Livelihood strategies of the Mon-Khmer ethnic groups in Binh Phuoc province in the current development context of Vietnam

Abstract

The Mon-Khmer people are considered to be native in Binh Phuoc province of Vietnam. In the context of present development and integration, with specific socio-economic characteristics, these ethnic groups have experienced profound changes, especially in their livelihoods. These changes are associated with the lauching of the state’s socio-economic development policies, especially those, in recent years, relating to forest – the living environment of these groups. Livelihood changes are manifested in the nature of these ethnic groups’ traditional extensive cultivation, in their shifting of plants and in their participation in non-agricultural activities. By examining changing livelihoods of the Xtiêng, Mạ, and Mnong in Binh Phuoc province, this paper asserts that despite of having many policies which aim to upgrade socio-economic life of the underpriviledged in general and of these ethnic groups in particular, at the implementation stage of the policies, not much interest and attention has been paid to their abilities to adapt to the new settings and to their access to new opportunities.