The Impact of Upstream Dam Construction on Livelihood of People in the Mekong Delta

Abstract

The Mekong River is one of the largest rivers in the world origins from Tibet and flowing through China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia into the Bien Dong in Vietnam. Hydropower development project of Mekong Basin is rapidly increasing and it is affecting the nature and human behaviors in many ways. The objectives of this study were to identify the impact of hydroelectric dam projects on livelihood of downstream population in Mekong Delta, to identify socioeconomic changes of downstream population of the river, and to give proposals to systematize the construction of hydroelectric projects in the country. Interviewing and survey methods were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods. Both descriptive and inferential statistics will be used for quantitative analysis. The results of the study can be utilized to minimize the negative impact of the hydroelectric projects on nature and human behaviors in Vietnam