Abstract
Planned resettlement is one of the popular solutions to visible climate hazards, such as flooding, or land erosion. However, relocation can result in less visible risks that undermine long-term well-being. This study explores these hidden risks through qualitative fieldwork conducted in three coastal communes of Ca Mau, Vietnam. Using semi-structured interviews with households living in resettlement sites, and high-risk zones, the research examines how families adapt to climate pressures and policy-driven relocation. Findings reveal that the fixed notion of “home” assumed in resettlement programs contrasts with households’ dynamic livelihood strategies. Families diversify risks by splitting across multiple locations, engaging in seasonal migration, and relying on social networks to cope with uncertainty. While these strategies provide short-term resilience, they also create hidden vulnerabilities, such as economic precarity, social isolation, intergenerational disruption, and unequal burdens on female members. The study demonstrates how resettlement programs, by overlooking these lived realities, might produce “unseen unsustainability”. Those programs could lead to lost of livelihood security even when manage to reduce exposure to environmental hazards. Recognizing mobility, social capital, and long-term livelihood needs is essential for designing resettlement policies that support resilience and well-being.
Presenters
Thu NguyenStudent, PhD in Urban Planning and Development, University of Southern California, Indiana, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Unseen Unsustainability: Addressing Hidden Risks to Long-Term Wellbeing for All
KEYWORDS
Climate Resettlement, Hidden Risks, Livelihood Resilience, Household Mobility, Coastal Vietnam
