Income and livelihood adjustments following agricultural land acquisition: A case study of Binh Tan District, Vinh Long Province

This study analyzes changes in income and livelihood adjustments among households whose agricultural land was acquired in Binh Tan District, Vinh Long Province (based on the administrative boundaries prior to July 1, 2025). Data were collected in early 2026 from 90 households selected through stratified random sampling, including 30 households whose agricultural land was entirely acquired and 60 households whose land was partially acquired during the 2021–2025 period. Descriptive statistics and paired-samples t-tests were employed to compare household income before and after land acquisition. The results show that average household income decreased from VND 5.61 million to VND 4.86 million per household per month, representing a decline of 13.4%, with the difference being statistically significant at the 5% level. The income structure shifted from agriculture toward compensation payments, non-agricultural employment, trade, and services. Households whose entire agricultural landholdings were acquired were more vulnerable because they no longer had agricultural income as a buffer. The study recommends differentiated support based on the extent of land loss, linking vocational training with employment opportunities, providing guidance on the effective use of compensation payments, and monitoring household income recovery.