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The livestock sector is one of the fastest growing agricultural subsectors in Viet Nam, resulting in growing demand to sustainably dispose or re-use livestock waste. This research examined the current adoption of biogas digestion of livestock waste treatment at household farms in order to provide insights for policy towards effective implementation. A questionnaire survey was conducted in September 2019, with the participation of 120 livestock owners in Nghe An province, which focussed on accessing their perspectives on biogas and examination of factors impacting their decisions to utilize this technology. Most respondents determined biogas to be an attractive solution for improving the environment. However, several factors limited the development of biogas installation, including technical and financial barriers, awareness and capacity limitations, and financial support as the most significant of these. Government support and policies that encourage household biogas utilization as a sustainable energy source to combat climate change is recommended.

From distant past to present day, the Southern region has been playing an important role in national defense and foreign affairs, with great potential to create a breakthrough for the socioeconomic development of Vietnam. However, due to historical conditions and geographical location, political instabilities were frequently seen in the Southern region under the rule of the Nguyen lords and the early Nguyen Dynasty (early 19th century), especially the instability of the relationship between three feudal countries: Dai Viet (Vietnam), Chenla (Cambodia) and Siam (Thailand) from the 17th century to the first half of the 19th century. In its Southern defense strategy to prevent Siamese invasions and maintain its position as the "protector" of Chenla as well as to develop the new land, the Nguyen Dynasty focused on building border defense formation on land and sea in the South, with the defense system on the border area of Chau Doc, Ha Tien and the Southwestern sea in the Gulf of Thailand as the focus. The Nguyen Dynasty's proper implementation of policies in the border and sea areas had brought great effects and contributed to the strong protection of Dai Viet's sovereignty over the Southern land.

This study is to investigate the status of using rope in purse seine fisheries in Viet Nam based on surveyed data from 13 provinces/cities across country. Statistic data were taken randomly from 30 purse seine samples per each region of North, Middle, and South by pre-designed questionnaire with direct survey method of fishing gears combined with interview with the owners/captains. The results indicated that the initial constructing and annual replacing ropes of purse seine is mainly concentrated in the group of diameters from 10 - 20 mm. Up to 98% of Polypropylene (PP) material is used in Vietnamese purse seine. Float line and lead line are used the most ropes in purse seine. In purse seine fisheries, the annual additional rope is one quarter of the original amount of rope fitted. Purse seine in the Middle and the South is larger than that in the North of Viet Nam. The ratio of lengths between the float line and the lead line among the regions is different. The ratio of the main purse line with the lead line ranges from 1.1 to 1.75. Average life expectancy of main purse line is lowest in rope types of the purse seiners. The characteristics of the fishing grounds are different in these three regions, so the rope of purse seine is also different.

This paper proposes to investigate inequality in Viet Nam from the point of view of a study of the urban/rural gap by means of a multilevel model. Using data from the Viet Nam Household Living Standards Survey of 2002, the paper constructs a multilevel model, yielding random effects in the urban/rural gap which can be seen as location-specific random contributions to the urban/rural gap above and beyond the effects of known location characteristics, such as the level of education of the population, etc. The paper also demonstrates how the multilevel model can be used to obtain small area estimates at the commune level.

The process of urbanization is taking place fast and vigorously in large urban and peri-urban areas in Vietnam. According to national forecasts, the rate of urbanization nationwide will reach 39.3% by 2020 and 50-55% by 2035. Thai Nguyen is a province in the midland and mountainous region. The province is located at the northern gateway and bordered with Hanoi capital. In recent years, the agricultural land area of Thai Nguyen province has narrowed due to the urban-industrial development. Urban agriculture development is an inevitable direction, creating safe and high quality food products, protecting the ecological environment, and increasing people's income. Thai Nguyen is one of the provinces promoting sustainable urban agricultural development. Secondary and primary data sources are analyzed and synthesized by descriptive statistical methods. The article will analyze five groups of factors affecting urban agricultural development in Thai Nguyen province in the period 2015-2018, including Socio-economic; Natural conditions and infrastructure; Policy factors; Planning factors; Links and integration.

In the last decades of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, Vietnam entered a period of strong industrialisation and modernisation. The growth rate of industrialisation and urbanisation in Dong Nai Province is very high, thus speeding up the process of modernisation. The rapid economic growth helps to improve the material and spiritual life of the people. In addition to economic development, new cultural and social issues have also emerged, especially changes in the cultural values of minority communities. This article studies the cultural changes of the ethnic Chơ-ro in Dong Nai Province. These changes stem from environmental changes such as life and economic activities and cultural exchange with other races living in the same area. Such changes are inevitable in ethnic minority communities in Vietnam. However, for the Chơ-ro people, this trend of change has become more intense, because people’s living environment has been greatly embroiled since 1950s. In addition, there is no emotional connection between their religious mentality, customs, and daily life. The traditional cultural value of Chơ-ro will gradually disappear under the current momentum and will be replaced by a new cultural value system.

