Adapting to Climate Change: Land Use and Livelihood Changes in Coastal Fishery households on the Central Coast of Vietnam.

Climate change is an escalating global challenge with far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide. Having been identified as one of the most affected nations, Vietnam is facing the effects of climate stress, particularly in the coastal region. Coastal households in Vietnam are at the frontline of environmental and socio-economic change, increasingly challenged by climate uncertainty, resource degradation, and a shifting policy landscape.

This study explores how fishery households on the Central Coast of Vietnam are adapting to growing uncertainty through changes in land use and livelihood strategies. Based on empirical data from a survey of 300 households conducted on the Central Coast of Vietnam, the study finds a gradual but significant transition from traditional capture fisheries toward diversified livelihoods, including aquaculture, wage labor, and small-scale commerce. These adaptations are closely linked to land access and use transformation, often driven by ecological pressures such as saltwater intrusion, coastal erosion, and institutional responses.

The findings highlight uneven adaptive capacities across households, shaped by land tenure security, gender roles, access to credit, and local governance. This study contributes to understanding coastal transformation under climate stress and underscores the need for inclusive, context-sensitive policies to support adaptive resilience in vulnerable fishing communities.