HUE UNIVERSITY
HUE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCES

PHAM TRONG LUONG

THE IMPACT OF BUON TUA SRAH
HYDROPOWER ON MNONG PEOPLE’S
LIVELIHOOD IN LAK DISTRICT,
DAK LAK PROVINCE

Major: Ethnology
Code:

931 03 10

ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS

HUE - 2019


The Thesis was completed in
Hue University of Sciences, Hue University

Supervisor:
Ass. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Manh

Reviewer 1: Ass. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Minh
Institute of Anthropology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences
Reviewer 2: Ass. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Song Ha
Graduate Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam Academy of
Social Sciences

Reviewer 3: Ass. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Hoa
Institute For Family and Gender Studies, Vietnam Academy of
Social Sciences
The thesis will be defended at the Hue University Thesis
Evaluation Council at:
date

time

month

year

The dissertation can be found at:
- Learning Resource Center, Hue University
- Library Hue University of Sciences, Hue University
- Library Tay Nguyen University


FOREWORD
1. Statement of the problem
Construction of hydropower plants in Vietnam began in
1970, especially after the renovation (1986) up to now. This is a
strategic plan to ensure energy for the national industrialization
and modernization because of which hundreds of small and large
power plants have been built. Scientists and policy makers have
been studying and evaluating the impacts of hydropower projects,
and this issue of whether we should continue to build construction
projects or search for alternative energy sources continues to be
considered. However, to solve the consequences of implemented

projects, finding optimal solutions is a challenge for scientists
while the community is affected daily by the consequences of the
hydropower projects. The approach on how people can adapt or
try to adapt to the new environment and life, as well as which
factors can help them to recover, eliminate obstacles to instability
and develop livelihoods, therefore, should not only be practical
and effective but also base on appropriate theories.
The Serepok River is composed of two sub-tributaries that
store Krong Ana and Krong No rivers. On the Serepok river
system, of the 9 hydropower plants that we have built and
operated, Buon Tua Srah hydropower plant is in the second level.
This hydropower plant is a project directly affecting the ethnic
minority community in the Central Highlands, more specifically
Mnong people. A part of Mnong people directly affected must be
resettled, another part stays in the affected area. Both parts of the
population are affected and lead to changes in the environment,
culture, livelihoods, etc. Of those changes, changes in livelihoods
are diverse and complicated. The Mnong people are one of the
local ethnic minority communities in the Central Highlands,
whose economy is based mainly on forest resources. Since Buon
1


Tua Srah hydropower project was built, the natural environment
has been narrowed, natural resources have gradually decreased.
Under these circumstances, people have to change their
livelihoods to ensure life while they themselves face many
difficulties. The change in living environment, as a result, causes
changes of livelihood activities and creates difficulties for
resettled people. In addition, the remaining part of Mnong

residents living in the affected area is strongly influenced by the
hydropower project. The impact of Buon Tua Srah hydropower
has directly changed natural, human, social, financial and material
resources, it is also these factors that lead to many difficulties in
livelihood and livelihood adaptation of Mnong people.
Stemming from the above reasons, we chose the issue
"Livelihood of Mnong people under the influence of
hydropower Buon Tua Srah in Lak district, Dak Lak province"
as the subject of their ethnographic doctoral thesis.
2. The aim and objective of the study
The aim of the study: Through the study of livelihoods of
Mnong people before and after the construction of the
hydropower plant in Buon Tua Srah in Lak district, this study
explores the factors that promote and obstruct livelihood
resources caused by the hydropower, and simultaneously
suggests suitable livelihood development solutions for Mnong
people in resettlement areas and the areas affected by Buon Tua
Srah hydropower plant in a new background situation.
Objective of the study: Systematizing the theory of
livelihoods; studying livelihoods before and after the
construction of the hydropower plant and real situation of
environment, nature, society, etc.; assessing livelihood
resources; identifying livelihood changes and proposing
solutions to develop livelihoods for resettled Mnong people and
areas affected by the hydropower.
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3. Subjects and scope of the study
The object and also the focus of this thesis is the livelihood