Introduction: Extrusive volcanic rocks, such as dacite, andesite, basalto-andesite, basalt… of Chau Thoi and Nui Gio hills in Bien Hoa and Binh Phuoc provinces, southern Viet Nam, characterize volcanic island arc rocks. These rock suites formed as the convergent tectonic between the Indochina and Sibumasu geological blocks. Methods: Geochemical data of rock samples collected on the field were examined and analyzed by the Academia Sinica I E S (Institute of Earth Science, Taiwan and processed with a GCD kit (Geochemical Data Toolkit) to ascertain their characteristics and geotectonic setting. Result: Geochemical data both in major elements and trace elements of the Chau Thoi – Nui Gioshow a specific characteristic of a volcanic island arc environment. Discussion: Chau Thoi and Nui Gio rocks are suitable to correlate to the Permian Thailand Loei Phetchabun volcanic belt. However, at the current time, Chau Thoi and Nui Gio rocks have been classified as Deo Bao Loc formation - late Jurassic to early Cretaceous in ages - belong Truong Son magmatic belt. This magmatic belt resulted from the Yanshanian orogeny by the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate beneath the Eurasia (Indochina) continental plate. More studies needed to be performed, specially geochronological data to support the study. Conclusion: Chau Thoi and Nui Gio rock suites characterize volcanic island arc rocks, products of a convergence tectonic between Indochina and Sibumasu blocks. They are remnants of the Thailand Loei Phetchabun volcanic belt, the first time reported in Vietnam.

One of the three Critically Endangered and endemic primate species in Viet Nam, Delacour's langur Trachypithecus delacouri, is restricted to the north of the country. The largest remaining population is in Van Long Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh Province, and the second largest is in nearby Kim Bang Protection Forest, Ha Nam Province, with other populations believed to be too small for recovery. The population in Van Long has been well studied but the status of that of Kim Bang has not previously been adequately evaluated. To address this, a survey was conducted during 10 August–7 October 2018. In total, we recorded 13 groups comprising a total of at least 73 individuals, almost doubling the highest number reported in previous studies. We documented six new groups in Lien Son and Ba Sao communes in Kim Bang. Our findings indicate there is a high likelihood that Delacour's langur population in Kim Bang will recover and could be important for the long-term conservation of this Critically Endangered species. However, immediate and appropriate conservation measures need to be implemented to protect the population from major anthropogenic threats, namely poaching and habitat destruction, detected during our survey.

In order to provide the basis for the application of scientific and technological advances, reorganizing shrimpfarming in sustainable and bringing high economic value to the Mekong Delta. The study surveyed the current situation of breeds, farming methods, environmental monitoring control, Vibrio sp. and the use of probiotics of shrimp farmers in the Ca Mau peninsula by interviewing 200 shrimp farmers and 20 specialized fisheries officers in Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang provinces. The results showed that the shrimp breeds selected for farming originated from the Central and Southwest provinces. There are four popular farming methods: intensive, semi-intensive, improved extensive, and rice-shrimp. The intensive farming had the highest rates of the initial quarantine of shrimp postlarvae (74%) and Vibrio test (57%). All shrimp farmers workingon the intensive and semi-intensive farmings used probiotics. The rates of probiotic use in the improved extensive and riceshrimp farmings were lower, only 60% and 40% respectively. The results suggested that shrimp farmers working on the semi-intensive and intensive farmings paid more attention to the use of probiotics as well as the test to prevent the disease in shrimp.

Tra Vinh Province is an important agricultural production area of the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam, but its economic development is being heavily affected by climate change. In this study, a set of 14 quotas with the Delphi method were used to assess the climate change adaptability of 24 livelihood models (horticulture, animal husbandry, and aquaculture models) in Tra Vinh Province to find livelihood models with the greatest adaptability. The adaptability was calculated using relevant parameters including weighted scores, raw data points, and mean points of each model. Calculations show that two models have great adaptability (CN01 and TS14), twenty models have relatively pretty good adaptability (CN01, CN03, TS02, TS03, TS05, TS06, TS07,TS08, TS09, TS10, TS11, TS12, TS13, TS14, TS15, TS16, TT01, TT02, TT03, TT04 and TT05), two models have average adaptability (TS04 and TS01), and no models have low adaptability. These two successful models can be applied to farmers in Tra Vinh Province but attention needs to be paid to economic issues such as capital or market. These twenty good adaptive and two average adaptability models should be improved for future applications.

Agro-tourism is a form of rural tourism that has actively developed in recent years. Tra Que Vegetable Village has developed this type of tourism to meet the needs of visitors to visit and experience. However, Vietnamese tourists to experience agrotourism here are very few. The purpose of this study is to find out and determine the level of attraction to Vietnamese tourists in agro-tourism in Tra Que vegetable village. Participants responded questionnaire of the survey in term of participation levels in agricultural activities, and assessment of service quality and tourist's satisfaction reflecting after participating in the agro-tourism experience. The results indicate that most of the tourists participate partly in agricultural activities, the quality of service is good, and the level of visitor satisfaction is high. In general, the ability to attract Vietnamese tourists to agricultural tourism is high. Increasing visitor participation in agri-tourism activities will further enhance the ability to attract Vietnamese tourists in Tra Que Vegetable Village.

