Deep in the Delta: Wintersession in Vietnam
The University of Montana
December 26, 2014 to January 19, 2015
ENST 427: Society, Economy and Environment of the Mekong Delta (3 credits)
Co-requisite Course:
ENST 437: Climate Change Effects and Adaptation in the Mekong Delta (3 credits)
Instructors
Dr. Nicky Phear, Climate Change Studies. Several professors from Can Tho University will also
provide major contributions to the program, as indicated in the itinerary.
Course Description and Learning Objectives
This travel seminar course integrates two co-requisite courses: Society, Economy and
Environment in the Mekong Delta and Climate Change Effects and Adaptation in the Mekong
Delta. The goal of the program is to use the Mekong Delta case to explore the potential social,
economic and environmental impacts of climate change in a tropical, developing country
context. Adaptation strategies and mitigation opportunities will be emphasized, and comparisons
will be made with the North American context.
Vietnam is an amazing country with welcoming people, a fascinating history and culture, warm
tropical climate, and diverse, but threatened, ecosystems and their associated flora and fauna.
The program will be based out of the city of Can Tho in the Mekong Delta, but include time in
Ho Chi Minh City and two weeks in the field visiting small and large scale agriculture and
aquaculture farming communities, wetlands, forests, Can Tho University agricultural and
mangrove management field experiment stations, and cultural sites (e.g. temples and a traditional
village). Field activities will include investigative learning through conversing with local people
and performing field research in Tram Chim National Park and mangrove forests in Ca Mau
Province. The program also includes a home stay with families in Can Tho.
ENST 427 Society, Economy and Environment of the Mekong Delta focuses on the history,
culture, economy and environment of Vietnam, with particular emphasis on the Mekong Delta
region. The goal of this course is to provide an understanding of the unique environments and the
socio-economy of the Mekong Delta region to facilitate learning about the effects of climate
change on these complex natural and anthropogenic systems.
Expected student learning outcomes include:
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Understanding the historical climate and distribution and ecological diversity of natural
ecosystems in the Mekong Delta;
Developing an understanding of the ecology and ecosystem services provided by large
floodplain rivers, like the Mekong River, and mangrove ecosystems in the Mekong Delta;
Developing an understanding of the historical and contemporary political and socioeconomic contexts in which the Mekong River and Delta in Vietnam have been managed.
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Understanding the current land uses, including land management practices in the Mekong
Delta;
Understanding the condition and causes of the current state of health of natural
ecosystems in the Mekong Delta;
Developing an appreciation of the socio-economic condition and common livelihood
activities of people living in the Delta, including agriculture and aquaculture development
and management practices;
Understanding the growing importance of tourism for local livelihoods and the economy
of the Mekong Delta;
Developing an understanding of the perceptions and attitudes that local people have about
their environment, including climate change impacts, and possible adaptation strategies;
Understanding the historical and contemporary anthropogenic impacts on the Mekong
Delta and how the Mekong River and the Delta’s ecosystems affect peoples’ lives; and,
Recognizing complexities in Mekong Delta management due to the river catchment
spanning Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and China.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites, but eligible students must be accepted by the University of Montana
and be in good academic standing at their home institution.
Compulsory pre-departure meetings and course work
Students are required to attend three compulsory two-hour pre-trip meetings, one in October, one
in November and third in December, for an introduction to the program and to discuss
preparations for the trip. You should also be prepared for about twenty hours of pre-departure
coursework, including required readings and one required essay, to be written before the
program in Vietnam begins.
Required and Recommended Readings (available via Moodle by December 8)
Required pre-departure course readings (download onto your computer to take with you)
Required Texts:
Vietnam: Rising Dragon. (2011) by B. Hayton. (New Haven & London: Yale University Press);
ISBN: 9780300152036 (paper).
Vietnam: A Natural History. (2006) E.J. Sterling, M.M Hurley, and Le Duc Minh. (New Haven
& London: Yale University Press); ISBN: 9780300126938 (paper).
When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. (1990) by Le Ly Hayslip. (Plume); ISBN:
0452271681
Read or Watch before arriving in Vietnam:
1. Vietnam: Rising Dragon. (2011) by B. Hayton. (New Haven & London: Yale University
Press); ISBN: 9780300152036 (paper).
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2. Vietnam Study Abroad Manual.
3. State Department Background Notes on Vietnam.
4. Lonely Planet Vietnam Travel Guide (not the Hanoi and Halong Bay travel guide). Provides
an introduction to the history and culture of the country, along with travel tips.