of Mnong people under the influence of Buon Tua Srah
hydropower in Lak district, Dak Lak province. The main study
sites are four communes including Krong No, Nam Ka, Ea Rbin,
and Buon Triet.
4. Methodology
In studying the livelihood of Mnong people under the
influence of Buon Tua Srah hydropower, I used research methods
including: Ethnographic fieldwork, document collection,
comparison and contrast, quantitative and qualitative, analysis and
synthesis, and interdisciplinary methods.
5. Contributions of the study
The thesis is an in-depth and systematic study on the
livelihood of Mnong people under the impact of Buon Tua Srah
hydropower in Lak district, Dak Lak province. Thereby, it points
out the shortcomings, limitations and suggests suitable policies
for sustainable livelihood development for Mnong people in the
future. In addition to scientific and practical values, the thesis
also contains field sources with accurate and updated data on the
situation of life, economy and society as well as current issues of
livelihood resources of Mnong people.
6. Outline of the study: In addition to Introduction,
Conclusion and Appendix, the thesis is structured into 4 chapters.
Chapter 1. OVERVIEW OF RELEVANT RESEARCH,
THEORIES, METHODS AND STUDY AREAS
1.1. Overview of relevant research
1.1.1. Oversea and domestic research on livelihoods

1.1.1.1. Oversea livelihood research projects
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Oversea livelihood studies are diverse with some typical
researchers such as Chambers, Robert (1969), Robert and J.
Morris (1973), F. Ellis, Barrett and Reardon, Morrison, Dorward,
etc. and with many different approaches.
In 1999, the UK Agency for International Development
(DFID) launched a sustainable livelihood framework. Based on
DFID's livelihood framework, IFAD has developed a new
diagram of livelihood analysis and puts the poor at the center of
the livelihood framework.
1.1.1.2. Domestic livelihood research
In Vietnam, the term "livelihood" began to be used in
projects associated with foreign countries from the 90s of the
twentieth century and has been the interest of many researchers
such as Ngo Van Le, Ngo Phuong Lan, Nguyen Xuan Hong,
Nguyen Van Suu on the field of ethnicity study and
anthropology, or Tran Duc Vien, Bui Dinh Toai, and Tran Tho
Dat, etc. in the economic field.
1.1.2. Research on the livelihood of hydropower
residents in Vietnam

1.1.2.1. Research on hydropower resettlement in Vietnam
Construction of hydropower plants has a great impact on
the lives of ethnic minorities. Studies by Tran Van Ha, Tran Van
Binh, Institute of Ethnology, point out that there is still a big gap
between policy and reality. Some research results indicate that
whether they are large or small, hydropower plants have actually
affected the living conditions of the communities in the area, and
that the resettlement area is worse than before moving. Affected
people are easily recognized as ethnic minorities whose material,

social, spiritual and livelihoods are significantly impacted.

1.1.2.2. Research on the livelihoods of people in
resettlement areas and the areas affected by hydropower projects
4


Research on livelihoods of people in resettlement areas by
Pham Minh Hanh, Bui Thi Bich Lan, Nguyen Xuan Hong, etc
show us the people's livelihoods in the context of changing living
environment, and their efforts to find sources of livelihood at new
places, especially the conflicts that arise in the process of finding
livelihood resources to ensure life.
1.1.3. Research on Mnong people
Mnong people are the subjects that are interested by both
domestic and foreign scientists such as Albert - Marie Maurice,
G. Condominas, Be Viet Dang, Chu Thai Son, Ngo Van Le, Ngo
Duc Thinh, etc.
1.1.4. Thesis results inherited from published works
and the issues that need solving
The published research works related to the thesis topic are
quite rich and include both theoretical issues and practical
aspects. These research results are very important as they no only
provide diverse and rich sources for the thesis, but also suggest
theoretical and practical issues and approach to conduct the
study. This thesis continues to research and systematize the
theory of livelihoods and livelihood changes; livelihood of
Mnong people before and after the construction of the
hydropower plant; evaluate livelihood resources, identify
changes in livelihoods of Mnong people and propose some

