Impacts of Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant Resettlement on Ca Dong Ethnic Group in Bac Tra My District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam

Abstract

The objectives of this article are twofold. The first is to analyze the impacts of Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant on the lives of people of Ca Dong ethnicity residing in two resettlement villages. The second is to identify the post-resettlement problems that should be promptly solved in order for the people to lead a more stable life. The study adopted the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method and a questionnaire survey in two selected hamlets in Tra Doc commune, Bac Tra My district, Quang Nam province in Central Vietnam. The research found that this hydropower project has had multi-faceted impacts on the lives of the Ca Dong people in the research areas. Despite its positive impacts, there have been unexpected impacts on people’s livelihoods, domestic water sources, social development, traditional culture, and living environment. Shortages of arable land and water are the two most important negative impacts of special concern. This research thus suggests that hydropower projects should include post-resettlement plans and projects that provide those who must resettle with housing and livelihoods of standards similar to those they had previously.