the context of climate change for these districts are eco-tourism and
traditional handcrafts.
CHAPTER 1
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ON SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS FOR
COASTAL AREA IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
1.1. Sustainable livelihoods
1.1.1. Concept
Definition of Chambers and Conway (1992) on livelihood is that "a livelihood
comprises the capabilities, assets, and activities required for a means of living". A
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livelihood is sustainable "which can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks;
maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets; provide sustainable livelihood
opportunities for the next generation; and contributes net benefits to other livelihoods
at the local and global levels and in the short and long terms". Based on the concept
of sustainable livelihoods initiated by Chambers and Conway (1992), Scoones (1998)
defines a livelihood "comprises the capabilities, assets (including both material and
social resources) for a means of living. A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope
with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities
and assets both now and in the future, while not undermining the natural resource
base". In 2001, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) launched a
concept of livelihood as a guidance for their own assistance activities in which a
livelihood "comprises the capabilities, assets and activities required for a means of
living". This concept is basically similar to the concept of livelihood developed by
Chambers and Conway (1992) and Scoones (1998).
1.1.2. Sustainability of the livelihoods

• A livelihood is considered as economic sustainability when it achieves and
maintains a certain level of basic economic welfare and this welfare may vary
between regions.
• Social sustainability of a livelihood is achieved when social discrimination is
minimized and social equity is maximized.
• Environmental sustainability refers to maintaining or enhancing the
productivity of natural resources for the benefit of future generation.
• A livelihood is seen as institutional sustainability when existing structures or
processes are capable of performing their functions in a continuous and stable
manner over time to support the implementation of livelihood strategies.
1.1.3. Criteria to assess sustainability of the livelihoods
• Economic sustainability: is normally evaluated by household income increase.
• Social sustainability: is assessed through some criteria such as job creation,
poverty reduction and food security.
• Environmental sustainability: is evaluated through sustainable use of natural
resources and harmless environmental degradation.
• Institutional sustainability: is evaluated through criteria such as sufficient and
efficient legislation system, efficient policy making process, effective
agencies/organizations in private and public sectors, which create an favorable
environment for livelihoods to be improved over time.
1.1.4. Sustainable Livelihoods Framework
Basically, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework analyzes the interaction between
five components affecting livelihoods, including (i) livelihood assets, (ii) livelihood
strategies, (iii) livelihood outcomes, (iv) institutions and policies at different levels,
and (v) external context. General idea of the sustainable livelihoods framework is that
within a certain institutional and political context, a household used their own
existing livelihood assets (including human, natural, financial, physical and social
capital) to implement livelihood strategies (such as agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture,
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tourism, diversification of livelihoods, migration ...) to achieve sustainable livelihood
outcomes (such as job creation, income improvement, risk and vulnerability
mitigation, food security improvement, sustainable use of natural resources ...) under
the impact of external context (shocks, trends, and seasonality). Specifically, analysis
of the sustainable livelihoods framework helps answer the question: Which livelihood
assets, livelihood strategies, institutions and policies are critical to achieve
sustainable livelihoods for different groups.
1.2. Sustainable Livelihoods and Climate Change
1.2.1. Overview of climate change
According to Article 1, paragraph 2 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) in 1992, climate change means a change of climate which is
attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the
global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed
over comparable time periods. The Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment defines climate change "is the change of the climate compared to its
medium state and/or climate fluctuations maintained in a long period of time, usually
a number of decades or longer".
Climate change is represented by the following signs:
• Increase in average global temperature,
• Sea level rise due to thermal expansion and ice melting,
• Change in the composition and quality of the atmosphere,
• Movement of the tropical climate between different regions of the earth,
• Change in the intensity of atmospheric circulation, natural water cycles and
other biogeochemical cycles,
• Change in biological productivity of ecosystems, the quality and
composition of the hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere.
The climate is changed due to variations in the climate by nature and by human
impacts through socio-economic activities. The fight against global climate change
requires urgent actions in a global scale both in climate change adaptation and

mitigation. Mitigation is implemented to reduce the level or intensity of greenhouse
gas emission. Adaptation is an adjustment of human and natural systems to
environmental changes in order to reduce vulnerability caused by climate change and
take advantage of opportunities that can be bought from climate change.
1.2.2. Integrating Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Climate Change
Considering current and future impacts of climate change, it is realized that climate
change is a key factor related to the vulnerability of livelihoods. First of all, climate
change does affect livelihood assets, especially natural capital (such as land, water,
and fisheries resources) and physical capital (such as roads, irrigation systems, and
power network) which are sensitive to climate change. When the livelihood assets are
vulnerable to the impact of climate change, livelihood strategies will be affected,
which in turn will affect livelihood outcomes. In the context that climate change is
increasingly complex in the future, livelihoods should be not only sustainable, but
also adaptive in order to reduce vulnerability caused by climate change. Therefore,
integrating sustainable livelihoods framework with climate change will help build
sustainable and adaptive livelihoods in the context of climate change.

