TYLA: Border markets and socio-economic dynamics in the Vietnam - China border area from 1990 to present

Author name:TA THI TAM

Thesis title:BORDER MARKETS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DYNAMICS IN THE VIETNAM-CHINA BORDER AREA FROM 1990 TO PRESENT

Dissertation field: Anthropology Code: 62 22 70 01

Name of the postgraduate training unit: University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

1. Purpose and research objects of the thesis

The thesis has four main research objectives, one is to study markets in the Vietnam - China border area. Two is to study the characteristics of markets. Three is to study the connections through markets such as social networks, human flows, culture - society. Four is to point out the role of markets in local economic development, at the same time looking for policy implications for the development issues of the Vietnam - China border area.

The research object of the thesis is border markets and the dynamics of cultural, social and economic practices of border communities in their daily activities at the markets. Specifically, the thesis studies 4 markets in 3 provinces: Loc Binh market (Loc Binh town, Lang Son province); Coc Leu market (Lao Cai city), Can Cau market (Si Ma Cai district) Lao Cai province; Mong Cai market (Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province). Loc Binh market is a traditional market of the Tay and Nung people with typical products such as agricultural seedlings and cross-border hired labor. Can Cau market is a market of the Hmong people that was recently re-established in 1996 but has become the largest buffalo market in the North. Coc Leu market is a people's market in Lao Cai city, bordering Hekou town, China, specializing in buying and selling electronic products and household goods. Mong Cai money market is like a flexible and mobile credit system, meeting the needs of large and small scale goods exchange of Vietnamese and Chinese merchants.

2. Research methods used

This study deals with some concepts of border areas, border markets, and socio-economic dynamism.

To conduct the study, in addition to the literature review, the following specific research methods were applied:

Questionnaire survey,was conducted at two research sites, Can Cau and Loc Binh markets, to quantify characteristics of population, ethnicity, occupation, economic conditions, income, activities and participation of ethnic groups in the market commodity chain.

In-depth interviews,is an important and effective method that helps me carry out this thesis. In-depth interviews (about 100) with 3 subjects: people who trade in the market with their own or other ethnic groups in the country and abroad; households with people trading and doing business in the market; local officials (market managers and local authorities). The content of the interviews focused on the history of the formation and development of the market, the characteristics as well as the role of the market in developing local livelihoods, the connections through the market such as social networks, people flows, and money flows in border markets.

Group discussion, was conducted with representatives of 3 target groups who conducted in-depth interviews. At each research site, I conducted 2 group discussions for each target group, each group had 5 participants. There were 4 markets with 24 group discussions in total, with 120 participants. The above discussions focused on 3 main contents: activities and participation of ethnic groups in the commodity chain at the market, benefits and prices as well as challenges that ethnic groups have to overcome in the process of developing border markets, and the impact of markets on local livelihood development.

Observe and participate in market trading activities and the lives of local ethnic groups with markets as well as households with members participating in market activities and doing business with ethnic groups across the border.

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

Firstly, the thesis analyzes the characteristics of the market system in the Vietnam - China border area through four research market locations. From there, it points out the role of the border market system in the socio-economic development process in the Vietnam - China border area since the normalization of Vietnam - China relations up to now.

Second, based on the analysis of the characteristics of goods and trading transactions of the four research markets, the characteristics and strengths in economic exchanges of each ethnic group, each geographical area and social space of the border area are presented.

Third, clarify the social networks as well as the socio-cultural factors that ethnic groups in the region have to overcome challenges in developing livelihoods in border areas.

Fourth, through analyzing the cultural and social contacts and exchanges of ethnic groups in the market space, it points out the benefits/gains as well as the losses/disadvantages of each ethnic group in the process of participating in the development of the border market.

Fifth, the thesis points out the suitability/inappropriateness of policies in border development, thereby providing a scientific basis for policy makers to refer to and propose policies and strategies for border development.

3.2. Conclusion

Border markets are explored from the perspective of socio-cultural space containing economic dynamics. In this study, I focus on studying four different market locations in the Vietnam - China border area, following the approaches of case studies and area studies. Furthermore, I also apply theoretical frameworks on border areas, social spaces, social networks and social exchanges to see more clearly the economic and cultural exchanges of ethnic groups in the Vietnam - China border area. From the concepts of border markets that go beyond the administrative border space, I draw some conclusions as follows:

1. The outstanding feature of the market in the Vietnam - China border area is the large open space with economic, cultural and social exchange activities, especially the contribution of the border market in developing the livelihoods of ethnic groups in the region, inter-regionally and across borders.

2. The flow of goods in border markets is diverse and rich in terms of origin, source, nature, and ethnic characteristics of the goods. The buying and selling activities of goods in border markets have had an impact on the livelihoods of self-producing and self-consuming people and professional traders in border markets.

3. The social network in buying and selling activities is also placed in socio-cultural interactions and cultural spaces in border markets.