solutions to develop sustainable livelihoods for Mnong people
under the influence of the Buon Tua Srah hydropower project.
1.2. Rationale
1.2.1. Some concepts
The important concept in the thesis, "Livelihoods are
essential activities that individuals or households must perform
based on their capabilities and livelihood resources to earn a
living and achieve their goals" (DFID). Associated with the
concept of livelihood is the concept of "capital or livelihood
5


resources". Currently, the concept of livelihood resources is
diverse. Besides, livelihoods are not only approached in a static
state but also considered in a state of transformation. In addition
to the above concepts, the concepts of sustainable livelihoods,
livelihood activities, migration, resettlement, areas of influence
and sustainable development are also clarified.
1.2.2. Theories of research
The theory of Humanistic Ecology is a way of analyzing
and explaining the mutual relationship between people and the
environment through the flow of materials, energy and
information. Humanistic ecology has been developed to study the
nature of human relationships in the process of self-organization
and structure of the social system. In this study, the Mnong
people are placed at the center of ecosystem relations, including
nature, people and influencing factors in regulating reciprocal
relations between stakeholders.
The thesis uses the theory of sustainable livelihoods to
study the livelihoods of Mnong people under the impact of Buon

Tua Srah hydropower in Lak district, Dak Lak province.
Accordingly, livelihood capital or livelihood resources include
specific, man-made resources that are used, improved and
developed to serve the needs of human survival and
development.
1.2.3. Livelihood framework used in the thesis
The thesis uses the framework of livelihood analysis of
DFID and IFAD as a basis for analyzing the resources of Mnong
people in the resettlement area and the influence area of Buon
Tua Srah hydropower, in which the DFID analysis framework is
the focus point of the thesis.
1.3. Overview of the study area
1.3.1. Overview of Lak district
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Lak is a poor mountainous district, located south of the
Truong Son range, in the southeast of Dak Lak province with
complex geomorphological terrain. Its total natural area is 1,256
km2 with the administrative boundary with Krong Ana and
Krong Bong districts in the North, with Krong Bong district in
the East, Krong No district in the West and Dam Rong and Lac
Duong of Lam Dong province in the South. Currently, Lak has
22 ethnic groups living with a population of 69,398 people in the
whole district, of which Mnong people have 8,217 households
with 35,909 people, accounting for more than 50% of the district
population. Besides, Lak district has 1 town and 10 communes.
1.3.2. Overview of Buon Tua Srah hydropower plant
On June 22, 2001, the Prime Minister signed the Decision
No.95/2001/QD-TTG on approval of Electricity Planning V

(planning of chain of hydropower on the Serepok River). On June
23, 2003, the Ministry of Industry signed the Decision
No.1470/QD-KHDT to build a hydroelectric plant in Buon Tua
Srah. Buon Tua Srah hydropower project was built on Krong No
river, the main branch of Serepok river, in the territory of Nam Ka
communes (Lak district, Dak Lak province) and Quang Phu
commune (Krong No district, Dak Nong province). This is the
second level project in the 7-step system on the Serepok River.
1.3.3. Overview of nature and residents in resettlement
areas and areas affected by Buon Tua Srah
Conducting the re-settlement of 317 households with
1,459 Mnong people; the affected area has 796 households and
more than 3,474 people. Thus, the total number of Mnong people
in Lak district affected by Buon Tua Srah hydropower is 1,113
households with 4,933 people.

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Chapter 2. LIVELIHOODS OF THE MNONG PEOPLE
BEFORE BUILDING THE HYDRO POWER PLANT AT
BUON TUA SRAH, LAK DISTRICT, DAK LAK PROVINCE
2.1. Livelihood resources of Mnong people before the
construction of the hydropower plant
2.1.1. Natural resources
Before building hydropower plant at Buon Tua Srah,
natural resources are relatively abundant. Having many forests,
rivers and streams, fertile land, rich flora and fauna resources are,
therefore, the advantages for Mnong people.
2.1.2. Human resources

