[hepr-vn] IIED Working papers: Urbanization and rural development in Viet Nam's Mekong Delta

[Vern Weitzel]

Title	Urbanization and rural development in Viet Nam's Mekong Delta: Livelihood 
transformations in three fruit-growing settlements
Authors:	HOANG Xuan Thanh, DINH Thi Thu Phuong, NGUYEN Thu Huong, Cecilia Tacoli

Link to PDF:	10555IIED.pdf  (712k)
http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/10555IIED.pdf


Published:	May 2008 - IIED
Area:	Vietnam
Topic:	Urban
Details:	73 pages (Book/Report)
ISBN:	978-1-84369-704-6
Language:	English
Series:	Rural-Urban Working Papers 14
Product code	10555IIED
Price:	£11.00 UK
$22.00 US
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Abstract:	In recent years, the poverty rate among fruit farmers in the rural 
Mekong Delta has declined more rapidly than among all rural households in the 
region and in Vietnam. This is despite huge fluctuations in export markets for 
fruit in the last decade. The findings from this case study in three rural 
settlements in Tien Giang and Vinh Long provinces suggest that the main driver 
of rural development is a positive reciprocal relationship between urban centres 
and farming and a strong role for small towns in local economic growth and 
poverty reduction.The main factors are: first, the growth of urban incomes 
throughout Vietnam, resulting in higher standards of living, better diets and 
growing demand for fresh fruit; and second, the increase in employment 
opportunities in non-farm sectors, which allows farmers to diversify their 
income sources and invest in fruit production. In addition, locally-based 
traders play a key role in linking small-scale farmers to markets and in 
directly and indirectly stimulating non-farm employment in large villages and 
small market towns, which reduces the vulnerability of poor households unable to 
migrate.

But while, overall, urbanization has so far benefited the case study 
settlements, it also presents new challenges. At the present time, the three 
settlements are largely success stories, especially when compared to other rural 
settlements in the Mekong Delta region. However, whether they will be able to 
continue on this path will depend not only on the entrepreneurial spirit of 
their residents but also on wider socio-economic transformations. The 
differences between the three settlements also suggest that they may evolve 
following different trajectories, which in turn will present different risks and 
opportunities.
Link to PDF:	10555IIED.pdf  (712k)
http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/10555IIED.pdf