1.3. Sustainable livelihoods in coastal area in the context of climate change
1.3.1. Impacts of climate change on coastal area
Climate change will impact coastal area in two aspects: coastal ecosystems and
human socio-economic activities. The coastal ecosystems remains high biodiversity
and important ecological functions to people. Climate change will have impacts on
health, function, and productivity of coastal ecosystems. When those ecological
functions are declined, the coastal ecosystem becomes more and more weakened and
it is hard for them to be recovered to counter the impact of climate change. The
decline in the ecological function of coastal ecosystems will cause serious effects on
the health, economic activities and social welfare of billions of coastal inhabitants
who are dependent on the goods and services provided by these ecosystems.
Generally, most of socio-economic activities have been affected by climate change.
1.3.2. Vulnerability of coastal livelihoods to the impacts of climate change

In the context of climate change, vulnerability is defined as "the degree to which a
system (natural, economic, social) may be vulnerable to climate change, or might not
be adaptive to the negative impacts of climate change". Human vulnerability to the
impact of climate change depends on four factors: (i) nature and magnitude of climate
change, (ii) dependence of human activities on resources sensitive to climate change,
(iii) the sensitivity of these resources to the impact of climate change, and (iv) human
adaptability to changes of resources sensitive to climate change.
Climate change creates damages to natural resources sensitive to the climate such as
land and water source. In addition, climate change does affect physical assets such as
infrastructure. The impacted assets by climate change will have impacts on the
selection of livelihood strategies and expected livelihoods outcomes at household
level. In general, climate change will affect such coastal livelihoods as agriculture
and fisheries. When the current livelihoods are more vulnerable to the impact of
climate change, households will attempt to carry out adaptation activities. Therefore,
capacity building for coastal communities who are affected by climate change will
help them successfully adapt to the impact of climate change.
1.3.3. Adaptive capacity of coastal livelihoods to the impact of climate change
IPCC defines adaptive capacity as "a self-adjustment capability (resilience) of a
system to climate change to mitigate potential damages, to take opportunities, or to
cope with the consequences." According to Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources
and Environment, adaptive capacity to climate change is "adjustment (resilience) of
natural and human systems to changes of situation or environment in order to reduce
vulnerability caused by fluctuations and changes of the current climate and to take
advantage of potential opportunities brought by climate change". USAID indicates
that adaptive capacity to climate change is "capability of a society to make changes in
the way that society is better equipped to manage risks or sensitivity from the impact
of climate change".
Adaptive capacity is manifested through adaptation activities aiming at reducing
vulnerability. Generally, adaptation activities are divided into:

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• Anticipatory and reactive adaptation
• Passive and active adaptation
• Private and public adaptation
In the context of climate change, livelihood adaptation at household is divided into 2
levels. The first one is passive adaptation – temporary adjustments of livelihoods
strategies in the short term. The second one is active adaptation - strategically
planned adjustments of livelihoods strategies in long term with policy support from
the government. Livelihood adaptation practices to the impact of climate change
comprises: (i) activities that households do themselves, (ii) supporting activities and
subsidies planed by the government, and (iii) supports from other organizations.
1.3.4. Livelihood support to adapt to climate change
1.3.4.1. Support to improve livelihoods assets
• Improving natural capital
• Improving physical capital
• Improving financial capital
• Improving human capital
• Improving social capital
1.3.4.2. Creating enabling environment in terms of institutions and policies on
climate change adaptation: Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into
development planing
• Mainstreaming climate change into national or regional policies
• Mainstreaming climate change into investment funds and sectoral projects
• Mainstreaming climate change into local initiatives

2.2. Analytical framework

CURRENT STATUS OF
HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOODS
• Livelihoods assets
• Livelihoods strategies
• Livelihoods outcomes
• Institutions and policies
• External context

CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS ON
COASTAL AREA
• Impact on coastal
ecosystems
• Impact on human socioeconomic activities

VULNERABILITY OF HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOODS
TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change

Livelihoods Assets

Livelihoods Strategies

Livelihoods Outcomes

HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOODS ADAPTATION TO THE
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
• Passive adaptation
• Active adaptation

LIVELIHOODS SUPPORT TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE
• Improve livelihoods assets
• Enhance institutions and policies on adaptation
to climate change

SUSTAINABLE AND ADAPTIVE LIVELIHOODS
• Economic sustainability
• Social sustainability
• Environmental sustainability
• Institutional sustainability
• Adaptability to the impact of climate change

CHAPTER 2
METHODOLOGY
2.1. Research hypotheses
(1). The more frequently climate change happens, the more livelihood assets
are affected (positive relationship).
(2). The more livelihoods assets are affected by climate change, the more
livelihoods strategies are affected (positive relationship).
(3). The more livelihoods strategies are affected by climate change, the more
livelihoods outcomes are affected (positive relationship).
(4). When livelihoods strategies are vulnerable to climate change impacts,
households tend to adjust their livelihood strategies depending on their capacity to
adapt. Household adaptation to climate change can be divided into 2 levels: active
adaptation and passive adaptation.
(5). To enhance household capacity to adapt to climate change impacts, it is
necessary for the government to support households to help them move from passive
adaptation to active adaptation.