Watch this: A very good short half-hour lecture about the ethics of climate change by Peter
Singer, 2010: http://blip.tv/slowtv/the-ethics-of-climate-change-peter-singer-timsoutphommasane-p1-3843905. And a 3 minute video, The faces of climate change: Vietnam.
5. Economist. (2010). Adapting to climate change: Facing the consequences. Nov. 25. Print
Edition.
Calculate your carbon footprint for this trip, and compare your yearly carbon footprint to that
of the average Vietnamese. Here is one potential site for calculating your carbon footprint:
http://www.clearskyclimatesolutions.com/calculator.html, which comes from the Missoulabased organization, ClearSky Climate Solutions.
Readings for Dec 27 to Dec 31, 2014:
6. Be, N.V. Lecture 1: Introduction to Mangroves. PowerPoint presentation given to UM
Vietnam Wintersession class, January, 2011.
7. Be, N.V. Lecture 2: Mangrove Management in the Mekong Delta. PowerPoint presentation
given to UM Vietnam Wintersession class, January, 2011.
8. Be, N.V. Lecture 3: Mangrove and Shrimp Farming Systems. PowerPoint presentation given
to UM Vietnam Wintersession class, January, 2011.
9. Be, N.V. Lecture 4: Shrimp farming in Coastal Zone in the Mekong Delta. PowerPoint
presentation given to UM Vietnam Wintersession class, January, 2011.
Readings for Jan 1 – 8, 2015 in Can Tho
10. Bich, L.D. An Introduction to The Rural Culture of Southern Vietnam.
11. Bich, L.D. Communication and Culture Forming.
12. Mong, A. (2007). A farmer’s son tried to save the Mekong Delta. World Blog.
13. Ni, D.V.. The Mekong Delta of Vietnam: Development and Environment. PowerPoint
presentation given to UM Vietnam Wintersession class, January, 2011.
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Readings for Jan 9 - 12, 2015: Field Trip to Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, U Minh Thuong
14. Field Trip Background Information on Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Va Kien Giang.
15. Safford, R.J. et al. (1988) “Melaleuca Wetlands and Sustainable Development in the Mekong
Delta, Vietnam.” In The Wetlands Handbook, E. Maltby and T Barker, eds.
Readings for Jan 13 - 17, 2015: Can Tho, Field Trip to An Giang Province & Tram Chim
16. “Conservation: The Future of Vietnam’s Living World” in Vietnam: A Natural History.
(2006) E.J. Sterling, M.M Hurley, and Le Duc Minh. (New Haven & London: Yale
University Press), 349-377.
17. Van Ni, et al. (2007). Integrated water and fire management strategy for Tram Chim
National Park, Vietnam. Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use
Programme.
18. Nga, T.T., Tram Chim Water Management lecture. PowerPoint presentation given to UM
Vietnam Wintersession class, January, 2011.
19. Nga, T.T. Wetland Lecture Intro. PowerPoint presentation given to UM Vietnam
Wintersession class, January, 2011.
Additional Recommended Readings:
20. SEAT Program at Can Tho University.
21. White, I. (2002). Water management in the Mekong: Changes, conflicts & opportunities.
International Hydrological Programme. UNESCO, Paris. pp. 5-24.
22. Race to the Bottom: Burma and Vietnam head in opposite directions on human rights.
http://www.hrw.org/print/news/2012/11/07/race-bottom-burma-and-vietnam-head-oppositedirections-human-rights.
23. The Conservation of Key Wetland Sites in the Mekong Delta. BirdLife International report.
24. Wetlands Management in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta: An Overview of the Pressures and
Responses. By Magnus Torell and Albert M. Salamanca.
Readings: Course readings can be accessed via the links provided above and will be available
electronically through Moodle by December 8, 2014. Please download these readings onto your
computer and print any for which you would like hardcopies. Please contact Nicky with any
questions or difficulties downloading or printing the readings. Make sure you do the required
pre-departure readings before arriving in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Each student should read the book Vietnam: Rising Dragon, by Bill Hayton (2011) prior to
arriving in Vietnam. Students will write a critical response paper to the Hayton text as one of the
first course assignments (due Dec. 31), and we will have the opportunity to discuss the book
together upon arrival in Vietnam. Please bring with you to Vietnam, the other required text,
Vietnam: A Natural History.
Other recommended titles include:
The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam, by Bao Ninh (1996)
Understanding Vietnam, by Neil L. Jamieson (1995)
Vietnam: A History, by Stanley Karnow (1997)
The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien (2009)
Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, by Karl Marlantes (2011)
Required post-trip activities and assignments
Students and the University of Montana instructors will meet early in Spring semester for a twohour de-brief and final synthesis of the program. You should also be prepared for about ten
hours of final coursework to complete course assignments once you return from Vietnam.
