Livelihood and the Environment in Vietnam

Editors: Shigeo Fujii, Shinya Funakawa, Hirohide Kobayashi, Izuru Saizen, Hidenori Harada, Hitoshi Shinjo, Hai Trung Huynh, Hai Hoang, Duc Thanh Tran, Van Quang Tran, An Van Le

Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore

Book Series : Sustainable Development Goals Series

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Table of Contents

About this book

This book reveals the interaction between the livelihood of people and the surrounding natural environment in rural and urban areas of Vietnam and discusses actions to be taken towards sustainable development, which provide some useful insights into several SDGs. After introducing the overview and environmental regulation of Vietnam, the book describes the impact of agriculture, fishery, and forestry activities on land and water in rural areas. The following chapters on the impact of urbanization on air, water, and material cycles in urban areas contribute to Goal 6 (Clean water and sanitation). The last chapter on environmental education, community development, and other useful information towards future development address Goal 11 (Sustainable cities and communities). Most of the topics covered in the book are based on field research for the past 20 years by the researchers of the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University in Japan, and readers can recognize the reality of how people act on the environment in Vietnam, where rapid development may deteriorate the environment.

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

This book is a compilation of global environmental research related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Vietnam, which was jointly conducted by faculty members of the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), Kyoto University, and their Vietnamese counterparts. This chapter introduces the book and presents the status of SDGs in Vietnam in Sect. 1.1. Section 1.2 summarizes the various projects in Vietnam and the activities that have progressed under them, explaining the background and network that facilitated the research presented in this book. Finally, Sect. 1.3 illustrates the structure of the book and introduces its content.

Shigeo Fujii, Thai Thi Kim Nguyen

Chapter 2. Overview of Vietnam

Abstract

Vietnam is situated along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It appears as an S-shaped strip of land on the map, extending for 1,650 km from the north to south. Its population was 97.6 million people in 2020, with a population density of 295 people/km². Its diverse topography includes hills, mountains, plains, coastlines, and continental shelves, reflecting a long history of geology and topography formation in a monsoon, humid climate, and extreme weather. Based on the climate, geology, topography, and soils, the ecological conditions are categorized into three major regions; northern mountainous area, southern central plateau, and alluvial plains. Its history has been shaped by China’s occupation, independent dynasties, French colonization, Vietnam War, and socialist market economy. Its ethnic groups are divided into 54 groups, of which one majority (Kinh) occupies 85%. The share of services in GDP in 2020 was overwhelming (42%) compared with industry (approximately 34%) and agriculture, forestry, and fishing (15%). Cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in a wide range of fields such as politics, science and technology, culture, and human exchange is being undergone. As columns, Hue city, Tết, and Teacher’s day are introduced.

Hitoshi Shinjo, Ha Thi Thu Le, Shinya Funakawa, Toshihiko Shine

Chapter 3. Regulations and Policies on Environment

Abstract

Vietnamese laws and policies may greatly influence environmental issues. This chapter introduces legal and administrative systems related to the environment. Section 3.1 provides an overview of the systems, and Sects. 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4 describe the laws and policies related to air, water, and soil environments, respectively. Section 3.5 explains the environmental monitoring, and the last section, Sect. 3.6, summarizes solid waste management.

Shigeo Fujii, Hung Nguyen Duy, Bich-Thuy Ly, Hung Quang Dinh, Lien Pham Hong Nguyen

