Author : Jean-Joseph Cadilhon

Summary : The study area around Phan Thiêt City in the southern Vietnamese province of Binh Thuân shows a diverse topographic environment: a river valley slowly elevating to highlands upriver and squeezed between two plateaux. Climate is tropical with a dry season lasting five months. Average yearly rainfall of 1,200mm and strong winds all year round exacerbate plant evapotranspiration. Beginning of rain is irregular. Soils are deep but generally very sandy apartfrom the lowland where loam and clay particles accumulate. Agriculture accounts for 45% of provincial production and rural communities tend up to 90%of land area including 60% of forested land. Main agricultural produces are paddy, dragonfruit, watermelon and sesame seed, peanut, cashew nut, coconut and fresh fruit and vegetables. Fishing and tourism is also a big activity in coastal areas. Thanks to its agricultureand fisheries production, Binh Thuân Province exports largely compensate its imports of manufactured goods and farming inputs.