2.3. Data sources
2.3.1. Secondary data
This data was collected from 5 main sources:
* Statistical year books
• Provincial statistical yearbooks (including Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh,
and Ninh Binh).
• District statistical yearbooks (including three coastal districts of Nam Dinh
Province namely Giao Thuy, Hai Hau, and Nghia Hung).
* Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey (VHLSS)
The thesis exploited primary data on household livelihoods in 4 coastal provinces in
the Red River Delta: Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh from Vietnam
living standards survey in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 using STATA software.

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* Agriculture, fisheries, and rural area Census
The thesis used information on agriculture, fisheries, and rural area Census in 2006
Census since the information of the Census in 2011 has not been published.
* Labor and employment Survey
Data from labor and employment survey conducted by General Statistics Office in
the last 5 years was also exploited in this thesis in order to gather data on labor and
employment in four coastal provinces in the Red River Delta.
* Papers, reports, and studies by institutions and individuals
Papers, reports, and studies of individuals and organizations (including the Vietnam
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Nam Dinh Department of Natural Resources and Environment) were
also used in this thesis to have different points of view on the research theme.

2.3.2. Primary data
2.3.2.1. Reasons for selection of Nam Dinh province as a case study
Firstly, according to the study by Jeremy Carew-Reid (2008), Nam Dinh is one of the
most affected province by climate change in coastal Red River Delta, particularly in
terms of land and the number of affected people.
Secondly, economic structure of Nam Dinh is represented by a high proportion of
agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector (accounting for an average of 33% of GDP
in 2001-2011). This sector is very sensitive to climate change impacts.
Thirdly, the proportion of laborers working in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries of
Nam Dinh province is largest in four coastal provinces in the Red River Delta
(accounting for 68.3% in the period of 2005-2011).
Fourth, for three coastal districts of Nam Dinh province, agriculture, forestry, and
fisheries sector plays an important role in the district’s economic development as
77% of the labor force evolving in this sector which makes a contribution of 60% to
GDP. However, this sector is most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
Fifth, Xuan Thuy National Park (Giao Thuy district), which has an area of 15,000
hectares located in connection between the Red River and the sea, is of high
biodiversity that many households depend on for a means of living. However, this is
also the area highly sensitive to the impact of climate change.
2.3.2.2. Data collection method
A household survey was conducted in three coastal districts of Nam Dinh province,
including Giao Thuy, Hai Hau, and Nghia Hung. In each district, two or three coastal
communes were selected based on two criteria: (i) they are agricultural communes
which main livelihoods are agriculture (rice cultivation, livestock breeding, and salt
production) and fisheries (fishing and aquaculturing), (ii) they are suffering from
serious climate change impacts that increasingly affect agriculturure and fisheries.
Based on the above criteria, 7 communes were selected for the survey: Giao Xuan
and Giao Thien (Giao Thuy district); Hai Dong and Hai Ly (Hai Hau district); Nghia
Thang, Nghia Phuc, and Nam Dien (Nghia Hung district).

Information was collected from two main groups of informants: (i) commune’s
leaders and officials working in agriculture and fisheries sector and (ii) local
households representing 5 main groups of livelihoods which are seriously affected by
climate change (rice cultivation, livestock breeding, salt production, fishing, and
aquaculturing).
Primary data collection was done through 2 steps:
* Step 1: Collect qualitative information
- Individual in-depth interview: in each commune, 05 individual in-depth
interviews were carried out representing 5 main livelihoods. Therefore, for 7
selected villages, 35 individual in-depth interviews were implemented.
- Group discussion: in each commune, 02 focus group discussions were made.
Totally, 14 focus group discussions were conducted.
* Step 2: Collect quantitative information
Based on the qualitative data collected, a household questionnaire was designed to
collect quantitative information at the household level. A household survey in three
coastal districts in Nam Dinh province was conducted in December 2012. Total
number of surveyed households was 385, in which 298 households have their main
livelihoods are agriculture and 87 households have their main livelihoods are
fisheries. However, after elimination of incomplete or duplicate information on the
questionnaires, the number of valid questionnaires was 286 ones.
2.4. Data analysis method
2.4.1. Research Objective 1: Analyze current status of household livelihoods in coastal
Red River Delta
Using Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLA) and data from VHLSS in 2002,
2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010 of 4 provinces: Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and
Ninh Binh, statistical analysis is applied to present household livelihoods in terms of
5 aspects: (i) livelihood assets; (ii) livelihood strategies, (iii) livelihood outcomes, (iv)
institutions and policies at deferent levels, and (v) external context.
2.4.2. Research Objective 2: Identify main impacts of climate change on coastal
area in the Red River Delta

Using secondary data sources, mainly from reports and studies of Vietnam Ministry
of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Ministry of Labour, Invalids and
Social Affairs (MOLISA), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD),
international organizations and individuals, statistical and description analysis is
utilized to point out main impacts of climate change on coastal area in the Red River
Delta of Vietnam.
2.4.3. Research Objective 3: Analyze vulnerability to the impact of climate change
of different livelihoods groups through a case study in Nam Dinh
2.4.3.1. Analytical Framework
Vulnerability of livelihoods is analyzed as follows: climate change firstly affects
livelihood assets and then the impacted livelihood assets will affect livelihood
strategies which in turn will affect the livelihood outcomes.

