The environment of craft and cottage industry villages in the context of Viet Nam's New Rural Development process (Case studies from Duong Lieu village, Hoai Duc district, Ha Noi city and Dai Bai village, Gia Binh district, Bac Ninh province)

Abstract

This paper is about the social and environmental situation of villages engaged in craft and cottage industries in the context of the New Rural Development process in the Red River delta of Vietnam. Based on fieldwork conducted in Duong Lieu village in Duong Lieu commune, Hoai Duc district, Hanoi city and Dai Bai village in Dai Bai commune, Gia Binh district, Bac Ninh province, the paper shows that in the context of implementing the policy on New Rural Development, craft and cottage industry brought many favorable conditions for economic development in these villages. This can be seen via many dimensions such as creation of jobs, increase of household incomes, etc. The paper also demonstrates that the development of craft/cottage industry villages led to negative consequences, especially the problem of environmental pollution. Duong Lieu village was reported to have a high rate of untreated waste water discharge whereas Dai Bai has a high rate of untreated waste gas emission. The environmental pollution also created risks of conflicts among people and communities who live in nearby areas and share the same water sources. In addition, the limited use of protective labor equipment was recorded in both Duong Lieu and Dai Bai. It can be said that along with positive results, craft/cottage industry in Duong Lieu and Dai Bai villages also created concerns about environmental problems.

Received 05^th April 2017; Revised 24^th April 2017; Accepted 29^th April 2017