Computers
While we are in Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City we will have access to hotel wireless internet
connection and internet cafes. This level of access should be sufficient for keeping in touch with
friends and family via email, as well as submitting your written work to Prof. Phear via email.
You are strongly encouraged to bring along a laptop computer if you do have access to one,
as we will do this class as a paperless course. Please always keep your laptop with you in your
carry-on luggage while travelling, and be sure to bring a power adapter.
Assessment
The following table outlines the assessment for the program. There are five assessment items
(including two response essays).
Item
Critical Review of Vietnam: Rising Dragon with focus
on history, economy & political structure of Vietnam
(Complete before Vietnam program and bring with you)
Blog post: one required, due on a rotating schedule during the
course, TBA
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Date
% course
grade
27 December
25
Variable due
dates
20
Journal
23 January
30
4 Speaker responses
23 January
20
Participation
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Critical Review of Vietnam: Rising Dragon with focus on history, economy & political
structure of Vietnam. Discuss important historic influences, current domestic and international
issues concerning Vietnam, political and economic structure, and important cultural customs and
practices drawing on information in Vietnam: Rising Dragon. Due: December 27 upon arrival in
Vietnam.
Blog post
Students will each write one, 500-600 word weblog entry on a particular topic of interest that
you expect will emerge from our experiences and course learning. By Friday, December 13, you
will need to send Nicky a list of two to three possible topics you may want to cover. These blog
posts will be edited and posted on a blog site. Check out student blog posts from the past three
classes at http://umvietnamstudy.wordpress.com/ to get ideas for topics. More detailed
instructions and guidelines for blog writing will be provided separately.
Journal
Students are expected to keep a personal journal with daily entries chronicling experiences and
observations and interactions with guest speakers. Guidelines for writing journal entries will be
provided separately. Due at end of week after return to the U.S.: 5:00 pm January 23.
Speaker Responses:
You will need to write a short 1-page response following four of our formal presentations
expressing 1) what was new and interesting to you about the presentation, 2) what (if any) was
the speaker’s perspective on climate change, and 3) what questions do you still have. I suggest
these speakers, but you can substitute with permission:
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Mr Nguyen Tuan Khan, Introduction to Vietnam
US Consulate meeting
Dr. Pham Le Thong, Economy of Mekong Delta
Dr. Nguyen Huu Chiem, Sustainable development in the Mekong Delta
Mr. Ly Quoc Dang, Delta Youth Alliance, Environmental Issues on Con Son Island
Speakers from Heifer Project International
Do not fall behind on your journal entries and speaker responses! They are due by email to
Nicky at end of week after the Vietnam portion of the class: 5:00 pm, January 23.
Participation
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Active participation in all scheduled program–related activities is required, including group
meetings, discussions, field excursions, as well as lectures and any other scheduled activities.
Your participation grade will be based on both your academic and experiential participation. I
expect active engagement in class discussions, with course speakers and academic activities. I
also expect you to participate in the necessary practical aspects of the course, including respect
for local customs and culture, safety consciousness, following directions, and timeliness. Please
be conscious of being open to new perspectives and aware of judgments we carry from the USA.
Attendance and lateness policy
During the field studies, no student is to leave the group without the consent of a University of
Montana instructor, and punctual attendance at all field and on-campus meetings is required.
Unless an absence is approved by one of the instructors, students will lose 10% of their final
grade for each day or part-day they fail to participate. Any unexcused absences or continued late
arrival to program activities may, at the discretion of University of Montana instructors, be
grounds for dismissal from the program.
Permission must be obtained in advance to turn in any assignment late. A standard policy of
subtracting 10% per day late (or part of day late) is fair to everyone (students, instructors, and
administration).
Some things to consider when preparing for the trip:
Climate
This trip is taking place during Vietnamese dry season (some locals refer to this period as
“winter”); the most comfortable time of year for outdoor activities in the Mekong Delta. The
average daily minimum and maximum temperatures in Can Tho in January are 22ºC (72ºF) and
28ºC (82ºF), respectively. The average daily humidity in January is 71% and average monthly
precipitation is about two inches (compared to 89% and 19 inches in August!). Nevertheless,
accept that you are probably going to be hot and sticky whenever you are moving around
outside. Drink plenty of water. These conditions also make it important to bathe regularly and
not to let dirty clothes accumulate in piles. Keep ahead of your laundry pile by washing clothes
regularly and hang dirty clothes to air out if you are not washing them right away, or use the
laundry services at the Guesthouse.
