For many decades in Vietnam, rainwater harvesting has been widely used as a nature-based solution in rural areas, aiming at good-quality drinking water with low cost and little energy. Recently, rainwater for drinking has attracted much attention from the Vietnam government. Furthermore, despite its efforts, the outcomes are not as expected due to local barriers. This paper reviewed rainwater for drinking demonstration projects in some specific areas of Vietnam, with identification of the technical, economic, and social barriers, further suggesting possible overcome strategies. A lesson learnt from this study would be the principle of promoting rainwater for drinking in developing countries, looking forward to sustainability.

Background and objective: Ben Tre Province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta has been severely affected by salinity intrusion events, notably in 2016 and 2020, leading to extensive agricultural and economic losses. This study aims to evaluate the spatial and temporal impacts of salinity intrusion on agricultural land use from 2014 to 2023. Using a modified DRASTIC model, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), the research identifies vulnerable areas and provides insights for sustainable land-use management.Methods: A modified DRASTIC model, integrating Electrical Conductivity (EC) as a key parameter, was employed to assess salinity intrusion risks. NDVI values, derived from Landsat 8 imagery for 2014 and 2023, quantified changes in vegetation cover. The GWR model explored spatial heterogeneity in the relationship between salinity risk and agricultural land-use dynamics. Validation was conducted using 200 field samples across eight agricultural land-use (ALU) types, including rice, fruit trees, cash crops, coconuts, barren land, aquaculture and water surface.Results: Salinity intrusion significantly reduced areas of rice (-4,450 ha), fruit trees (-37,785 ha), and aquaculture (-8,226 ha), while promoting the expansion of salinity-tolerant species such as coconuts (+7,635 ha) and mangroves (+51,757 ha). High-risk zones were concentrated in coastal districts, particularly Ba Tri and Thanh Phu. GWR analysis revealed substantial spatial variability, highlighting the resilience of salinity-tolerant crops adapted to saline conditions.Conclusion: This study demonstrates the critical impact of salinity intrusion on agricultural systems and emphasizes the necessity of transitioning to salinity-resilient crops. By integrating spatial analysis and adaptive modeling, the findings provide actionable recommendations for mitigating salinity risks and enhancing the sustainability of ALU in Ben Tre Province.

The Mekong Delta faces severe climate change threats, with agricultural livelihoods increasingly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, drought, and extreme weather events. This study applied the Sustainable Livelihood Framework to assess household-level vulnerability and adaptive capacity in Thanh Phu District, Ben Tre Province, addressing critical knowledge gaps in micro-level climate impact analysis on agricultural communities. Data were collected from 200 agricultural households in January 2024 using simple random sampling across five communes representing three ecological zones: freshwater, brackish, and saltwater. A structured 33-variable questionnaire examined sociodemographic characteristics, livelihood capitals, climate impacts, and adaptation strategies. Pearson correlation analysis assessed relationships between climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, drought, salinity) and five livelihood capital domains (human, natural, physical, financial, social). Financial and physical capitals emerged as most vulnerable to climate stressors. Financial capital negatively correlated with temperature (r = −0.290, p = 0.000) and positively with precipitation (r = 0.258, p = 0.000). Physical capital showed positive correlations with temperature, drought, and salinity. Human capital demonstrated negative relationships with temperature and drought, while natural capital positively correlated with precipitation and salinity. Social capital exhibited resilience with no significant climate correlations. Vulnerability patterns varied significantly across ecological zones. Financial and physical capitals require immediate prioritization in climate adaptation strategies. Zone-specific interventions are essential: freshwater zones need capacity building and diversification support, brackish zones require infrastructure investment and resource quality improvement, while saltwater zones necessitate comprehensive livelihood transformation integrating financial, technical, and organizational support to enhance long-term climate resilience.