Previously, the education level of Mnong people was
low. Besides, health and health care activities in most communes
were very difficult while spiritual life and access to information
were very limited. In this context, human resources are difficult
to become a driving force for development.
2.1.3. Social resources
It can be affirmed that before building Buon Tua Srah
hydropower, ethnic relations, community relations, lineages
relations, and religious relations in the Mnong community are
very good. And this is considered a strong point in the context of
human resources and weak financial resources.
2.1.4. Physical resources
Before the construction of Buon Tua Srah hydropower
plant, the land resources of the compatriots were relatively
abundant, and this was an advantage for the Mnong people.
However, the system of houses, warehouses, breeding facilities,
living facilities, infrastructure works, markets and domestic
water has a very poor condition which greatly influences the
efforts in increasing high production capacity.
2.1.5. Financial resources
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Located in one of the poorest districts, local people’s
income is mainly based on hunting, gathering from agricultural
and forestry products. The financial resources of the people in the
pre-construction phase of hydropower, therefore, are very weak
while stable income sources such as salaries, pensions, regular
allowances, and relatives' remittances are very limited.
2.2. Livelihood activities of Mnong people before the

construction of the hydropower plant
2.2.1. Exploiting natural resources
Mnong's livelihood activities are relatively diverse in type.
Exploiting natural resources plays an important role in improving
the quality of life for people. Lak district has a relatively large
forest area and brings many natural resources. Collecting, hunting
and income from forests, rivers and streams which previously
occupied a large proportion of the total income of the family
always play an important role in the livelihood of Mnong people.
2.2.2. Shifting cultivation
Shifting fields are traditional economic activities of
Mnong people. Currently, this farming method is gradually being
replaced by modern farming methods. Varieties and plant
structure have changed a lot compared to the past. However,
many traditional practices are still noticeable when people
organize their farming production.
2.2.3. Water field
In addition to shifting fields, the Mnong people still
cultivate water fields. In general, labor tools and farming
processes depend on nature and giving low productivity. In
addition to growing rice, to ensure their lives, Mnong people also
grow a variety of crops such as corn, sweet potatoes and beans.
2.2.4. Breeding
In addition to farming, breeding is an important livelihood
activity. Regarding cattle, people breed pigs, cows and buffaloes of
9


which pigs are predominant. When buffaloes are released, they often
wear bells on their necks and people can track them when needed.

Due to favorable conditions, raising poultry is noticed by the
compatriots in large numbers of mainly chickens, ducks and geese.
2.2.5. Handicraft
Long-established handicrafts, seasonal jobs are often done
in the free time. In general, the crafts of the compatriots are quite
developed in type and quality, but their qualifications, techniques
and aesthetics are not high.
Currently, handicrafts are being eroded because it is difficult
to consume and cannot compete with plastic or other items.
2.2.6. Trade and exchange of goods
In the tradition, Mnong people do not have the purchase and
sale of goods but only the exchange of products. Hunting and
gathering products will be exchanged with those in need according
to the principle of "barter" without exchange rates. The principle
of product exchange is an agreement between the two parties.
Chapter 3. LIVELIHOODS OF THE MNONG PEOPLE
SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HYDROPOWER
PROJECT IN BUON TUA SRAH, LAK DISTRICT,
DAK LAK PROVINCE
3.1. Change the livelihood resources of the Mnong
resettled people and those in affected area
3.1.1. Natural resources
Natural resources of Mnong people resettled and affected
areas of Buon Tua Srah hydropower include production land,
forest land, water resources for production and consumption.
Natural resources play a very important role and are the basis and
foundation for livelihood activities. Geographic location,
topography, climate, resource poverty and unfavorable transport
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not only impede people's connections but also hinder people's
access to natural resources, making it more difficult for study and
development of livelihoods for Mnong compatriots who have
always had their disadvantages.
3.1.2. Human resources
Human resource is considered a key factor, a breakthrough
for sustainable poverty reduction. Therefore, improving the
quality of human resources will motivate the development of the
resettled Mnong community and the area affected by the
hydropower plant of Buon Tua Srah. In addition to favorable
factors such as abundant labor force, average age of young
workers, the factors that hinder development such as dropout
rate, limited education level, low rate of vocational training and
labor is mainly concentrated in the industrial sector, etc. and is a
problem to be addressed.
3.1.3. Social resources
For Mnong people in Buon Tua Srah hydropower area,
establishing a social network is very important so that they can
get the opportunities and benefits to stick together in pursuing the
goals of sustainable livelihood development and improving the
quality of life. In addition to favorable factors such as strong
family relationships and family lines and limited outdated
customs and practices, obstructing factors such as lack of
knowledge and working skills, unclear and ineffective activities
of social organizations as well as the low efficiency of training
and training courses, etc. are problems facing Mnong people.
3.1.4. Financial resources
In fact, the survey in the Mnong community in the
resettlement area and the influence area of Buon Tua Srah