Using the research method of overview, this article presents an overview of studies on culture in the sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region of Viet Nam from 1975 to present. Research results show that the works in Viet Nam from 1975 to present mainly emphasize on ecological, economic, political and social issues; however, the issue of culture in the Mekong Delta sustainable development has not been paid much attention to in-depth research, so there has not been a separate project to systematically assess the current situation of cultural impacts of the Mekong Delta, as well as ideas and solutions to improve the effectiveness of the positive impact of culture in sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region. On the basis of identifying the achieved achievements, the article proposes research prospects in terms of theory and practice of cultural issues in sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region.

In 2001, Viet Nam’s first mpa was established in Hòn Mun Island (Nha Trang). In 2010, a National mpa System Plan was officially adopted with a vision to establish 16 mpas by 2020. With an aim to report Viet Nam’s state practice concerning mpas, this article is divided into three parts. The first section will analyze the relevant legal framework on mpas, addressing the national jurisdictional basis for area-protection, authorities responsible for designating protected areas, administrative process and interaction of authorities responsible for activities within mpas. The second section will scrutinize each individual mpa project implemented in Viet Nam. The last part is an assessment of the progress of marine protection adopting marine spatial planning approach in Viet Nam by evaluating challenges and opportunities of the contemporary mpa system, identifying the gaps between legislative framework and practice, as well as the ways forward.

As ecotourism continues to grow in Vietnam, the potential and willingness to pay (WTP) for eco-services need to be assessed. The focus of this was in the Natural Bird Park in Bien Bach Dong commune of Thoi Binh District, Ca Mau Province. WTP estimation during the period of 2020 to 2025 shows that the choice of payment level will range from 10,000 to 25,000 VND. The pre- diction for 2026 to 2030 the prices of 20,000and 25,000 VND was chosen as the highest rates. The regression equation of stage 1 showed adjusted R2 = 0.514; which means that 51.4% of the variability of the dependent variable can be explained by the studied model. The regression results also showed that the positive impact of education level (X3), occupation (F), income (X4) on the WTP are statistically significant (p

This study aimed to determine the effects of infrared lamps on survival rates of mature and immature common sun skinks (Eutropis multifasciata) in semi-natural conditions in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam, in the cold weather. A sample size of 400 mature (28 weeks old) and 120 immature common sun skinks were used in a completely randomized design with two variables of different lighting methods: infrared and incandescent light. Suitable food and water were freely provided. Results showed that the survival rates of the mature and juvenile common sun skinks were 82.5% and 39.2% with infrared light and 30.5% and 0% with incandescent light. Compared to incandescent light, the growth of young offsprings in the first 4 weeks after birth was greater with the infrared light and the average cumulative growth weight reached 2.18 g per individualby the fourth week. With incandescent light, common sun skinks lost their weight over time and gradually died out by the third week. Thus, infrared light which can be used to warm up pens may be an effective techniquein raising common sun skinks in semi-natural conditions in Quang Binh.

Objective: This study aims to enhance the capacity of dengue prediction by investigating the relationship of dengue incidence with climate and environmental factors in the Mekong Delta region (MDR) of Viet Nam by using remote sensing data. Methods: To produce monthly data sets for each province, we extracted and aggregated precipitation data from the Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation project and land surface temperatures and normalized difference vegetation indexes from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellite observations. Monthly data sets from 2000 to 2016 were used to construct autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models to predict dengue incidence for 12 provinces across the study region. Results: The final models were able to predict dengue incidence from January to December 2016 that concurred with the observation that dengue epidemics occur mostly in rainy seasons. As a result, the obtained model presents a good fit at a regional level with the correlation value of 0.65 between predicted and reported dengue cases; nevertheless, its performance declines at the subregional scale. Conclusion: We demonstrated the use of remote sensing data in time-series to develop a model of dengue incidence in the MDR of Viet Nam. Results indicated that this approach could be an effective method to predict regional dengue incidence and its trends.

This study was conducted from February to May 2019 through interviewing 105 white leg shrimp intensive farming households according to VietGAP certification in Soc Trang Province in Vietnam, and aimed to evaluate current situation and the efficiency of VietGAP practices regarding disease and quality management. VietGAPhas been operated since 2013 and has grown dramatically. Due to good practices and positive influence of VietGAP guidance, such as reservoir construction (94%); post-larvae testing (100%); reasonable stocking density(40 PL/ m2); and monitoring water using toolkits (100%); disease outbreaks were reduced (40%). Adhering to these measures, the results have been shown that harvest yield has resulted in 2.7 to 5.6 ton/ha/cycle, andprofit being 179 million VND/ha/non-disease cycle and 324 million VND/ha/diseased cycle. Up to 49% VietGAP shrimp was sold directly to the processing companies or their purchasing network, 98% of transactions metrequirements for export, and receiving premium price at two to five thousand VND/kg. Therefore, VietGAP has improved the quality of shrimp for export. However, the ratio of farmers being awarded certification is smallbecause farmers lack financial motivation (no difference in price between GAP vs nonGAP shrimp products) and external support from related organizations.

