Traditional ecological knowledge is under threat in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Rural communities in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta are losing traditional ecological knowledge due to climate change, agricultural modernisation, and migration, which are reshaping local livelihoods.

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is a valuable body of knowledge that evolves through experimentation, learning, and interaction with environments, supporting resource-based livelihoods of rural communities.

TEK plays a vital role in supporting resource-based livelihoods of rural communities and is valued across diverse cultural contexts.

However, some argue that TEK is less useful in the context of changing waterscapes and technological development in the Mekong region.

In the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, TEK is seen as a valuable shared asset, shaping ways of life, norms, values, and the 'living with floods' cultures of rural communities.

Local narratives of adaptation show how TEK has evolved through communities' interactions with water environments and their everyday livelihoods.
Fish trap making is an example of this process, illustrating the evolution of TEK.

Author's summary: Traditional ecological knowledge is under threat in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta due to climate change and modernisation.

East Asia Forum — 2025-10-17

Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

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