Poverty and ethnic minorities: The case of Khmer Households in the rural mekong delta, Vietnam

Abstract

Poverty reduction is one of the outstanding achievements associated with Vietnam's economic growth. However, reducing poverty and inequality among various ethnic groups in Vietnam may be different. The Khmers are one of the ethnic minorities in the country, with their distinctive cultural structure and large populations throughout the country. They live mainly in the Mekong Delta. This study surveyed 390 Khmer households in rural areas of the Mekong Delta to assess their poverty situation and their capacity for income diversification as the way to minimize income fluctuations and vulnerability. The findings reveal that the average income of a Khmer household was much lower than households’ average income in the whole region, evenly compared to the same indicators the same region four years ago. Limited areas of agricultural land per household and low education level among the local laborers are the important factor contributing to the dependence of households on low-skill jobs, thus resulting in low wages. In terms of poverty reduction among policies Khmer households, income diversification, access to education, infrastructure and credit have shown some positive effects on the probability of a household to escape poverty. Gender inequality and regional disparities are other significant factors in this regard, and thus they need to be addressed in the future policies design.