The spread of diseases is a global challenge which affects life expectancy, productivity and economic growth. A healthy workforce has a faster acquisition of new knowledge to apply it to production and maintains high productivity, thereby promoting economic growth. On the contrary, a disease-infected workforce may have a low level of productivity, high expenses for disease treatment, insufficient health and finance to acquire new knowledge and as such, slowing down the economic growth. This study examines the implications of major infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, dengue, malaria and tuberculosis on the economic growth of Vietnam. The cointegration regression model with the ordinary least squares method is applied in the estimation procedure on a time series dataset obtained from World Bank, World Health Organization, UN and the Ministry of Health of Vietnam from 1986 to 2016. The results indicate that the number of new patients of any major infectious disease is negatively related to per-capita income. In particular, a 1% increase in the number of new patients with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, dengue and malaria leads to a decrease of 0.022%, 0.095%, 0.015% and 0.057% in yearly income, respectively. These findings have significant policy implications in terms of improving the effectiveness of the prevention of infectious diseases, protection of public health so as to boost the economic growth of the country. In addition, the results also provide add to the current literature evidence of the relationship between public health and economic growth in Vietnam.

Previous studies have documented 836 species of marine macroalgae from Viet Nam. In the present study, marine algal samples were collected along the coast of south central Viet Nam. Morphological observations revealed three new records for the South China Sea, including Zellera tawallina and Grateloupia huangiae (Rhodophyta), and Dictyota grossedentata (Phaeophyceae). The results of morphological observations were supported by phylogenetic analyses. Therefore, the seaweed flora of Viet Nam now comprises 838 marine macroalgal species including 418 Rhodophyta, 149 Phaeophyceae, 183 Chlorophyta, and 88 Cyanobacteria.

This study aims to understand the spatial distribution of coral reefs in the central region of Viet Nam. We classified live coral cover in Son Tra Peninsula (ST) and Cu Lao Cham Island (CLC) in the South-Central Coast Region of Viet Nam using the Maximum Likelihood Classifier on 3 m Planetscope imagery. Confusion matrices and the accuracy of the classifier were assessed using field data (1,543 and 1,560 photographs in ST and CLC, respectively). The results showed that the reef’s width ranged from 30 to 300 m across the study site, and we were able to detect live coral cover across a depth gradient of 2 to 6 m below the sea surface. The overall accuracies of the classifier (the Kappa coefficient) were 76.78% (0.76) and 78.08% (0.78) for ST and CLC, respectively. We found that 60.25% of coral reefs in ST were unhealthy and the live coral cover was less than 50%, while 25.75% and 11.46% of those in CLC were in good and excellent conditions, respectively. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing Planetscope imagery to monitor shallow coral reefs of small islands at a high spatial resolution of 3 m. The results of this study provide valuable information for coral reef protection and conservation.

A numerical analysis on the stability of soil–cement column-reinforced riverbank along a river delta region in Viet Nam is presented in this paper. The numerical analyses based on the limit equilibrium method (LEM) were performed to assess the safety factor of the column-reinforced riverbank system under various river water level (RWL) conditions. Several factors influencing the riverbank slope stability including the position, length, quantity of soil–cement columns, and RWL changes were investigated. The simulated results showed that the riverbank stability is improved with an increase in the column quantity and the column length when subjected to a constant RWL. Moreover, the predicted results by LEM indicated that the column location and the RWL change significantly influence the stability of riverbank with column reinforcement. The column location between the middle and the slope toe had a significant improvement of the riverbank slope stability, where an initial drawdown of RWL resulted in a notable reduction of the riverbank slope safety factor. These factors should be taken into consideration in the design of a riverbank slope, reinforced with columns, under variable RWL. It is worth mentioning that the use of soil–cement column-reinforced riverbank could be a practical and possible engineering countermeasure to prevent a steep riverbank slope under RWL variations from sliding failure.

Melaleuca forests significantly contribute to economic development through silviculture and play an important role in carbon sequestration and supply of oxygen. Currently, Melaleuca seedlings are planted on bunds in inundated areas or on trenches in elevated areas. Little is known of what planting methods and growth stage of Melaleuca trees are best for developing new forest areas and sequestering highest levels of carbon. We selected U Minh Ha National Park in search for answers to the questions. We established 12 standard plots (10m x 10m) in the park where Melaleuca trees at two ages (10 years of age and 15 years of age) were planted on bunds and trenches. We employed Anova analysis, SPSS software and numerical analysis for analyzing and evaluating carbon sequestration by Melaleuca trees. We found that planting method significantly contributes to developing new forest areas in terms of tree volume, biomass, and carbon sequestration. Bund-based planting proves to be more cost-effective in developing new forest areas and carbon sequestration than trench-based planting. Trees at the age of 10 planted on bunds has been the most effective category for sequestering carbon. Our methodology in examining the relationship proves to be a feasible reference to new forest development and payment for forest service scheme in the Mekong Delta region or elsewhere in the broader region.

