Indigenous Knowledge of the Hmong People in Lai Chau,Vietnam: Sustainable Agricultural Adaptation and Climate Resilience

Abstract

This study examines the Indigenous Knowledge (IK) of the Hmong in Lai Chau, Vietnam, not as a static tradition but as a dynamic system of agricultural adaptation and climate resilience. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork—including semi-structured interviews and participant observation with Hmong farmers—the research is framed by Indigenous epistemology, agroecology, and resilience theory. Findings show that Hmong adaptive capacity rests on a holistic knowledge system that combines ecological observation, cosmological reasoning, and socio-political autonomy. This knowledge is expressed through concrete practices such as flexible agricultural calendars, crop diversification, and ecological management, which together sustain food security and community resilience. Situating these findings within a broader context, this study argues that effective adaptation for Indigenous peoples is contingent upon knowledge justice, cultural continuity, and agroecological integrity. The Hmong case thus serves as a compelling model for global climate governance, demonstrating the vital role of IK systems in safeguarding livelihoods and biodiversity in an era of escalating climatic instability.

Keywords

indigenous knowledge climate change sustainable agriculture Hmong Vietnam

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