4. In the socio-economic context of border areas, border markets play an important role in the socio-economic life of border residents, especially in cross-border trade activities, forming a network of trade and border traders. In addition, border markets also make a positive contribution to meeting the needs of livelihood and life in border areas.

If we look at the market as a manifestation of development, the border market is not only a manifestation of economic development but also of cultural and social development. From the perspective of the four research market points as a research point to have an overall view of the development of the market system in the Vietnam - China border area in the dynamic economic and social development of the border area.

                                                                     DOCTORAL THESIS ABSTRACT

The author's name: TA THI TAM

Thesis title:Border Markets and Socio-Economic Dynamics in the Vietnam-China Borderlands Since 1990

Scientific branch of the thesis: Anthropology

Major: Code: 62 22 70 01

The name of postgraduate training institution: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University

1. Thesis purpose and research subjects:

Purpose:the thesis has 4 main research purposes, including: (i) research markets in Vietnam - China borderlands; (ii) research characteristics of the markets; (iii) research the relations formed through the markets like social network, folk, culture and society and (iv) the role that markets play in developing local economy, and suggests policies to develop Vietnam - China borderlands.

Subjects:the socio - economic dynamics in the borderland markets. Typically, the thesis studied 4 markets in 3 provinces: Loc Binh market (Loc Binh town, Lang Son province); Coc Leu market (Lao Cai City, Lao Cai province); Can Cau market (Si Ma Cai District, Lao Cai province); Mong Cai market (Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province)

2. Research methods

The thesis mentioned some definitions of borderland, borderland market, socio – economic dynamics.

To conduct the research, except for detailed documents, the following methods are adopted:

Question: carried out in Can Cau and Loc Binh market in order to quantify the characteristics about residents, people, occupation, economic conditions, income, activities and ethnic migration' participation in the supply chain at the markets.

In-depth interview: an important and effective method that helped me to finish this thesis. I carried out about 100 in-depth interviews with 3 subjects including (i) market merchants trading with the same or different people inside or outside the country; (ii) families whose members do trading at the markets; and (iii) local officials (market managers and local authorities). The interviews focused on the establishment and development history of the market, the features and role of markets in promoting local livelihood; the relations formed through the markets like social network, people flow, money flow in borderland markets.

Group interview: conducted with representatives of the 3 subject groups which joined in – depth interviews. At each research location, I did 2 interviews for each group of 5 members, focus groups classified into gender, age (each group includes from three to seven people), total 24 group discussions – 120 participants at 4 markets. Those discussions focused on 3 points: activities and participation of ethnic areas in supply chain at market, the advantages and disadvantages that those minorites have to overcome during development process of borderland markets, and the impact of markets on promoting local livelihood.

I also observed and participated in trading activities at the markets and daily life activites of the ethnic region where markets happen, or the families whose members joined market activities and trading with foreigners.

3. Major results and conclusions

3.1.The major results

- Firstly, the thesis analyzes the features of markets in Vietnam – China borderland through 4 subject markets, and thus points out the role of borderland markets in developing socio economic in Vietnam – China borderland ever since Vietnam – China relations normalized.

- Secondly, the analysis of the characteristics of goods and trading activities in 4 subject markets shows striking features and advantages in economic exchanges of each person, each location and society in borderland.

- Thirdly, clarifying the social network as well as socio – cultural factors that local people strive to overcome the challenges of developing local livelihood.

- Fourthly, by analyzing the social and cultural exchanges of people at the market, the thesis points out the pros and cons of each ethnic minority in the process of participation in the development of the border market.

- Fifthly, the thesis also emphasizes the suitability of the policies on developing borderlands, thus providing scientific basis for policy – ​​makers to refer to and propose more effective policies.

3.2.Conclusions

- In this thesis on borderland markets which were discovered from socio - cultural perspective with economic dynamics, I focus on exploring the 4 markets in Vietnam - China borderland marketsin details. Besides, the theoretical frameworks on borderland, social space, social network and exchanges are also adopted to have a better insight into socio - economic exchanges of the peoples living in Vietnam – China borderland. From the concept of borderland market extended beyond administrative border, I would like to draw some conclusions as below:

1. The striking features of Vietnam - China borderland markets include open space on a large scale with economic, cultural and social exchange activities, especially the contribution of border markets in the development of ethnic groups' livelihoods in the region, inter-region and cross-border.

2. Commodities in the border market are diverse and rich in origin, properties, ethnic characteristics of goods. Trading activities in the border market have had an impact on the livelihoods of autonomous people and the professional traders living in the borderland.

3. The network of social relations in trading activities is also placed in the cultural and social interaction and cultural space in the border market.

4. In the socio-economic context in the border areas, the borderland market plays an important role in the socio-economic life of the border residents, especially in cross-border trade activities, forming the trading network in the borderland. Besides, the border market also contributes positively to meeting the needs of livelihoods and life in the border areas.

From the viewpoint of four subject markets as a research point to get an overview of the development of the Vietnam-China boarder market system in the socio-economic dynamic development of the border region.