Introduction: Continuous monitoring provides real-time data which is helpful for measuring air quality; however, these systems are often very expensive, especially for developing countries such as Vietnam. The use of low-cost sensors for monitoring air pollution is a new approach in Vietnam and this study assesses the utility of low-cost, light-scattering-based, particulate sensors for measuring PM2.5 concentrations in Ho Chi Minh City. Methods: The low-cost sensors were compared with both a Beta attenuation monitor (BAM) reference method and a gravimetric method during the rainy season period of October to December 2018. Results: The results showed that there was a very strong correlation between two low-cost sensors (R = 0.97, slope = 1.0), and that the sensor precision varied from 0 to 21.4% with a mean of 3.1%. Both one-minute averaged data and one-hour averaged data showed similar correlations between sensors and BAM (R2 = 0.62 and 0.69, respectively), while 24-hour averaged data showed excellent agreement (R2 = 0.95, slope = 1.05). In addition, we also found a strong correlation between those instruments and a gravimetric method using 24-hour averaged data. A linear regression was used to calibrate the 24-hour averaged sensor data and, once calibrated, the bias dropped to zero. Conclusion: These results show that low-cost sensors can be used for daily measurements of PM2.5 concentrations in Ho Chi Minh City. The effect of air conditions, such as temperature and humidity, should be conducted. Moreover, technical methods to improve time resolution of lowcost sensors need to be developed and applied in order to provide real-time measurements at an inexpensive cost.

The higher education system of Viet Nam has been undergoing reform process with the aim of seeking a position in the world’s education market. However, recent changes in the system have made the operational efficiency of the system less stable, thus making it more challenging to improve the country’s universities world rankings. In this paper, we investigate the performance of tertiary education institutions in Viet Nam and evaluate the efficiency gap between colleges and universities. Using the metafrontier directional technology approach, we estimate both the group frontier and metafrontier efficiencies for 112 universities and 141 colleges using data for 2011–2013 and compute their differences imposed by the technology associated with different levels of ownership and locations. The findings showed that the performance of universities were better than that of colleges, at 0.837 0.774, respectively. However, under an unrestricted metafrontier framework, the metatechnology ratios suggest that universities and colleges were operated comparatively well by potentially increasing their performance by 7.8 and 5.0 per cent, respectively. Both urban universities and colleges are found to be more efficient than their rural counterparts, but the effects of ownerships showed mixed results on the performance of universities and colleges. Our results highlight the need for appropriate policies and enabling environment that will enhance the performance of each institution. It is imperative to re-evaluate the specific role and individual contributions of colleges and universities in the national education system and assist rural universities and colleges to explore their full potential to enhance their performance. First published online 17 September 2019

Research was undertaken from 2013 to 2017, in eleven provinces and cities, in the Red river delta, Vietnam. Samples were collected from fives types of habitat as follow: natural forest, human – disturbed forest, grassland, cultivated land with perennial plants, agricultural land with annual plants. Samples were also taken from five types of soil: coastal saline - acid soil, acid alluvial soil, neutral alluvial soil, ferritic brownish soil derived from limestone and emaciated greyish soil. In this research, we recorded 283 oribatida species, beloning to 129 genus, 59 families. Among them, 49 species were not defined to species. In comparison with the recordes of Vu Quang Manh (2013) and Ermilov (2015), there are 108 species were for the first time recorded for research region fauna and 65 speciesare new for the Vietnamese fauna. Species diversity of oribatida community in each type of soil and in each habitat are different from each others. The species number in each soil type oscillated from 78 species to 178 species. The species number in each habitat oscillated from 95 species to 127 species. The rate of species which only were recorded in one type of soil or in one habitat is high. The results show that soil types and habitats are in close relationship with oribatida community. It is the scientific base for using oribatida community as a biodiversity for soil quality.

In this paper we study the impact of relevant factors, such as individual characteristics, wages, living areas, on individual migration decisions. We have been using data from Labor Force Survey 2014 from Genaral Statistics Office of Vietnam (LFS 2014). We are going to evaluate how these above factors affect the status of "short-term migration" and "long-term migration" compared to "nonmigration". The well-known model in this field is the multinomial logistic model. However, the multinomial logistic model does not control the latent factors that have different effects on migration decision. This would result that the estimated coefficients of the variables would no longer be reliable (biased estimates due to lack of important variables). Hence, we have selected a multilevel multinomial logistic model. The levels we choose to control latent factors are province and region levels. As the results, the potential factors of different provinces and regions show different impacts on migration decisions. To sum up, a multilevel multinomial logistic model gives more reliable estimates, so it is more suitable for migration analysis compared to conventional multinomial logistic model.

