The catchment area in Vietnam, and selected watersheds in particular, are vitally important in terms of socio-economic and environmental development as well as natural resources protection. They are the livelihood of all ethnic minorities - the most prioritised target groups of a number development projects of Vietnam at present and in future. Major constraints for catchment development include: remoteness; poor infrastructure; degraded forest, water and land resources; threatened bio-diversity. Emerging issues include poor-rich polarisation; food insecurity; low local investment capacity; low level of knowledge; traditional gender imbalance. A set of policies have been issued creating sound legislative background for development. State and local people are determined to work together pursuing a sustainable development and have made a considerable step in catchment development (land tenure, reforestation, poverty alleviation, food security, water supply, etc.). However, the policies are still fragmented with numerous elements of a top-down approach. Development activities are widely subsidy-based, weak in cost-effectiveness and linkages and in certain cases low local participation.