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2.4.3.2. Estimation method
The thesis applies OLS method to estimate the impacts of (i) climate change on
livelihood assets, (ii) the impacted livelihood assets on livelihoods strategies, and (iii)
livelihood strategies on livelihood outcomes by using data collected from the
household survey in three coastal districts of Nam Dinh province.
2.4.3.3. Definition of variables in the estimation models
Part 1: Climate change affects livelihoods assets
Independent variables: 5 variables representing 5 manifestations of climate change,
including drought, storm, increased temperature, sea level rise, and saltwater
intrusion.
Dependent variables: 10 variables representing 10 livelihood assets, including rice
cultivation land, livestock breeding facilities, aquaculturing land, fishing facilities,

salt production land, roads, irrigation system, family health, access to bank loans, and
access to information.
Part 2: Impacted livelihood assets affect livelihoods strategies
Model 1:
Dependent variable: Rice cultivation (affected by climate change).
Independent variable: Rice cultivation land, roads, irrigation system, health,
access to bank loans, access to information (affected by climate change).
Model 2:
Dependent variable: Livestock breeding (affected by climate change).
Independent variable: Livestock breeding facilities, roads, irrigation system,
health, access to bank loans, access to information (affected by climate change).
Model 3:
Dependent variable: Salt production (affected by climate change).
Independent variable: Salt production land, roads, irrigation system, health,
access to bank loans, access to information (affected by climate change).
Model 4:
Dependent variable: Aquaculture practices (affected by climate change).
Independent variable: Aquaculture land, roads, irrigation system, health, access
to bank loans, access to information (affected by climate change).
Model 5:
Dependent variable: Fishing (affected by climate change).
Independent variable: Fishing facilities, roads, irrigation system, health, access
to bank loans, access to information (affected by climate change).
Part 3: Impacted livelihood strategies affect livelihood outcomes
Model 1:
Dependent variable: Income from rice cultivation (affected by climate change).
Independent variable: Rice cultivation (affected by climate change).

Model 2:
Dependent variable: Income from livestock breeding (affected by climate

change).
Independent variable: Livestock breeding (affected by climate change)
Model 3:
Dependent variable: Income from salt production (affected by climate change).
Independent variable: Salt production (affected by climate change).
Model 4:
Dependent variable: Income from aquaculturing (affected by climate change).
Independent variable: Aquaculture practices (affected by climate change).
Model 5:
Dependent variable: Income from fishing (affected by climate change)
Independent variable: Fishing (affected by climate change)
2.4.3.4. Variable measurement
• Variations on climate change: are measured by the frequency that climate
change happens with the degree as follows: never occurrence = 1; seldom
occurrence = 2; moderate occurrence = 3; regular occurrence = 4; very often
occurrence = 5.
• Livelihood assets, livelihoods strategies, and livelihood outcomes affected
by climate change are measured as follows: no impact = 1; little impact = 2;
medium impact = 3; large impact = 4; very large impact = 5.
2.4.4. Research Objective 4: Assess household’s capacity to adapt to the impact of
climate change on their livelihoods through a case study in Nam Dinh
Using the analytical framework of adaptive capacity which is divided into two levels:
passive adaptation and active adaptation and data from the household survey in three
coastal districts of Nam Dinh province, adaptation practices to the impact of climate
change of different livelihoods groups at household level were statistically analyzed.
2.4.5. Research Objective 5: Identify government policies to support households
adapt to climate change
Applying the theory of livelihoods support and using data from the household survey
in three coastal districts of Nam Dinh province processed by statistical methods,
policies for supporting household livelihoods are proposed.

2.4.6. Research Objective 6: Propose sustainable and adaptive livelihoods in the
context of climate change for coastal districts of Nam Dinh province
Economic, social, environmental, and institutional sustainability and adaptability to
climate change of existing livelihoods are evaluated by Multi-Criteria Analysis
method. The sustainable and adaptive livelihoods for three coastal districts of Nam
Dinh province are ranked by scoring method.

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3.1. Current status of household livelihoods in coastal Red River Delta
3.1.1. Overview of socio-economic development in coastal Red River Delta
The coastal area of the Red River Delta comprises four provinces/cities which are: Hai
Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh. In 2011, the region has an area of
12,237 km2, accounting for 58% of total area of Red River Delta and a population of
7.568.600 habitants, accounting for 38% of the total population of the Red River Delta.
On average in the period of 2001-2010, the average economic growth rate of coastal
Red River Delta is 11.3% per year which is higher than the national average (7.3%
per year) and the coastal area of Vietnam (10.9% per year). There has been a positive
change in economic structure of the coastal Red River Delta in the period of 20002010. On average, service sector makes the largest contribution to the GDP (41.7%),
followed by industry and construction (34%) and agriculture, forestry and fisheries
(24.3%). The labor force in the coastal Red River Delta mainly evolves in agriculture,
forestry and fisheries sector. Nam Dinh has the highest percentage of labor force
working in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector (68.3%), followed by Thai Binh
(63.4%), Ninh Binh (54.9%), and Hai Phong (36.7%). Income per capita of 4
provinces in coastal Red River Delta has been increased overtime. On average during
the period of 2005-2011, the average income per capita is about 14.8 million VND
per person per year.