hydropower shows that they themselves face many financial
difficulties. In order to improve the situation, increasing
investment and expanding scale is an indispensable need. In the
11


current situation, while farmers’ ability to accumulate is very low
and the support of the state and organizations is decreasing, the
loan for investment is considered an important behavior to satisfy
financial demands.
3.1.5. Material resources
The Mnong people in the resettlement area and the area
affected by the Buon Tua Srah hydropower plant, Lak district is
paid attention by the State in investment to improve
infrastructure with the relatively abundant land for production
and people with a sense of construction material facility.
However, asynchronous infrastructure and poor quality of
production materials are factors hindering physical resources to
the livelihood development of Mnong people in resettlement
areas and areas affected by Buon Tua Srah hydropower plant.
3.2. Impact of livelihood resources on resettled Mnong
people and those in the impacted area of the hydropower
3.2.1. Change in economic activities
From a socio-economic perspective, the restructuring of
the living space is to break the stability of the living space and
farming practices of the Mnong people. In the economic structure
of the Mnong resettled people and the area affected by the current
Buon Tua Srah hydropower, most fields are still reserved with
some changes in industry. While some disappear, some new
occupations appeared. Shifting economic structure and creating

livelihoods in the direction of market economy means that more
opportunities for changing farming practices will be created.
3.2.2. Change in economic type
Cultivation changes: Cultivation activities shift from
natural farming to shifting cultivation to grow rice, corn, and
industrial crops with the application of science and technology to
production. This initiates the participation in market agriculture
and other forms such as non-farm activities. However, the
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Mnong people still face many new risks arising from the
construction of the hydropower plant in Buon Tua Srah.
Livestock changes: Currently, animal husbandry has
become an economic activity that helps to increase income.
Cattle and poultry raised by Mnong peopl initially have industrial
characteristics. Organic farming which is being developed is
consistent with the breeding habits of the people. Clearly, there
is a significant change in the Mnong's current tradition about
ways of thinking and breeding.
Changes in craftsmanship: In recent years, the handicraft
of Mnong people has been extinct due to the construction of the
hydropower plant, narrowed material area and the flooding
industrial products in the market. Through contact between the
communities, people have access to something new and thus
have opportunities for more appropriate options. Therefore,
costumes and knitting items which are products of traditional
industries are no longer popular.
Change in hunting and gathering: The construction of
Buon Tua Srah hydropower plant has taken a significant part of

the forest and ecological environment in Lak district. Buon Tua
Srah hydropower has engulfed many natural forests with high
biodiversity. In addition to the narrowed forest area, that dividing
of Krong No river into parts has changed aquatic ecosystems and
has significant impacts on the type of hunting and gathering
livelihoods of Mnong people.
Change in trade and exchange: Today the market
economy has developed, so the trading activities of the people
have also changed. Going to the market is now not only to trade
and exchange goods but also to learn about the news, to capture
market information and production experience. In general, trade
exchange has developed. However, in this type of economy,
Mnong people are lacking an important factor that is "business 13


service thinking". Without this factor, their livelihood activities
still face many difficulties due to the lack of "autonomy".
3.2.3. Change in living standards
Changes in income: Income from agriculture accounts for
75%, animal husbandry 20%, other activities (fishing, nontimber forest product exploitation, grocery business - services,
hired labor) are not significant. Through analyzing income from
the industry, we can easily see the impact of Buon Tua Srah
hydropower in changing the income structure from livelihood
activities.
In health: There is a major change in health with 91.58% of
children are in the age of fully vaccinating. Meanwhile, malnutrition
rate in children under 5 years old decreased to 22.3%, 100% of
children are granted health insurance cards and fertility decreased
by 0.54 ‰ and natural population growth by 1.4%.
In education: 100% of communes have preschools; 100%

