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:

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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2

INTRODUCTION


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


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.

• 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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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

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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


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.


2.3.2. 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).


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,

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.

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

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

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

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

• 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

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,

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