3.1.2. Current status of household livelihoods in coastal Red River Delta
Using secondary data from VHLSS, household livelihoods in the coastal Red River
Delta areas have the following characteristics:
- Livelihood assets: Natural, physical, financial, human, and social capital have been
improved in four provinces and these are favorable signals that are pushing up
household livelihoods. The biggest limitation of livelihood assets is workforce
quality as there is approximately 80% of the labor force which do not have
technical expertise base.
- Livelihoods strategies: Service sector generated the highest value per household
per year (41 million VND), followed by industry sector (25 million VND per
household per year), agriculture sector (17 million VND per household per year),
and fisheries sector (12.7 million VND per household per year).
- Livelihoods outcomes: Economically, income per household per month has
increased over years and reached approximately 5 million VND per household per
month in 2010. Socially, the unemployment rate was relatively low and poverty
rate have been decreased significantly. Environmentally, livelihood strategies tend
to over exploit natural resources and pollute the marine environment.
- Institutions and policies on socio-economic development at central, regional,
sectoral and local levels have created favorable conditions for the development of

household livelihoods in the four coastal provinces in the Red River Delta in the
period of 2001 - 2010.
- External context, especially natural disasters (hurricanes, floods) and diseases has
been an obstacle to the socio-economic development of this area in general and
household livelihoods in particular.
3.2. Climate change in Vietnam and its impact on coastal livelihoods in Red
River Delta
Climate change is increasingly exposed in Vietnam. In the last 50 years (1958-2007),
annual average temperature has increased by about 2-3oC. Sea level at Hon Dau
station has risen about 3 mm per year, corresponding to 20 cm rise of the sea level in

the last 50 years. The average rain fall in the last 50 years has decreased by 2% per
year. Extreme weather events have been increased: storms have happened frequently
and storm season has been longer; harmful cold weather tends to last longer.
Agriculture and fisheries are mostly impacted by climate change in the coastal Red
River Delta. Agriculture, particularly rice cultivation, is closely associated with land
use, thus it is the most vulnerable livelihoods to the impact of climate change. Some
main impacts are: (i) flooding leads to a loss of cultivated land area, (ii) seawater
intrusion leads to a reduction in cultivated land area, (iii) increased temperature
affects growth, productivity, and seasonality of crops. In regard to fisheries, climate
change tends to change the environment of aquatic species, which leads to changes in
stock due to migration or degraded quality of the habitats, thereby narrowing down
fishing ground and reducing fishing catch. For aquaculture, changes in habitats of
aquatic species caused by seawater intrusion and freshwater intrusion will decrease
the growth and reproduction of aquatic species.
3.3. Household livelihoods in the context of climate change: A case study in Nam
Dinh province
3.3.1.Household perception on climate change in local area
Interviewed households clearly felt changes in the climate in recent years. Local
people said that storms occured the most often (compared to other weather
phenomena) with increasing intensity and unpredictable tendency. Extreme weather
events such as warmer weather due to increased temperature, unusual variation of the
weather, drought, longer lasting cold weather and rain,... were felt clearly by local
people in seven surveyed communes. Seawater intrusion was an urgent issue that
local people in Nghia Phuc and Nam Dien communes (Nghia Hung district) and Giao
Thien (Giao Thuy district) felt very deeply. High tide has changed dramatically in
recent years and Giao Thien people clearly felt this phenomenon.
3.3.2. Household perception on vulnerability of different livelihoods groups to the
impact of climate change
For the impacted livelihoods assets
* Household capital

Drought had medium impacts (from 3.3 to 3.7 points) on rice cultivation land, salt
production land, and aquaculture land. Nghia Phuc, Nam Dien communes (Nghia
Hung district) and Giao Thien, Giao Xuan communes (Giao Thuy district) were the

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CHAPTER 3
HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOODS IN COASTAL RED RIVER DELTA IN THE
CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE:
A CASE STUDY IN NAM DINH PROVINCE


most affected communes. Storms had the largest impacts on 5 household capital,
especially salt production land, rice cultivation land and aquaculture land with an
average of about 4 points in all surveyed communes. Increased temperature affected
at medium level (more than 3 points) for most household capital and Nam Dien,
Nghia Phuc (Nghia Hung district) and Giao Xuan (Giao Thuy district) were affected
the most. Sea level rise affected at average level (approximately 3.5 points) for all
household assets, in which salt production land was affected the most (3.7 points).
Nam Dien (Nghia Hung district) and Giao Xuan (Giao Thuy district) were affected
more than other communes. Saltwater intrusion mostly influenced rice cultivation
land at medium level (3,6 point). Nam Dien commune (Nghia Hung district) and
Giao Xuan commune (Giao Thuy district) were mostly affected. Generally, there was
no significant difference in the level of impacts of climate change on the household
assets in 7 communes between 2007 and 2010.
* Physical capital
Road and irrigation system were mostly affected by storm at medium level (more
than 3 points) in 2007 and at high level (about 4 points) in 2010. Other manifestations

