Cost-benefit analysis of migration in the context of environmental change in Ben Tre Province of Viet Nam

Changes in the natural environment and the socio-economic environment have had both direct and indirect impacts on agricultural production and farmer’s life in three coastal districts of Ben Tre Province of Viet Nam, including Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu. Natural environment changes are drought, saline intrusion, and landslides while the socio-economic environment changes consist of agricultural market fluctuation, rising labor and agricultural input price, decreasing output price, diseases, etc. One of the solutions that households take to cope with these changes is migration. In this article, the authors examine factors that affected households’ migrating decisions and behaviors using cost-benefit approach. Two research methods used in this study are social surveys and in-depth interviews. The survey was conducted with 79 households that have migrants in 3 coastal districts. The research suggests that migrants themselves made the migration decision in most cases (85%). Three main reasons for migration among farmers in the area have been identified as (1) solving the immediate difficulties of the household, (2) being part of the family’s long-term plan, and (3) being the family’s livelihood strategy in the short term (solving difficulties) and long-term (transforming livelihoods). The costs that migrants and their families can face are direct costs (packing, travel costs, rental housing, etc.) and indirect costs (change in living environment and social relations, anxiety of family members, and social evils at the destination, etc.). The benefits of migration can be immediate benefits (economic and non-economic) as well as long-term effects that have a great impact on household life and the migrants themselves. The research finds that migration provided more benefits related to the living conditions of households. It also points out that migration has become a feasible long-term adaptation strategy for farmers, those who stayed behind, in the context of environmental change.


Introduction
The Mekong Delta (Mekong Delta) is located at the end of the Mekong River basin.The whole delta has a natural area of more than 4.0 million hectares, accounting for 12.0% of Viet Nam's natural area [1].The process of exploiting hundreds of years in freshwater, saltwater, and brackish water areas has created conditions for the Mekong Delta to become a key agricultural region of Viet Nam's food production [2], [3].However, the Mekong Delta, along with many other delta plains in the world, are facing many environmental changes, most notably the intensifying climate change [4].Particularly for the Mekong Delta, the livelihood of farmers is facing the dangers with multi-dimensional interactions from the double impact of hydroelectric dams on the upstream and climate change along with exploitation by residents for hundreds of years [5].Facing the strong impacts on this agricultural livelihood, the Mekong Delta residents have taken many measures to adapt to that change.One of the preferred adaptive solutions is migration, especially in coastal provinces where the impact of environmental changes is clearly manifested.
Migration to respond to environmental shocks is not a new phenomenon, it has occurred for centuries [6], [7].Research on the interaction between migration and global environmental changes has been conducted since the late 19th century [8].In the past few decades, the international research community has gradually realized the linkage and broader meaning of environmental and climate change for human migration [7].In previous discussion on this topic, migration is considered a result of inadaptability to the environment [7], [9], [10].However, in agricultural countries, cyclic migration can become a promising solution for adapting to environmental degradation [11].Migration decisions will depend on many interventions and characteristics of individuals and households.Environmental changes will affect this decision by creating impacts.In some cases, environmental changes may erode people's important assets.Individuals who do not have financial capacity to respond to these impacts will choose to migrate.Families, especially those whose livelihoods depend too much on the uncertainty of nature, tend to send a few family members to other areas looking for a job with a higher economic accumulation level.This can be considered a risk reduction strategy for the family.After that, migrants will send remittances to support the remaining members who still live in the countryside.The income from stable money transfer is also a way to balance changes in the environmental cycle that affects crops [10].
In recent studies on migration and environmental changes in the Mekong Delta region, the environmental changes that impact household life are floods and river banks erosion [12], [13].Besides, unemployment, local economic pressure, outside employment needs, poverty, etc. are socioeconomic fluctuations that have influenced migration decisions of households [13]- [15].However, in these studies, the approach to environmental changes in the Mekong Delta is mainly based on considering natural environmental changes, followed by examining the socio-economic environmental changes.The socio-economic environmental changes are not a main variable.As these usually play a less important role in environmental changes studies, it inadvertently lessens the importance of the economic and social aspects in the concept of environmental changes.Finally, the relationship between migration and environmental changes in research areas can be better addressed using the push-pull factor between the place of origin and the destination.People identify environmental pressures and their consequences on the livelihood of the household as the factors that push individuals and families out of their home while they consider better infrastructure and opportunities for replacement livelihood as pulling factors that attract them to new destinations.Moreover, if well prepared, the migration is expected to be a household's adaptation strategy against environmental changes [16].This article expects to offer some specific evidence to contribute more information to the adaptive migration strategy and the preparation of the household in the context of environmental change in Viet Nam, thereby pointing out the positive impacts of well-prepared migration activities on the life of households and their confidence in choosing adaptive strategy in the context of fluctuating future.

