Background:  

As for my bachelor degree, I graduated from Forestry University of Vietnam in 1997, specializing in forest management and sivilculture. After the graduation, I have become a lecturer at The Hanoi University of Agricultural (HUA) of Vietnam, and involved in teaching two courses for undergraduate students (forest management and biodiversity conservation).

In 2001, I went to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok, Thailand to do my master program on rural development field. Specifically, I studied regional and rural development planning. My research project explored how the upland poor in northern Vietnam responded to various changes brought about from both inside and outside local communities. Based on my findings, I suggested a model that can contribute to the improvement of the poor’s livelihoods.

Study Area: Managing the Natural Environment

Project Title:  Sustainable Tourism Development for the Improvement of Local Livelihood and Enhancement of Biodiversity Conservation Management in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve of Vietnam .

Project outline: Cat Ba Island is situated on the southern end of the chain of islands that make up the Ha Long Bay UNESCO World Heritage site in northern Vietnam. Cat Ba is identified as one of the areas of highest biodiversity importance in Vietnam. Owing to its geographical and ecological advantages, the island now becomes a destination for tourists. The number of tourists coming to Cat Ba has increased substantially in recent years. However, tourism practices have not contributed to local livelihoods. Instead, they have brought about quite a number of problems for nature resources. The reinvesting mechanism for resource conservation by using financial resource derived from current tourism practice has not yet been paid enough attention by stakeholders. This research aims to answer the question how to make a contribution to balancing conservation and livelihood objectives within Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve.

Advisors:

Principal: Prof Ockie Bosch
Other: Prof Kambiz Maani,  Dr Carl Smith and Dr Nam Nguyen

Collaborating Organisations:

The Hanoi Agriculture University, Vietnam

Publication list:

• Thanh, M. V. (2005). Promotion of Agroforestry in Swidden Cultivation Area. International Conferrece on Marketing and Agroforestry Development in Upland's Vietnams, Hoa Binh, Agriculture Publishinh House.
• Thanh, M. V. (2006). "Anthropology Review." Agricultural Menthods as Coping Mechanisim to Food Shortage for Vietnamese Minorities in Moutainous Regions 2: 18.
  Vien, T. D., M. V. Thanh, et al. (2005). Decentralization of Forest Management and Impact on Local Livelihood of Ethnic Minority Group in Vietnam's Upland. Hanoi, Agriculture Publishing House.

Contact Details:

• Phone:  +61 7 5460 1693
• E-mail: thanhmv@yahoo.com
• Postal: School of Natural and Rural Systems Management, UQ Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD 4343 Australia
• Fax: +61 7 5460 1324