The article has used questionnaires which designed following five Likirt scale to measure the attitudes of 400 people living in the western area of Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam toward land acquisition that may be occured in the future. Survey data that analysed by SPSS is digitized and combined with the spatial interpolation method - integrated in GIS to analyze the spatial distribution of community attitudes. The research results show that people with high education, middle-aged and female people will have more positive attitudes in land acquisition. Meanwhile, people with high incomes or jobs directly dependent on land tend to oppose land acquisition. In terms of space, very positive attitude is mainly distributed in Quyet Thang, Thinh Duc, Tan Thinh and Thinh Dan communes with an area of about 2,329 ha. Positive attitudes were mainly distributed in the east of Phuc Triu commune, the west and northeast of Quyet Thang commune, south of Tan Cuong commune, east of Thinh Duc commune with an area of about 3,376 ha. The rest is the area with less positive attitude, mainly distributed in Phuc Xuan, Phuc Triu, Tan Cuong communes with an area of about 3,339.5 ha.

Integrated landscape management for sustainable livelihoods and positive environmental outcomes has been desired by many developing countries, especially for mountainous areas where agricultural activities, if not well managed, will likely degrade vulnerable landscapes. This research was an attempt to characterize the landscape in Chieng Yen Commune, Son La Province in Northwest Viet Nam to generate knowledge and understanding of local conditions and to propose a workable governance mechanism to sustainably manage the landscape. ICRAF, together with national partners — Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute — and local partners — Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Son La Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Chieng Yen Commune People’s Committee — conducted rapid assessments in the landscape, including land-use mapping, land-use characterization, a household survey and participatory landscape assessment using an ecosystem services framework. We found that the landscape and peoples’ livelihoods are at risk from the continuous degradation of forest and agricultural land, and declining productivity, ecosystem conditions and services. Half of households live below the poverty line with insufficient agricultural production for subsistence. Unsustainable agricultural practices and other livelihood activities are causing more damage to the forest. Meanwhile, existing forest and landscape governance mechanisms are generally not inclusive of local community engagement. Initial recommendations are provided, including further assessment to address current knowledge gaps.

This research aims to explore the integration of land use, climate, and water resources for urban resilience in Bangkok, Thailand and Hanoi, Viet Nam, both of which are megacities of Southeast Asia. Climate projections using the WorldClim database for 2050 in Bangkok reveal an increase in temperature by 8.2 percent, while precipitation will tend to slightly decrease by 7.47 percent compared to 1960-1990. The model also forecasts warmer temperature by 10.97 percent and a slight decrease by 2.6 percent in precipitation in Hanoi by 2050. Scenario-based land use projection using the CLUMondo model reveals a higher urban expansion rate in Bangkok and Hanoi under “business as usual” (BAU) scenarios. Regarding the Green Growth (GG) scenario, forest cover in Hanoi is expected to increase at a higher rate than Bangkok by 2050. A projected increase in water demand by 2050 in both cities will come from agriculture and industrial expansion, an increase in the population, and higher living standards. Bangkok and Hanoi are particularly vulnerable to water shortage from less precipitation in 2050, which will cause water supply problems in the future. The combined impact of climate and land-use change by 2050 may lead to urban water supply problems. Urban planners and policymakers should consider the significant impacts of water security and prepare for city mitigation and adaptation to cope with these changes.

The forest musk deer Moschus berezovskii is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, having declined precipitously, primarily through unsustainable hunting to supply the trade in musk. Although the majority of the species’ range lies in China, it extends marginally into north-east Viet Nam. In the late 1990s, the population in Viet Nam was estimated to be 200 individuals, and declining, but there have been no updates on the species’ status in Viet Nam since then, and given the high hunting pressure in many of the country's protected areas, it was unknown whether the species persists. In January 2021, scientists with the Vietnam National University of Forestry were provided with photographs of a musk deer that had reportedly been captured by local hunters in the buffer zone of a protected area in north-east Viet Nam. Follow-up camera-trapping during 3–19 February, with 10 cameras set in mountainous karst habitat within the reserve, resulted in two photographic sequences of musk deer from two of the 10 cameras (it is unclear whether the photographs represent one or two individuals). To our knowledge, these photographs provide the first confirmation in more than 2 decades that the species persists in Viet Nam. We recommend additional surveys of the musk deer in the protected area where it was recorded, and surveys in other karst areas in northern Viet Nam to assess if other populations survive. It is likely that unsustainable hunting through the setting of indiscriminate wire snares is a threat to any remaining musk deer, as it is to other large mammals. We recommend increased snare removal efforts, education and outreach with local communities, and the implementation of proactive wildlife crime prevention approaches.

Populations become increasingly feminized with age. Since older women are more vulnerable to poverty, they may find it more difficult than men to access health care. This study examines factors that may constrain older persons in Southeast Asia from meeting their health-care needs when sick. Our analysis of household survey data from Cambodia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam shows that women are more likely to have reported sickness or injury than men, a difference that is meaningful and statistically significant. While women in Cambodia and the Philippines are more likely to seek treatment than men, the gender difference is reversed in Viet Nam where stigma and discrimination associated with some diseases may more strongly deter women. The probability of seeking treatment rises with age more sharply for women than men in all countries. However, for the subsample of elders, the gender difference is not significant.