Cost-benefit analysis approach
Cost-benefit model is a typical model in analyzing migration decision.Potential migrants weigh push and pull factors and they will migrate if the benefits outweigh the costs [17], [18].For example, if a person loses his/her job and if migration to another place is more profitable, in terms of income, social status, living and working environment, and family issues, that person will decide to migrate.Migrating decision is not only based on benefits, but also on cost of potential activities.The costs of migrating and settling in a new place can be of two types, economic costs (direct and opportunity costs) and non-economic costs (immediate and long-term costs).Benefits gained from migration can also be divided into two categories: economic benefits (direct and opportunistic) and non-economic benefits (immediate and long-term).It should be recognized, however, that very few migration decisions are made based on an analysis of all the above-mentioned cost and benefit factors.Besides, the cost-benefit model mainly collects data related to economic indicators which are quantifiable, while indicators related to social aspects are difficult to collect by this model [19].In addition, often the poorest people make migration decisions based solely on short-term economic benefits and costs.Only well-off people consider some other benefits such as opportunities for themselves and their families in the long run.
The cost-benefit analysis is based on two main groups: farmers (who stay) and migrants (who leave).However, in this study, the cost-benefit factors are listed and analyzed based on the perspective of the people who stay.Where B is the benefit and C is the cost: -When [Bi -Ci] > 0, it means that immigration brings more benefits to stakeholders.
-When [Bi -Ci] < 0, it means that immigration has not or does not bring more benefits to stakeholders (depending on the time and duration of migration)

Data collection methods
Primary data was collected by sociological survey method using questionnaires (79 questionnaires) and in-depth interviews (26 cases) in 3 coastal districts of Ben Tre province (Binh Dai district, Ba Tri district and Thanh Phu district).The respondents of the questionnaire and in-depth interviews were predefined using the following criteria: farmers with livelihoods such as cultivation, husbandry, and aquaculture with 20 years of experience or more.These farmers are affected by environmental changes in the locality and their family members migrate to other places to live, study and work (over 5 years old and the migration period is 6 months or more).In the in-depth interview group, it was possible to reach poor and disadvantaged households of the locality in addition to households with at least good incomes.Due to the specifics of migration in the study area, most in-depth interviewees were in the non-working age group.The sample selection was done by convenience sampling based on the list provided by the Commune People's Committee.

Data analysis methods
For primary data, the questionnaire is processed using SPSS version 20.0, combined with tables, diagrams, synthesis and analysis, annotations based on the processed data.The information from the in-depth interview tool is synthesized, noted, explained and analyzed according to each existing heading.
For secondary data, we synthesize, analyze and evaluate problems on the basis of the results presented in the predetermined content, thereby providing views and solutions suitable for each problem existing in each content.

