Transformation of Rural Community and Current Issues in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam (1) : The Case of Agriculture in Ap Dang Phong of Cho Gao District, Tien Giang Province

Since the latter of the 20th century, the Development and the Governance of the Mekong River has helped increase the interest amongst the national goverments in this region, researchers, and NGOs. This paper focuses upon the rural community in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam, which is located the lower reaches of the Mekong River, and noted as one of the most fertile paddy fields in the Southeast Asia. In the rural area of the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam, the local residents' living space is in close vicinity to the waterside, such as waterway, creek, and canal. The purpose of this paper is to consider transformation of agriculture and and rural life in this region during the last decades. In this article we analyzed the questionnaire data conducted on 37 households in Ap Dang Phong of Cho Gao District, Tien Giang Province. Our survey on agriculture was conducted from the end of August to the beginning of September 2009. Through the analysis of this paper we point out some current issues of farming system and lifestyle in their rural lives