Medication and immunization
Visit your doctor, the Curry Health Center, or the Missoula County Health Clinic to find out
what vaccinations you may require before travelling to Vietnam, and medication to prevent
contracting malaria (such as Malarone) and for treating an upset stomach (such as
Azithromycin). You should seriously consider being immunized against typhoid, hepatitis A,
hepatitis B, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, tetanus and polio.
Dress code
In general, Vietnam has a conservative dress code. Dress code laws do not appear to be strictly
enforced in Vietnam, but regulations governing Vietnam’s historic sites and tourist attractions
state that, “Entry is forbidden to tourists wearing sleeveless shirts or shorts”. At universities and
cultural sites and other tourist attractions, plan to wear long pants or longer skirts or dresses.
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Long or short-sleeve shirts are acceptable. Shorts and sleeveless shirts are not acceptable. Dirty
clothes are not acceptable.
When getting around Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho in your free time, shorts will generally be
acceptable, but consider where you plan to go and dress appropriately. Clothing that exposes the
belly button and shoulders are not appropriate anywhere.
For our field trips, long pants are recommended for men and women, but shorts will be
acceptable in many cases (check with the Can Tho University professors leading field trips).
Long or short-sleeved shirts will be acceptable. Your clothes will get dirty in the field and this
will be acceptable in rural areas
Homestay
In Can Tho, all students will enjoy a homestay experience for a few days with a local family.
Although we will be busy with other learning activities during your home stay, this experience
will help you to appreciate life and culture in Vietnam, and hopefully discover some things about
yourself. You will find your hosts to be friendly and open with you, but remember that to make
the most of your experience you will need to reciprocate and spend time with your family. You
will be expected to behave as a self-supporting adult member of the household. Be aware of and
sensitive to how your presence can contribute positively and negatively to the family. More
information about the homestay will be provided at a pre-departure meeting and in Vietnam.
In the field
Make sure you have with you each day:
 sturdy, closed-toed shoes;
 at least one liter of water (Avoid drinking tap water. We will be buying bottled water);
 field notebook, pencils/pens and a map of the Mekong Delta to get you oriented (you can
obtain from bookstores in Can Tho);
 hat, sunglasses and sunscreen;
 insect repellant (consider wearing light-colored, light-weight long sleeve shirts and long
pants if you are particularly concerned about insect bites);
 rain gear and a dry shirt;
 snacks to eat in between meals provided if you think you will need them;
 any medication or medical supplies you might require; toilet paper and hand wipes;
 binoculars and camera (optional).
Academic honesty
All academic work must meet standards of academic honesty (as described in the Student
Handbook). Each student is responsible for informing themselves about those standards before
performing any academic work. Academic dishonesty is not just copying the work of others, but
also includes such behaviors as tolerating the academic dishonesty of others or giving false
reasons for failure to take a test.
Your signature on any exam or name printed on any assignment indicates your acceptance of the
following policy: “I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this exam or
assignment.” Please give due credit to other people’s ideas by referencing or quoting the source.
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Special accommodations
Any student with a disability who needs an accommodation or other assistance in this course
must contact the instructor at least four weeks before the program begins. After that time, we
cannot guarantee that such needs can be accommodated. Some activities involve moderate
exercise, such as hiking and swimming and participation is voluntary for all students. If you are
a vegetarian, please let the instructor know and we will do our best to accommodate you in
meals and let your family know for home-stays. Note: it is not always possible to have a
vegetarian option in some situations, such as when we are being hosted by a rural family. The
course instructor will try to let you know when this may be the case. It will be helpful for you to
carry some snacks or other foods you can eat in these circumstances.
Conduct regulations
All students must be familiar with the general conduct regulations described in the Student
Handbook. Below are other program-specific conduct regulations to which students must adhere.
Failure to obey these policies may result in dismissal from the program, at the discretion of the
Program Director.
Student Conduct in Accommodation: Our program depends on goodwill between us and
accommodation owners and managers, including homestay families. If we have any issues with
unpleasant or noisy conduct in the accommodations, it creates problems when we attempt to
book for the students in the NEXT program. Thus, for the sake of the students that follow you,
improper conduct in the accommodations that disturb other guests or the staff or cause damage
are not acceptable and can be grounds for dismissal from the program.
Conduct in the Field: Students must follow the instructions of staff exactly and promptly when
in the field. This is a serious safety issue when we are doing outdoor activities in particular.
Failure to follow instructions that incur actual or likely physical harm to self or others, or result
in time wasted by the staff or other students may, at the discretion of the Program Director, be
grounds for dismissal from the program.
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