of climate change affected road and irrigation system at medium level (about 3
points) in most surveyed communes. Hai Ly commune (Hai Hau district), Nghia
Phuc and Nam Dien communes (Nghia Hung district) and Giao Xuan and Giao Thien
communes (Giao Thuy district) were the most affected communes.
* Human capital
Health of local people was mostly affected by storm, drought, and increased
temperature at medium level for drought and increased temperature and at high level
for storm. Giao Thien and Giao Xuan communes (Giao Thuy district) and Nam Dien
commune (Nghia Hung district) were the most affected communes.
* Financial capital
Access to bank loans was mainly affected by storm (approximately 3.5 points) in
most communes in which Hai Ly (Hai Hau district), Nghia Phuc and Nam Dien
communes (Nghia Hung district), and Giao Xuan and Giao Thien communes (Giao
Thuy district) were the most affected communes. Other manifestations of climate
change did not significantly affect access to bank loans in 7 surveyed communes. In
general, there was no significant difference on the impact of climate change on access
to bank loans between 2007 and 2012 in all surveyed communes.
* Social capital
Similar to access to bank loans, access to information was mainly affected by storm
in most communes, in which Hai Ly commune (Hai Hau district), Nam Dien
commune (Nghia Hung district), Giao Xuan and Giao Thien were affected at high
level. Other manifestations of climate change did not have significant impacts on
access to information. There were no significant difference of the impact of climate
change on access to information between 2007 and 2012 in all surveyed communes.
For the impacted livelihoods strategies
Rice cultivation was affected at medium level by storm and drought. The communes
which were most affected were Hai Ly (Hai Hau district) and Giao Xuan, Giao Thien

(Giao Thuy district). For some communes such as Giao Xuan, Giao Thien (Giao
Thuy distrct) and Nam Dien (Nghia Hung district), saltwater intrusion was a major

problem affecting farming activities.
Storm also had large impacts on livestock breeding in all surveyed communes (more
than 4 points), especially in 2012, in which the most severely affected communes
were Giao Thien and Giao Xuan (Giao Thuy district). In addition, local people
recognized that the weather was getting warmer and warmer which led to reduction in
livestock breeding productivity.
Salt production is heavily dependent on the weather and seawater salinity and then
can only be done on sunny days. Unusual rains for a few days can lead to no product
for previous days of production. Storm was the biggest influence on salt production
with the average of 4.5 points. In the 7 surveyed communes, there are only 3
communes producing salt, including Hai Dong, Hai Ly (Hai Hau district) and Nghia
Phuc (Nghia Hung district). These three communes were severely affected by storm
for salt production.
Fishing is heavily dependent on natural resources and weather conditions. In all
surveyed communes, fishing activities were heavily affected by storm (with the
average of 4.2 point). The most affected communes by the impact of storm on fishing
were: Giao Xuan (Giao Thuy district), Nghia Phuc (Nghia Hung district) and Hai
Dong and Hai Ly (Hai Hau district).
Aquaculture practices are generally of high risks to the impact of extreme weather
phenomena. Hurricanes, storms, and sea level rise are direct threats to aquaculturing.
A storm could damage the entire clam and shrimp ponds. Households in 7 surveyed
communes stated that storms severely affected aquaculturing.
For impacts livelihoods outcomes
When livelihoods strategies were affected by climate change, the income from these
livelihood strategies were also reduced, particularly:
- Storm affected all livelihood strategies and reduced income from these
livelihoods strategies.
- In addition to storm, rice cultivation was heavily affected by drought and
saltwater intrusion, thereby reducing income from rice cultivation; livestock
breeding was affected by increased temperature, thereby decreasing income

from livestock breeding.
- The most affected communes were: Hai Ly (Hai Hau district), Nghia Phuc and
Nam Dien (Nghia Hung district), Giao Xuan and Giao Thien (Giao Thuy district).
Testing the relationships: Climate change affects livelihood assets; the impacted
livelihoods assets affect livelihoods strategies; the impacted livelihoods strategies
affect livelihoods outcomes
* Climate change affects the livelihood assets
- Results of estimation models indicated that F values (corresponding to P-value)
are relatively small (P values approximately equal to 0). This means that values
of R2 which are larger than 0 are statistically significant.
- Based on the value of R2 from the estimation results, it can be seen that R2