of hamlets and villages have schools or kindergartens: 1 primary
school of national level-1 standard of, 4 primary schools with 8
campuses, 4 secondary schools and 2 high schools; 80.1% of
children from 3 to 5 years old attend classes; 100% 6-year-old
children are encouraged for schooling into first grade and the
dropout rate dropped to 0.49% in 2017.
3.2.4. Change in landscape of living environment
The construction of Buon Tua Srah hydropower plant has
significantly occupied the forest area with 4253 hectares of land
and causes a big change in the area of the Krong Kno river basin.
In terms of hydrology, Buon Tua Srah hydropower has a
controlled area of 2930 km2 while the catchment area of Buon
Tua Srah dam is 2930 km2. The changing landscape of the
environment has affected the livelihood activities of the Mnong
people and they believe that the local environment is
14


deteriorating due to the impacts of the hydropower plant Buon
Tua Srah.
3.3. Current adaptive livelihoods of resettled Mnong
people and those in the affected area
3.3.1. Crop
The lack of land and quality of bad soil is the biggest problem
facing Mnong people. Technical support and training, investment in
machinery, on the other hand, contribute to more efficient
production. The reality of cultivation, therefore, has revealed
difficulties in production and life for which we need solutions for
farming activities to bring good income and stable life.
3.3.2. Breeding

Animal husbandry is currently an important industry for
resettled households and the area affected by Buon Tua Srah
hydropower. Although the grazing area has been narrowed,
thanks to technical training, proper construction of breeding
facilities could be ensured. Raising buffalos and cows gives
people a high profit because although it is not often, when selling
buffaloes or cows, people will have a large amount of money
which can reach up to twenty millions dong or more.
3.3.3. Forest livelihoods
The construction of Buon Tua Srah hydropower plant has
changed the forest area and ecological environment. Forest
livelihoods of the Mnong people in the resettlement area have
disappeared, the affected residents have limited forest exploitation,
so the benefits from the forests have been greatly reduced.
3.3.4. Other livelihoods
In recent years, crafts have been eroded. The reason is that
due to the hydropower construction process, the forest is lost, the
material area is narrow and rare, the industrial products are
flooded with the market and various designs. Therefore,
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costumes and household items are products of traditional jobs
that are no longer popular.
Chapter 4. SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD
DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS FOR RESIDENTS AND
IMPACT AREAS OF HYDROPOWER IN BUON TUA
SRAH LAK DISTRICT, DAK LAK PROVINCE
4.1. Strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for
Mnong people's livelihoods

Strengths: Naturally: There are many land, large water
surface area; Socially: There are many organizations to
coordinate and support; strong social relations. About human
resources: labor force is abundant, young and healthy; have rich
indigenous knowledge; consciously invest in production
equipment. In terms of economic structure there is diversity in
which agriculture has an important position, livestock and some
other industries have a chance to grow.
Weaknesses: Drought, lack of water, epidemics; lack of
production capital; natural resources are exhausted; weak
education, expertise, knowledge and skills.
Opportunities: State and many agencies support and
support; There are many opportunities for economic
restructuring.
Challenge: Price fluctuations; damage caused by natural
disasters and epidemics; derived from cultural characteristics;
characteristics and capabilities of Mnong people.
4.2. Analysis of livelihoods of the Mnong occupations
Currently, the activities of resettled Mnong people and
those in affected areas of Buon Tua Srah are relatively diverse,
such as industrial crops, rice and color planting, animal
16


husbandry, aquatic exploitation and exploitation activities, nontimber forest products, groceries, services, etc.
4.3. Suggestions for solutions for sustainable livelihood
development for Mnong people
4.3.1. Solutions to improve and develop livelihood resources
For natural resources:
- Allocate enough land for people, support more land for

