Green livelihoods in Ramsar Lang Sen

A sustainable pathway for wetlands

The buffer zone of the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve, located in the communes of Vinh Thanh, Vinh Chau, and Tan Hung (Tay Ninh province), is home to communities that have lived in close ties with the natural ecosystem of the Plain of Reeds for generations. Alongside conserving biodiversity, this area is becoming a model for nature-based livelihoods, helping residents adapt to climate change while building a resilient local economy.

According to Nguyen Cong Toai, Deputy Director of the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve, Ramsar Lang Sen covers more than 4,800 ha and shelters 142 fish species, 158 bird species, and 331 plant species, many of which are listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book. With ecological functions such as flood regulation, groundwater recharge, air purification, and silt accumulation, Lang Sen serves as the “green lung” of the region, sustaining hundreds of households in the surrounding buffer zone.

In recent years, the Reserve Management Board, in partnership with organizations such as WWF and IUCN, has implemented several livelihood models aligned with natural flood cycles, such as floating-season rice-fish rotation, lotus-fish rotation, flood-season fish conservation, clean straw mushroom cultivation, water hyacinth weaving, and low-emission rice cultivation. These approaches help residents benefit from floodplain ecology while reducing pressure on natural resources.

Among them, the floating season rice-fish model in Vinh Chau and Tan Hung spans 120.8 ha with 33 participating households. With low production costs (approximately VND 7 million/ha), yields of 1.5 - 1.7 tons/ha, and an average rice selling price of VND 15,000/kg, farmers earn profits of VND 17 - 18.5 million/ha, 20–25% higher than conventional rice farming. It is important to note that the model reduces CO₂-equivalent emissions by 46%, thereby contributing to green agriculture goals.

In Tan Hung, a lotus-fish farming system covering 40.6 ha also delivers strong outcomes. With yields of 4.5 tons/ha and average revenues of VND 60 - 67 million/ha, households gain profits of VND 32.5 - 41.5 million/ha.

Lotus-fish rotation uses floodwater to naturally purify ponds, generating twice the income of single-crop rice while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 73%. In Vinh Thanh, Thanh Phat Cooperative’s flood-season fish preservation and dried fish production, which has earned a 3-star OCOP rating, provides stable jobs and income for dozens of households. Each household earns VND 1.5 million/ha from fish farming and VND 9.4 million per processing cycle on average, helping sustain the well-known “Lang Sen dried fish” brand.

Diversifying livelihoods to reduce pressure on natural ecosystems

Beyond fisheries, residents have expanded the clean straw mushroom farming model with each household building six mushroom houses (32 m² each). One crop of 30-45 days yields VND 1.8-4.5 million. Utilizing post-harvest rice straw not only reduces field burning but also creates stable employment for women, strengthening their role in ecological agriculture.

Meanwhile, the art of water hyacinth weaving has been revived, offering regular work and incomes of around VND 5 million/month, well-suited to seasonal flood livelihoods as it uses abundant local resources.

Another notable initiative is low-emission rice cultivation in Vinh Chau. Trials show comparable yields to conventional fields but with a 39% reduction in emissions, signaling strong potential for scaling up under Vietnam’s Resolution 120 on sustainable development of the Mekong Delta.

“Developing nature-based livelihoods brings dual benefits, improving incomes while protecting the precious Ramsar ecosystem. When communities gain a stable life, they become our ‘extended arm’ in biodiversity conservation,” said Toai.

Similar nature-based floating-season rice models are spreading to other localities. Nguyen Van Tinh, a farmer in Tan Thanh District (Tay Ninh), said, “Growing rice in harmony with nature without chemical inputs helps reduce costs. The yield each year may be lower, but the price is 1.5 times higher while the land stays fertile.”

From Lang Sen to a national ecological agriculture strategy

Information from Bui Hoai Nam of the National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Projection shows that Vietnam has recorded 275 ecological agriculture models from 2010 to 2025, with 60% established in the last five years. This aligns with Vietnam’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, but many of these projects still rely on ODA funding, while domestic and private-sector investment remains limited.

From a market perspective, Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative in Vietnam, said, “Global demand for ecological agricultural products is approximately USD 30 billion annually and rising, yet consumers are increasingly strict about traceability and environmental responsibility. While it is a big opportunity, Vietnam must invest thoroughly across the entire value chain from production and certification to branding and market access.”

As climate change intensifies, Lang Sen’s nature-based farming models are proving effective as they help communities adapt to irregular flooding, reduce emissions, improve soil health, retain silt, and maintain wetlands as the “green lungs” of the upstream region.

“Developing flood-season livelihoods is the right approach rooted in the philosophy of living with nature. When communities coexist harmoniously with the environment, Lang Sen not only preserves its international Ramsar value but also becomes a symbol of ecological agriculture in the Plain of Reeds,” said Nguyen Cong Toai, Deputy Director of the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve.

*USD 1 = VND 26,300 (Vietcombank November 10, 2025)