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values range from 0,04 to 0,43 which are quite low. This can be explained that
in addition to 5 variables representing climate change considered in this study,
there are other factors affecting the livelihood assets that have not been
addressed in the study.
- Climate change affects the livelihood assets with the following main points:
• The more frequently drought happens, the more rice cultivation land,
aquaculture land, and family health are affected and the less salt production
land is affected with statistical significance at the 5% and 10%.
• The more frequently storm happens, the more rice cultivation land,
livestock breeding, aquaculture land, salt production land, road, irrigation
systems, and human health are affected with statistical significance at 5%
and 10%.
• The more frequently increased temperature occurs, the more aquaculture

land and family health are affected and the less salt production land is
affected with statistical significance at 5% and 10%.
• The more frequently sea level rise happens, the more rice cultivation land,
salt production land, aquaculture land, and road are affected with statistical
significance at 5% and 10%.
• The more frequently saltwater intrusion occurs, the more rice cultivation
land is affected with statistical significance at 1%.
* Impacted livelihood assets affect livelihoods strategies
- Results of estimation models indicated that F values (corresponding to P-value)
are relatively small (P values approximately equal to 0). This means that values
of R2 which are larger than 0 are statistically significant.
- Based on the value of R2 from the estimation results, it can be seen that R2
values range from 0.85 to 0.95 which are very high. This means that the
impacted livelihood assets does affect livelihoods strategies.
- Impact of livelihood assets on livelihood strategies are shown as follows:
• The impacted livelihood assets (rice cultivation land, livestock breeding
facilities, fishing facilities, aquaculture land, and salt production land) have
positive effects on the respective livelihood strategies (rice cultivation,
livestock breeding, fishing, aquaculture practices and salt production) with
statistical significance at 5% and 10%.
• In addition, physical capital (irrigation system) has positive effect on rice
cultivation; social capital (access to information) has positive effect on
fishing; financial capital (access to bank loans) has positive effect on
livestock breeding, fishing and aquaculturing with statistical significance at
the 5% and 10%.
* Impacted livelihood strategies affect livelihoods outcomes
• Results of estimation models indicated that F values (corresponding to Pvalue) are relatively small (P values approximately equal to 0). This means
that values of R2 which are larger than 0 are statistically significant.

• Based on the value of R2 from the estimation results, it can be seen that R2

values range from 0.85 to 0.95 which are quite high. This means that the
impacted livelihood strategies does affect livelihoods outcomes.
• The impacted livelihoods strategies and livelihoods outcomes have a positive
relationship with statistical significance at 1%. The more livelihoods
strategies are affected by climate change, the more livelihoods outcomes are
affected.
3.3.3. Household’s adaptation practices to the impact of climate change on their
livelihoods in three coastal districts of Nam Dinh province
Climate change adaptation for rice cultivation
Firstly, local people have implemented the following activities to counter the impact of
extreme weather events on rice cultivation:
• Scheduling times for rice cultivation,
• Developing appropriate crops planning,
• Implementing appropriate cultivation techniques suitable in the context of
climate change,
• Utilizing rice varieties withstanding the harsh environmental conditions,
• Strengthening agricultural irrigation system.
Secondly, for sea level rise that causes flooding, local people have implemented the
following activities:
• Investing in new varieties with higher yield,
• Intensifying on existing land.
Thirdly, local people have implemented the following activities to counter the impact
of salt water intrusion:
• Reducing sanility by washing the salinity land,
• Transferring rice cultivation land in to aquaculture land for aquaculture
practices,
• Cultivating salt tolerant varieties,
• Cleaning channels to remove saltwater from rice fields,
• Learning experiences from their neighbors and other local communes,
• Looking for non-agricultural jobs locally,

• Mobilizing capital from banks, friends and relatives to invest in new business,
• Migrating to other areas for new employment opportunities,
• Planning for risk management.
Climate change adaptation for livestock breeding
• Increasing investment on food and disease prevention,
• Changing livestock breeding techniques,
• Reducing livestock breeding size,
• Learning experiences from their neighbors and other local communes,
• Looking for non-agricultural jobs locally,

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• Mobilizing capital from banks, friends and relatives to invest in new business,
• Migrating to other areas for new employment opportunities,
• Planning for risk management.
Climate change adaptation for fishing
• Scheduling times for fishing activities during the year to avoid fishing in the
rainy season,
• Investing in education for the next generation with new opportunities for
alternative livelihoods,
• Investing in fishing facilities (fishing boats and nets),
• Learning experiences from their neighbors and other local communes,
• Looking for non-agricultural jobs locally,
• Mobilizing capital from banks, friends and relatives to invest in new business,
• Migrating to other areas for new employment opportunities,
• Planning for risk management.
Climate change adaptation for aquaculturing practices

• Diluting sanility concentration in the water to reduce the sanility,
• Repairing aquaculture ponds with higher dykes and sewers,
• Changing aquatic species, aquaculturing techniques as well as diversification
of aquatic species,
• Stopping or reducing the scale of aquaculture farming,
• Learning experiences from their neighbors and other local communes,
• Looking for non-agricultural jobs locally,
• Mobilizing capital from banks, friends and relatives to invest in new business,
• Migrating to other areas for new employment opportunities,
• Planning for risk management.
Climate change adaptation for salt production
• Scheduling times for salt production to avoid the rainy season,
• Repairing salt field with higher boundary to avoid flooding,
• Learning experiences from their neighbors and other local communes,
• Looking for non-agricultural jobs locally,
• Mobilizing capital from banks, friends and relatives to invest in new business,
• Migrating to other areas for new employment opportunities,
• Planning for risk management.
Some assessments about household adaptation to the impact of climate change on their
livelihoods in three coastal districts of Nam Dinh province
Findings from the household survey in three coastal districts of Nam Dinh province
showed that households are implementing passive adaptation activities on their
livelihoods rather than active adaptation activities to counter the impact of climate
change. Firstly, the adaptation practices are mainly drawn from local experiences
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which has contributed significantly to reducing the vulnerability of livelihoods
caused by climate change. Secondly, social capital (through social relationships and
networks within the community) plays a very important role in the adaptation through
sharing of knowledge and best practices between households in the local community.

