Factors influencing farming households’ climate change adaptation strategies in Central Vietnam

PLOS One | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328058 July 10, 2025 11 / 22 availability for irrigation and domestic use, further compounding vulnerability. The spatial and temporal overlap of multiple stressors necessitates context-specific adaptation strategies tailored to distinct hazard profiles across different times of the year. Importantly, the subjective observations of the surveyed population regarding changing climate patterns and disaster risks align closely with national assessments and projections. The observed trends in increased drought severity, pro- longed flood seasons, and rising storm intensity are consistent with the findings outlined in Scenario of climate change, sea level rise for Vietnam [27]. This convergence between community-level perceptions and scientific projections lends further credibility to the argument that climate change has transitioned from a theoretical concern to a lived experience among rural households in Vietnam. The insights gained from this study emphasize the importance of localized climate knowledge and the role of community-based observations in informing adaptation planning. They also highlight the necessity of enhancing farmers’ adaptive capacity through timely dissemination of climate information, disaster preparedness education, and investment in resilient agricultural infrastructure. The findings provide a foundation for future interventions aimed at improving resilience and fostering sustainable rural development in the face of accelerating climatic threats.

To respond effectively to the multifaceted impacts of climate change, a notable proportion of surveyed farming households—approximately 42.13%—reported having adopted at least one or more adaptation strategies tailored to their specific livelihood conditions. The descriptive statistical analysis revealed a diversified array of coping mecha- nisms utilized by farmers in Tuyen Hoa district, reflecting both agricultural innovation and livelihood diversification. Among the identified adaptation practices, shrimp farming emerged as the most prevalent strategy, adopted by 76.69% of households. This was followed by lotus-fish integrated farming systems (64.33%), and the cultivation of vegetables (55.9%) as alternative or supplementary sources of income and food security. Furthermore, 66.85% of respondents reported switching to new salt-tolerant rice varieties—a crucial adaptation in the context of increasing soil salinity driven by saltwater intrusion. In terms of technological and infrastructural adaptation, approximately 23.88% of households had installed small-scale irrigation systems, which, although limited in coverage, are essential in areas with erratic rainfall and unreliable surface water availability. Adjustments in agricultural calendars also constituted a common adaptation approach, adopted by 49.72% of households. These adjustments were made to synchronize agricultural activities with seasonal weather variations. Specifically, aquaculture activities were typically initiated between February and

May (lunar calendar), the winter-spring rice crop was planted from late December to April, and the summer-autumn crop was sown from mid-May to mid-August annually. Additionally, 34.83% of respondents indicated participation in non-agricultural employment as a strategy to diversify income sources and reduce dependence on climate-sensitive sectors (Table 4). Table 4. Adaptation strategies of farming households against saltwater intrusion. Adaptation strategies n % of respondents Shrimp farming 273 76.69 Lotus and fish farming 229 64.33 Vegetable production 199 55.90 Small-scale irrigation system 85 23.88 Salt-tolerant rice varieties 238 66.85 Agricultural calendar changing 177 49.72 Non-agricultural work participation 124 34.83 Source: Study results (2024). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328058.t004