Environmental change and environmental migrants
According to Johnson et al, environmental change often occurs under human influences or natural processes [21].Stanners and Bourdeau argue that environmental change is the result of natural and human processes [22].Environmental change can be understood in two aspects of cause and scope.In terms of causes, environmental change comes from changes in the natural environment and from human activities themselves.In terms of scope, environmental change not only considers the impacts of nature on human activity but also the impacts of human socio-economic activities on nature [16].Numerous indicators are available to gauge environmental transformations, particularly within the confines of the present research area, involving alterations to the natural environment, such as elevated levels of saltwater intrurion, protracted dry spells, sea level rise, and an upswing in landslides across multiple intervals.The author employed two temporal frameworks, over a span of 5 years and 10 years, and compared them to the current period of December 2020, when data collection was set to take place in the designated research location.Socio-economic environmental changes pertain to alterations in agricultural prices caused by factors such as market incidents and policies, and fluctuations in labor market and supply costs.Another potential factor contributing to socio-economic environmental change is a reduction in output prices.The aforementioned indicators denote the effects of alterations in the environment on designated fields of study and may be gathered through means of primary and secondary data collection.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has defined environmental migrants as "persons or groups of persons who, for compelling reasons of sudden or progressive changes in the environment that adversely affect their lives or living conditions, are obliged to leave their habitual homes, or choose to do so, either temporarily or permanently, and who move either within their country or abroad" [23].This definition indicates that environmental migrants include those who are forced to move because of natural disasters or choose to move when they feel that their living conditions are getting worse [24], in which may include livelihoods that depend on the environment, or cause livelihood stresses.

Environmental changes in the study area
The coastal region of Ben Tre province comprises three districts of Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu.Administratively, the region has 3 towns and 59 communes.The total area of the three districts is 1,221.56km 2 , accounting for 51.76% of the province's area.The total population of the three districts in 2019 was 518,759 people, accounting for 40.26% of the province's population.The economy of the coastal area of Ben Tre is still mainly agriculture, mainly aquaculture and fishing industry.Annual agricultural development is also unstable, depending heavily on external factors such as weather, hydrological regime, environment and market prices.The livestock industry has developed rapidly in recent years, some households raise pigs and cows on a larger scale than before, while the growth rate of poultry farming has decreased.
According to local officials interviewed in 2020, the complex phenomenon of natural environmental change in the coastal region of Ben Tre province is becoming increasingly intricate.Reports by the Ben Tre Provincial Commanding Committee of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue, , in conjunction with consultations with the coastal community, identify four distinct categories of natural disasters affecting the three coastal districts.These categories comprise: (1) tropical depression; (2) saline intrusion and drought; (3) floods and sea level rise; and (4) river bank erosion.Additionally, these reports also highlight the economic losses incurred in recent years due to natural disasters.Occurrences of storms and tropical depressions impact both terrestrial and marine regions with varying degrees of severity, ranging from moderate to profound.These incidents commonly reoccur annually during the storm season.The coastal region is experiencing a surge in the frequency and intensity of hydrological events such as drought and saltwater intrusion, flooding, and rising waters.These phenomenona are attributed to the influence of ongoing climate change that has been observed in recent years.An exploration of the severity of riverbank erosion within estuary regions has been conducted through comprehensive interviews with personnel of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, encompassing three distinct coastal districts, in the year 2020.
In coastal areas as well as the whole province of Ben Tre, the storm season usually starts from September to December every year.According to statistics over the past 25 years, from 1995 to 2020, there were 3 major storms occurring in the region, storm No. 5 -Linda (1997), storm No. 7 (1998), storm No. 9 -Durian (2006) and more than 29 waves of tropical depression, directly affecting and causing serious damage to property and infrastructure at sea as well as on land.According to forecasts, the trend of storms and tropical depressions directly affects the coastal area, increasing in number and intensity.Therefore, the extent of the storm's impact is likely to be more severe in the coming years.The phenomena of saltwater intrusion and drought ensue during the arid season, concomitant with the depletion of Tien River's water reserves.This, in unison with prolonged gusts of northeast wind that extend beyond five days and with elevated ocean tides, leads to the inward infiltration of saline seawater.The entirety of 15 coastal communes situated in the districts of Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu experienced significant devastation.The salinity levels in the study area exhibit a seasonal trend, with values ranging from 2 -4‰ [25].The majority of water sources within the region retain brackish and saline characteristics persistently throughout the year.Consequently, the populace's subsistence strategies, too, are modulated in accordance with this salient water source.Throughout the period of low precipitation, the water body's salinity intensifies, thereby impacting the finfish-and shellfishbased aquaculture, inclusive of oysters, shrimp, crabs, and fish.Simultaneously, there is a reduction in the expanse of rice paddies, inevitably leading to compromised yield outputs of fruit trees and crops due to insufficient freshwater resources for irrigation purposes.The occurrence of seed damage, premature dropping of coconut fruit, and damaged rice is found to be more prevalent.Moreover, during the arid season, the predicament of individuals' access to domestic water is heightened.The exacerbation of climate change in the coastal regions of the province has led to a perpetual state of vigilance regarding the prevalent issues of increased saltwater intrusion and drought.
The surveyed region experiences flood events that are primarily attributable to upstream flooding and intense precipitation episodes prevalent during the stormy season spanning the months between August and November according to the lunar calendar.With substrate predominantly composed of sand dunes and location in proximity to the coast, the coastal region is highly susceptible to the direct and potent impact of high tides and floodwaters.The occurrence of floods and sea level rise affect rates of erosion and deposition in various geographic features such as estuaries, sand dunes, and coastal regions.Notably, annual rates of erosion reach 5 meters in the proximity of the shoreline spanning a distance of over 5 kilometers (i.e. from Con Loi to Con Bong).The region exhibits high rates of erosion, characterized by an alarming rate of soil depletion estimated at 20-30 meters annually.Regional accounts and field studies conducted in heavily eroded regions confirmed that the estuarial region situated in An Dien commune of Thanh Phu district frequently exhibits a paucity, or complete absence, of arboreal vegetation.
The region of the Ham Luong estuary located in An Dien commune, Thanh Phu district experiences an annual occurrence of land erosion, resulting in a loss of approximately 1-2 hectares.This is attributed to the influence of torrential rainfalls and alterations in water movement.The present study finds that the area experiencing erosion exhibits a noticeable deficiency of protective trees with low tree density.This inadequacy renders the soil highly susceptible to deep submergence during high tides in conjunction with northeast winds and rainstorms.Owing to the relatively softer geological conditions prevalent in this area, erosion tends to be readily manifested.
The research area n has been subject to a range of societal and meteorological complexities in recent years, compounded by the pervasive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Vietnam at large.These unpredictable developments, together with sociological and economic pressures, have had a significant impact on the well-being of the residents in the research area.One of the strategies frequently implemented by households to address challenges within their dwelling locales is migration, which is a prevailing solution adopted by a considerable number of families.The following section on research findings will elucidate the nexus of environmental change and the migratory patterns of individuals residing in the coastal locale.