There is limited evidence on food environment in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the application of food environment frameworks and associated metrics in such settings. Our study examines how food environment varies across an urban-peri-urban-rural gradient from three sites in North Viet Nam and its relationship with child undernutrition status and household consumption of processed food. By comparing three food environments, we present a picture of the food environment in a typical emerging economy with specific features such as non-market food sources (own production and food transfers) and dominance of the informal retail sector. We combined quantitative data (static geospatial data at neighborhood level and household survey) and qualitative data (in-depth interviews with shoppers). We found that across the three study sites, traditional open and street markets remain the most important outlets for respondents. Contrary to the common concern that urban households are the major consumers of processed foods, peri-urban and rural areas on average had higher consumption of ultra-processed foods than in urban areas. The low price levels of processed foods and the presence of processed foods even among the traditional convenience stores, those in closest proximity to the rural households, offer potential explanations of this result. Regarding undernutrition, low retail diversity and a household’s dependence on own production have important implications for the high prevalence of child undernutrition in rural areas. Our findings add to the current discussion on the critical role of the food environment on nutrition, such as the potential link between economic marginalization and access to food, and the role of food supply channels in consumption of processed foods.

Background The World Health Organization recently recommended Video Observed Therapy (VOT) as one option for monitoring tuberculosis (TB) treatment adherence. There is evidence that private sector TB treatment has substandard treatment follow-up, which could be improved using VOT. However, acceptability of VOT in the private sector has not yet been evaluated. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey employing a theoretical framework for healthcare intervention acceptability to measure private provider perceptions of VOT across seven constructs in three cities of Viet Nam: Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Phong. We investigated the differences in private providers’ attitudes and perceptions of VOT using mixed ordinal models to test for significant differences in responses between groups of providers stratified by their willingness to use VOT. Results A total of 79 private providers completed the survey. Sixty-two providers (75%) indicated they would use VOT if given the opportunity. Between private providers who would and would not use VOT, there were statistically significant differences (p≤0.001) in the providers’ beliefs that VOT would help identify side effects faster and in their confidence to monitor treatment and provide differentiated care with VOT. There were also significant differences in providers’ beliefs that VOT would save them time and money, address problems faced by their patients, benefit their practice and patients, and be relevant for all their patients. Conclusion Private providers who completed the survey have positive views towards using VOT and specific subpopulations acknowledge the value of integrating VOT into their practice. Future VOT implementation in the private sector should focus on emphasizing the benefits and relevance of VOT during recruitment and provide programmatic support for implementing differentiated care with the technology.

The use and misuse of antimicrobials in livestock production contributes to increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobial use (AMU), has been identified as a problem in Viet Nam. There were many identified drivers of AMU in Viet Nam such as lack of access to veterinary services, easy access to cheap over-the-counter antimicrobials, and insufficient farm biosecurity. This study included chicken farmers (n = 540) and pig farmers (n = 540) from household, semi-industrialized, and industrialized farms in the North, Central, and South of Viet Nam. The objective of this study was to determine farmers rationale behind AMU on their farms and their usage patterns. On pig farms, 98.1% of the farmers reported use of antimicrobials in their production. On chicken farms, 87.9% reported use of antimicrobials in their production. The results of the survey showed that the three main purposes of AMU were treatment of sick animals, disease prevention, and weight gain. Treatment accounted for 81.3% in pig farming and 62.1% in chicken farming. The main reason to start antimicrobial therapy in pig and chicken production was observation of the first clinical signs of disease (73.9% of the pig farmers and 74.9% of chicken farmers). The proportion of industrial pig farms performing diagnostic tests before using antimicrobials was singnificantly (p < 0.05) higher than household farms (OR = 45.3). The proportion of chicken farmers who used diagnostic tests before using antimicrobials on semi-industrial (OR = 4.1) and industrial farms (OR = 26.7) were significantly higher compared with household farms. Through encouraging the prudent use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry we can reduce the use of antimicrobials at the primary production level and thereby lowering the risk of AMR.

Mineral and hot water is a valuable resource that can be used for nursing and physiotherapy, making bottled water, making beverage and healing, exploiting useful minerals, energy extraction, even cultivation spirulina and other purposes. Hot groundwater was discovered during the 90s of the 20th century in Duyen Hai commune, Hung Ha district, Thai Binh province, but no exploration and evaluation studies were conducted to determine the potential of the mineral and hot water in the area. Spatial distribution of groundwater temperature and the total mineralization in the study area of the mineral and hot water occurrence and its surrounding area has allowed to identify the area of mineral and hot water origin, and that the hot water belongs to average hot water with a temperature of about 49 degrees Celsius. Analyzing the tectonic structure has showed that the mineral and hot water is formed at an area surrounded by three class-2 faults, which have a vertical displacement amplitude of 100 m - 1,000 m and a destructive zone of over 100 m. This is an area with favorable conditions to bring geothermal source and dissolved minerals in surrounding rocks to groundwater in the above aquifers. The approach presented in the paper can be applied to conduct research on potential mineral and hot water in other areas: determine values of some mineral and hot water parameters such as temperature and TDS, compile maps of spatial distribution of the parameters, clarify characteristics of tectonic structure relevant to anomaly of high temperature and TDS.

