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Post-flood recovery in the central coastal plain of Vietnam: determinants and policy implications

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Abstract

This study focused on the timing aspects of post-flood recovery, which has not been adequately considered by previous scholars. Data for analysis were obtained from direct interviews with households in Quang Dien and Phong Dien coastal plain districts of Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed to gain insight into factors driving household rehabilitation. The findings accentuated improvements in women's post-flood resilience as a result of effective interventions from communities, authorities and NGOs. Diversifying livelihoods into the non-agricultural sector was also an important factor to shorten the rehabilitation processes. Additionally, the results emphasized the efficacy of social interactions, notably between relatives and informal groups, after floods. The potential negative consequences of reliance on government support in household rehabilitation efforts are also preliminarily discussed. We conclude by suggesting a number of policies and interventions related to poverty eradication, livelihood diversification, strengthening community cohesion, and breaking down the reliance psychology.

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Fig. 1

Source: Adapted from the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID 1999)

Fig. 2

Source: Thua Thien Hue Hydrometeorology and Forecasting Center

Fig. 3

Source: Center for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control of Thua Thien Hue Province

Fig. 4

Source: Authors

Fig. 5

Source: Household survey

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the authorities and communities of Quang Dien and Phong Dien districts for their support during the survey. We also acknowledge the support of the University of Economics, Hue University, under the Core Research Program.

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This study was not funded.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8572, Japan

    Vo Hoang Ha & Takeshi Mizunoya

  2. Faculty of Economics and Development Studies, University of Economics, Hue University, 99 Ho Dac Di street, Thua Thien Hue province, Hue City, 49000, Vietnam

    Vo Hoang Ha, Nguyen Duc Kien, Truong Quang Dung, Le Thanh An, Nguyen Thai Phan & Nguyen Cong Dinh

  3. Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan

    Nguyen Quang Tan

  4. Faculty of Land Resources and Agricultural Environment, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Hue City, 49000, Vietnam

    Pham Thi Trieu Tien

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  1. Vo Hoang Ha
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  3. Nguyen Duc Kien
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  4. Truong Quang Dung
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  9. Nguyen Cong Dinh
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Correspondence to Nguyen Cong Dinh.

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Ha, V.H., Mizunoya, T., Kien, N.D. et al. Post-flood recovery in the central coastal plain of Vietnam: determinants and policy implications. Asia-Pac J Reg Sci 6, 899–929 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41685-022-00244-9

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