them to organize production effectively, ensuring income.
- Actively implemen the policy of afforestation and forest
protection, especially watershed forests.
- Support people to transfer production from extensive to
intensive farming in order to effectively use resources.
- Manage and use water resources reasonably, paying
attention to applying water saving solutions.
For human resources:
- Organize human resource training in accordance with the
socio-economic development plans.
- Improve the quality of education, vocational training
quality, qualifications, skills and capacities among Mnong
people and other communities.
- Improve the quality of cadres, civil servants and officials,
especially village cadres.
- Amend and continue to implement the policy of
prioritizing the training of Mnong students through preferential
credit policies, scholarships and enrollment.
- Promote the role of exemplary pioneer of village elders,
village leaders, who have prestige and dignity in improving the
awareness capacity of the people.
For social resources:
- Promote cultural traditions, solidarity and mutual
support, considering this as an important resource in solving
economic, cultural and social issues of people.
17


- Build and improving the operational efficiency of sociopolitical organizations, professional and social organizations to
gather and connect people to improve their livelihoods.

- Upgrade infrastructure, schools, markets, information
and Internet for people to access services for livelihood
development.
For financial resources:
- Encourage people to take care of production and spend
reasonably and develop investment plans.
- Seek and encourage credit institutions to increase
preferential loans for their compatriots.
- Link businesses with people to create value chains from
production to market.
For material resources:
- Build good infrastructure to facilitate development.
- Hold training on using family finance reasonably, focusing
on procurement of machines for production and job change.
4.3.2. Specific solutions for career development
For cultivation:
- Provide enough land for Mnong people as committed
before implementing the project.
- Monitor to support people timely on solutions to cope
with droughts, epidemics and climate change.
- Complete the irrigation system to ensure the supply of water
for agricultural production and against droughts and floods.
- Support farmers to produce organic fertilizer by local
materials and improving soil and reducing the cost of buying
inorganic fertilizers.
- Use plant and animal breeds suitable for soil, ecological
and high-value conditions.

18



- Organize cultivation and livestock training classes to
help people have better knowledge to cope with natural disasters
and epidemics.
- Listen to the opinions of households, encourage
initiatives on livelihoods, and use indigenous knowledge in
production.
- Support households to borrow money to buy equipment
for production and circulation of goods.
For livestock:
- Support more land for housing and support to build cages
to ensure technical requirements, friendly to the environment.
- Hold training on knowledge and techniques of raising
animals for households, especially prevention techniques,
selection of breeding animals.
- Prioritize the development of pigs and poultry herds in
accordance with conditions, low capital and fast turnaround.
- Take advantage of agricultural byproducts such as rice
bran, corn mixed with stems, corn leaves, sweet potatoes into
food to reduce costs and take initiative in food sources.
- Have policies to support agricultural insurance
compatriots to confidently invest in production and avoid risks.
For forestry development:
- At present, in Lak district, there are still many forestry
lands without forests. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the
review, transfer and allocation of land for Mnong people to plant
forests to improve their livelihoods.
- Need to share the resources of natural forest care and
management for Mnong people.
- Need to continue training on basic knowledge about

planting and tending forests for households. Support and guide
Mnong people to intercrop in order to increase land use value.
19


- Need information support and approach so that people
can register to buy seedlings, implement the harvesting plan in
time to enhance the value.
- Promote propaganda to help people understand the state's
support and preferential policies on agricultural and forestry
production development.
- Need to link with factories, enterprises, production units
to collect products. Ensuring smooth production and
consumption of agro-forestry products.
- Support and mobilize households to plant, collect and
process locally, establish production groups at the grassroots level.
- Support forest growers to sign with enterprises to take
advantage of investment capital, techniques and plantation
business solutions.
- Hold training for core Mnong people on advanced
techniques in forest care and exploitation, seedling production,
and group management including group financial management.
For craft industry:
- Develop a master plan for craft development. Initial selection
and maintenance and development of some potential products.
- Find output for products through the way of tourism,
trade promotion, tourism promotion.
- Implement the title "Traditional craftsmen" for those who
are skilled to encourage them to be passionate and enthusiastic
about the profession. Good implementation of policies for