In this paper, we introduce a new dataset that contains personal lifelog and surrounding environment data, collected periodically along predefined routes in Ho-Chi-Minh city, Vietnam. We also introduce self-developed devices as well as system architecture for gathering, storing, accessing, and visualizing data. Moreover, some exciting research topics and applications, especially for understanding correlations between people's health, air pollution, and congestion, resulting from the insights of this data set are discussed.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the accuracy and user experience of the INDDEX24 platform compared to a traditional pen and paper (PAPI) 24HR in Burkina Faso and Viet Nam. INDDEX24 is a dietary assessment platform, developed by the International Dietary Data Expansion (INDDEX) Project, which links a tablet-based platform for conducting individual 24HR to a set of web-based dietary data inputs (food composition database, standard recipes, conversion factors). METHODS: We used quantitative and qualitative methods. INDDEX24 and PAPI 24HR modalities were compared against the benchmark method, Weighed Food Records (WFR). Outcomes were energy intake, macronutrients, select micronutrients, and food groups. To assess the user experience, we conducted focus groups with field staff, who also completed a short questionnaire. Needed sample size was 234 women, 117 for each arm, based on Pearson's correlation >0.6 with type I error set at 5% and power at 80%. Data collection included a full day of direct observation for the WFR, followed by a single 24HR. Socio-demographic data were also collected. Quantitative data were analyzed with Stata v15.1; qualitative data with NVivo 11. RESULTS: A total of 231 rural women in Burkina Faso and 234 rural women in Viet Nam, aged 18–49 years, were enrolled August-October 2019 and assigned to a study arm. Mean (±SD) age of participants was 29.7 (±8.4) (Burkina Faso) and 35.2 (±8.3) years (Viet Nam). Most respondents in Viet Nam completed some secondary school or higher (94.9%); in Burkina Faso most respondents (83.4%) had no formal education; 3.2% had secondary school level or higher. There were no statistically significant differences in age, education, pregnancy, and breastfeeding status between the two arms in either country. Field staff preferred using INDDEX24 to PAPI and provided some suggestions for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The study was successfully implemented in Burkina Faso and Viet Nam. The required sample size was obtained with balanced study arms. Qualitative feedback from field staff confirmed the superiority of INDDEX24 from a user perspective. The results will be important for fine tuning INDDEX24 for future use. The set of dietary data inputs developed for this study will remain in the public domain and be useful for researchers, saving time and cost for future surveys. FUNDING SOURCES: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

With nearly 3,000 large and small islands, the islands and archipelagos of Vietnam have outstanding features in terms biodiversity and geology. The islands are mainly formed from carbonate (limestone), intrusive igneous rock, sedimentary and volcanic rocks, in which limestone islands predominate, distributed mainly in the Gulf of Tonkin. This paper presents the results of researches and assessments on sea water quality of Vietnam's typical limestone islands and archipelagoes through the 2017-2018 surveys. The research results show that although the water quality around of limestone and archipelago area of Viet Nam is safety for the development of aquatic life, an increase in pollutants concentration in water has been recorded when compared to previous research results. The research results supplement the data set of sea water quality in limestone areas that defining the characteristics of marine biodiversity. Keywords: limestone island, water quality, pollutants.

Aim: To establish a complete database of Juglandaceae at a spatiotemporal scale and develop a phylogeographic framework with which to elucidate the distributional patterns, diversity patterns, origins, evolution, and conservation priority regions of this family. Location: Worldwide. Taxon: Walnut family (Juglandaceae). Methods: Data on the distribution of all the extant and fossil species of Juglandaceae were collected, followed by analyses of its latitudinal distribution, elevational distribution, and species and generic diversity. Furthermore, based on all genera and 87% of the species, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships, estimated divergence times, calculated phylogenetic diversity and inferred ancestral distributions. Results: Extant Juglandaceae (10 genera and 60 species) are mainly distributed in eastern Asia and North America (principally between 20 and 40°N). Tropical Juglandaceae mainly inhabit mountainous areas higher than 1,000 m, especially in the New World. Southwest China and northern Vietnam are characterized by high species, generic and phylogenetic diversity. The United States of America has only high species diversity. The area of origin of Juglandaceae was North America and Europe in the early Eocene, and its widespread dispersal mainly occurred between 13 and 26 Ma. Main conclusions: The members of Juglandaceae inhabit areas with temperate climatic conditions. The diversification centre has shifted intercontinentally from North America and Europe to Southwest China and northern Vietnam, which are identified as conservation priority regions. The high-latitude cooling during the Oligocene followed by a long-term stable warmer climate in the early and middle Miocene drove the southward translocation of the family. © 2019 John Wiley and Sons Ltd