Thirdly, there is a little number of households selecting such adaptation measures as
mobilizing capital from friends and relatives to invest in new production and business.
CHAPTER 4
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
4.1. Sustainable and adaptive livelihoods for coastal districts of Nam Dinh
At seven surveyed coastal communes of the three coastal districts in Nam Dinh
province, households are implementing 5 main livelihoods, including rice cultivation,
livestock breeding, salt production, fishing, and aquaculture practices. Based on the
analysis of social, economic, environmental, and institutional sustainability and
adaptability to climate change of the livelihoods and using scoring method, five main
livelihoods in three coastal districts in Nam Dinh province in the context of climate
change are prioritized in the following order: aquaculturing, livestock breeding, rice
cultivation, salt production, and fishing. New livelihoods that would be feasible in the
context of climate change for these districts are eco-tourism and traditional handcrafts.
Policy recommendations about livelihoods support to adapt to climate change for
Nam Dinh province include:
Improving livelihoods assets
* Natural capital
• Developing and protecting mangrove ecosystems, especially Xuan Thuy
National Park,
• Strengthening natural resources management, especially fisheries resource
management.
* Physical capital
• Improving rural infrastructure,
• Upgrading sea and river dikes,
• Strengthening irrigation system,
• Constructing mooring boats.
* Financial capital
• Improving access to bank loans, especially low-interest loans to encourage
the development of livestock breeding farms,

• Expanding agricultural insurance programs in the context of climate change.
* Human capital
• Establishing funds to support local people affected by natural disasters and
building appropriate insurance mechanisms to help people get involved,
• Strengthening research for new farming techniques.
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* Social capital
• Training and disseminating knowledge on climate change adaptation at the
community level,
• Strengthening forecasts of climate change.
Strengthening institutions and policies on climate change adaptation
• Mainstreaming climate change, especially climate change adaptation into
socio-economic development planning at provincial and district levels,
• Promoting climate change adaptation activities at the community level
through specific adaptation initiatives.
4.2. Policy implications for the coastal Red River Delta
Capacity building about climate change adaptation at local level
• Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into development planning at
sectoral and local levels,
• Strengthening policies on adaptation to climate change at provincial level,
• Implementating Community-Based Adaptation initiatives at community
level.
Strengthening adaptation practices for sectors that mostly affected by climate
change
Climate change adaptation ingriculture
• Increasing investment in agricultural infrastructure,
• Strengthening technical assistance for agricultural extension system,
• Enhancing transfer of scientific and technical initiatives.

Climate change adaptation in fisheries
• Building fisheries information system,
• Strengthening community based marine resource management,
• Improving management of aquaculture practices with more environmental
regulations
General supports for building adaptive livelihoods in the context of climate change
The supports aim at improving the livelihood assets, including:
- Natural capital: Enhancing natural resource management, especially ecosystem
system based management.
- Physical capital: Improving local infrastructure (roads, electricity, and water
supply) withstanding to climate change impacts.
- Financial capital: Ensuring access to credit programs, insurance services and
other financial services.
- Human capital: Training skills to help people switch careers; enhancing
emergency assistance; and implementating social protection policies and disaster
risk management.
- Social capital: Enhancing the exchange of local information and communication
on climate change adaptation.
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CONCLUSIONS
Building sustainable and adaptive livelihoods is an urgent need for Vietnam in
general and for coastal area in particular to help households adapt effectively to
climate change. The main objective of the thesis is to propose sustainable and
adaptive livelihoods for coastal districts of Nam Dinh province based on local
capacity and policy direction of the government. To achieve the research objective,
the thesis combines research methods such as (i) statistical and description analysis
using secondary data to analyze the current status of household livelihood in coastal
Red River Delta, (ii) quantitative analysis using primary data through the household
survey in three coastal districts of Nam Dinh Province to analyze the vulnerability of

household livelihoods to the impact of climate change and household adaptation
practices, (iii) multi-criteria analysis method to assess the sustainability and
adaptability of livelihoods, and (iv) scoring method to rank the livelihoods in
prioritised orders. Findings from the study include: (i) analysis of household
livelihoods status in coastal Red River Delta, (ii) vulnerability of household
livelihoods and adaptation practices in three coastal districts in Nam Dinh province,
and (iii) proposal of policy implications for livelihoods support in the context of
climate change for Nam Dinh province in particular and the for coastal provinces of
the Red River Delta in general.
Further studies on this topic may be (i) measuring magnitude of the impact of climate
change on vulnerability of household livelihoods, (ii) analyzing factors influencing
household’s selection of appropriate adaptation practices and (iii) forecasting future
impacts of climate change on household livelihoods and household adaptation
practices to minimize the impacts.

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