Global strategies for adaptation to climate change that are based on western scientific knowledge often encounter difficulties being adopted in non-western contexts in the Asia-Pacific region. In the face of climate change, locally-led adaptation (LLA) has emerged as a promising approach, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge systems in building resilience. Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts. Local communitie, especially ethnic minority groups have long relied on place-based knowledge to navigate environmental changes. This paper explores the role of local place-based knowledge in sustaining locally-led climate adaptation efforts in Vietnam. Through a combination of case study and interviews with local communities in a rural area of Vietnam, this paper provides empirical evidence a case study in Vietnam to show that, if adequately supported, LLA could form the basis for developing sustainable pathways of adaptation to climate-driven environmental change. In the case study, the ways in which climate change is currently affecting local environments are detailed, together with the ways in which local knowledge is currently deployed to counter these effects. The findings highlight the significant role of traditional knowledge in resource management, agricultural practices, and disaster risk reduction. The study further explores the challenges of integrating local knowledge into formal adaptation policies and offers recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of locally-led adaptation in the country.