artisans. Vocational training for successive and vocational
classes for the next generation.
- Support individuals, families and production facilities to
access information and seek markets.
- Support for brand building and development, introduced
free of charge on electronic trading portal.
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- Create capital for production development, invest a part
of budget from the budget to support families, individuals and
companies to ensure their development.
CONCLUSION
1. Before the construction of Buon Tua Srah hydropower
plant, the availability of rich forests, rivers, streams and fertile
land, which are in the form of flora and fauna, is an advantage of
the natural resources of the Mnong people. Besides, people with
good social relations are considered as strengths. However, other
resources such as finance, material, and human resources are
basically weak, making it difficult to become a driving force for
the development of the livelihoods of the people.
2. The economic activity of the people before the
construction of the hydropower plant in Buon Tua Srah is quite
dependent on nature. Hunting and gathering have a big role in
life. Cultivation is the main economic activity with all kinds of
cultivation. Breeding cattle and poultry with natural, simple
grazing and lack of care. Most compatriots have a difficult life
and face many challenging problems in daily life.
3. The five sources of livelihoods of Mnong people after
the construction of Buon Tua Srah hydropower plant had

different changes. The resources which are mostly affected are
nature, especially land resources for production to ensure
livelihoods. The area of productive land in resettlement areas is
often low quality while scarce water resources lead to low
production efficiency particularly for people in the area affected
by hydropower who face changes in weather, climate and
operation schedule of hydropower plants. With the honest,
gentle, sociable nature of the Mnong people, social resources are
considered to be the least transformative. Human resources,
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material resources and financial resources, on the other hand,
have increased significantly.
4. Variable livelihood resources have affected the
transformation of economic structure, economic type, living
standards and environmental landscape. The economic structure
of the people is shifted from the exploitation of natural resources,
agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts, trade exchange to
agriculture, animal husbandry, exchange of trade, employment,
exploit natural resources and handicrafts. There is a change in the
economic model of cultivation, husbandry, exchange and
market-oriented trade; other types such as handicrafts, hunting
and gathering are rapidly declining. Besides, there is a change in
living standards in income, education and health factors. The
landscape of the natural environment after hydropower
construction also changed in the worse direction.
5. After 14 years since the construction of Buon Tua Srah
hydropower plant, the Mnong people's livelihood has improved
significantly and has conditions for sustainable development

towards adapting to the new context. In general, the lives of
resettled people and affected areas tend to be better than before.
However, there are also a number of issues being raised in
securing sustainable livelihoods. In addition to the narrowed area
of productive land, the quality of land tends to decrease,
households who still depend on agricultural production, the loss
of income from forests has somewhat limited their sustainable
livelihood development.
6. To help people have a more sustainable life after the
construction of Buon Tua Srah hydropower, in addition to
solutions to improve the efficiency of five livelihood resources,
it is necessary to focus on human resources and natural resources.
In parallel with that, solutions to improve the operational
efficiency of different types of livelihoods should also be
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implemented in a synchronous and efficient manner, serving the
goal of sustainable livelihood development for the people.
7. Through the research and implementation of the thesis
with desire and dedication to research issues, the author found
that some research directions may continue to pursue in the
future. Specifically:
- It is necessary to have an in-depth research on market
economic thinking capacity and goods for Mnong people
resettled and the impact area of hydropower plant.
- From the perspective of economic anthropology, there
should be in-depth research on the capacity to use finance in the
livelihood activities of the people.
- From the management perspective, there should be

research and policy advice for management agencies when
implementing compensation work. Also, there must be a plan to
provide funding for each stage in accordance with the project,
plan planning to ensure people use their financial resources
effectively.
- From a cultural perspective, more research is needed on
how livelihood changes have affected the changes in Mnong's
cultural behavior and lifestyle.
- From a policy perspective, although there are now too
many supporting policies, programs, and projects leading to
overlap, fragmentation and lack of system, some policies are no
longer appropriate and slowly amended and supplemented.
Meanwhile, financial resources arranged for the implementation
is small with some untimely and inefficient policies. This shows
that it is necessary to fundamentally change the contents of
policies towards integrating policies, concentrating resources and
thoroughly resolving the objectives.

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