Chapter 4. Livelihood and Its Surrounding Environments in Rural Areas

Abstract

This chapter focuses on livelihood and the surrounding environment in Central Vietnam. Based on detailed field surveys, valuable insights are provided, alongside proposals to improve the current conditions. The main topics are (1) transitions of fishery aquaculture practices toward the natural environment challenges of brackish ecosystems. (2) Spatial and temporal changes in submerged aquatic vegetation ecosystems. This is assessed by monitoring seagrass beds using satellite data, and interviewing household members. (3) Cropping systems in lowland sandy soil, which is normally not suitable for agriculture, and linkages between cropping patterns and soil properties, identified by through sampling soil in several coastal districts. (4) Rice cropping in saline soils and the challenges to increasing rice yield and income of farmers. (5) The characteristics of home gardens, such as mixed multi-layer cropping and the possibility of vanilla production to improve livelihood. (6) Historical changes in waste and wastewater management methods, and flows in nitrogen and phosphorus, evaluating the impacts of nutrient management on the environment. (7) Livelihood in an ethnic minority called Cotu, which was closely associated with natural resources, and is now moving drastically toward mono-culture, specifically to acacia forestry. (8) Challenges of dam-displaced communities.

Izuru Saizen, Shinya Funakawa, Yuki Okamoto, Tin Cong Hoang, Binh Huu Ngo, Ni Ngoc Khanh Tran, Hoa Thi Thai Hoang, Thuc Dinh Do, Lam Ho Nguyen, Minh Tuan Vu, Hitoshi Shinjo, Giang Huong Pham, Ryo Sakaguchi, Masataka Kuroda, Hidenori Harada, Shigeo Fujii, Minori Tokito, Jane Singer, Hai Hoang, Huu Ty Pham, Kinh Thi Kieu

Chapter 5. Livelihood and Environmental Impact in Urban Areas

Abstract

Vietnam has been witnessing rapid urbanization, which has altered urban livelihood and caused various challenges. In this chapter, after overviewing the cultural and environmental impacts of urbanization in Vietnamese cities, we illustrate the current status and challenges of these issues through case studies in Hanoi, Danang, Hue, and their surrounding areas, where we have been conducting research for a long time. The contents include various urban issues related to community linkage, housing culture, climate change, air pollution, water environment, water use, wastewater and fecal sludge management, and solid waste management.

Hidenori Harada, Hirohide Kobayashi, Miki Yoshizumi, Tung Ngoc Nguyen, An Thi Tran, Izuru Saizen, Minh Phuoc Truong, Bich-Thuy Ly, Yosuke Sakamoto, Ngoc Thi Nhu Do, Yoshizumi Kajii, Dieu-Anh Van, Shigeo Fujii, Shuhei Tanaka, Van Quang Tran, Nguyet-Anh Pham, Quynh-Anh Tran-Nguyen, Lan Chau Nguyen, Lien Pham Hong Nguyen, Atsushi Takai, Toru Inui

Chapter 6. Toward Sustainable Development in Urban and Rural Areas

Abstract

Vietnam has been rapidly developing since the 1980s, with the start of the Doi Moi (Đổi Mới) innovation policy to urbanize many cities and grow many economic activities. The rampant urbanization and enormous economic growth in recent times have impacted the quality of life of people in cities as well as in rural villages negatively rather than positively. Furthermore, these processes have adversely affected the natural environment and local culture. Considering the recent situation in Vietnam, the present chapter introduces our challenging projects adopting community-based or grassroot approaches to sustainable development. The contents include various practices in our projects related to environmental education, ecotourism with local resources, community development, and local cultural conservation.

Shinya Funakawa, Jane Singer, Kinh Thi Kieu, Nhan Thi Hien Le, Noriko Nakamura, Miki Yoshizumi, Izuru Saizen, Hong Thi Nguyen, Akiko Iizuka, Ueru Tanaka, Duc Tan Ho, Thong Trung Ho, Tung Ngoc Nguyen, Hirohide Kobayashi, Phuong Hoang Truong, Misa Aoki, Shuhei Tanaka, Khac-Uan Do, Hidenori Harada

Backmatter

Title: Livelihood and the Environment in Vietnam
Editors: Shigeo Fujii
Shinya Funakawa
Hirohide Kobayashi
Izuru Saizen
Hidenori Harada
Hitoshi Shinjo
Hai Trung Huynh
Hai Hoang
Duc Thanh Tran
Van Quang Tran
An Van Le
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-9722-89-1
Print ISBN: 978-981-9722-88-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-2289-1