Transformations in the livelihoods of the Hmong people in Muong Long commune, Nghe An province after the 1986 Doi moi reform

Abstract

Abstract: Since the Doi moi (reforms) process of 1986, the livelihoods of ethnic minority communities in Vietnam, including the Hmong, have undergone significant changes under the influence of socio-economic development policies and the process of integration. Drawing on a case study of the Hmong in Muong Long commune, Nghe An province, this article examines the transition from shifting cultivation to sedentary agriculture, as well as the shift from subsistence production to more diversified livelihood strategies. These new livelihood practices include the expansion of livestock raising, livestock trading, labor migration, and community-based tourism. The article highlights the role of state policies, local conditions, and ethnic social networks in shaping Hmong livelihoods. It demonstrates that, while the transformation of livelihoods has created new economic opportunities, it has also posed challenges to sustainable development.