Migration characteristics of households and individual migrants
The survey was conducted with 79 households that have migrants in 6 communes of 3 coastal districts.Among those surveyed 24 households (30.4%) were located in Binh Dai, 32 households (40.5%) in Ba Tri, and 23 households (29.1%) in Thanh Phu.In terms of demographic attributes, the analysis of a sample comprising 79 migrant households indicated that the range of migrants per household varies from a minimum of one to a maximum of three individuals.In total, the population of migrants comprises 126 individuals.2, most of the migrants made the decision to choose the destination (85.7%).This result shows that the decision-making of migrants is relatively independent.Most individual migrants looked for information about the destination on their own and made the decision.Other decision-making individuals such as parents, siblings, and relatives account for a small percentage.This suggests that they only played the role of consultants, who assist in searching or providing information to migrants.For migrants who are students, parental support plays an important role in their decision making process.They will discuss with their parents to choose a location where there is a good school and that is suitable for their personal capacity and family's economic conditions.Family members or relatives often make decisions if they have settled down and thus can support migrants after moving.In terms of migrants' destinations, Ho Chi Minh City remains the most popular destination for migrants in the three districts of Binh Dai (40.0%),Ba Tri (37.0%) and Thanh Phu (72.5%).The Southeast region is highly appreciated for job opportunities and social welfare, while provinces in the Mekong Delta neighboring Ben Tre are highly appreciated for their distance.The migration duration is also sharply varied, with the highest number of migration years being 40 years and the lowest migration year being 1 year.The average time of respondents' migration is 11.4 years.The income of migrants ranges from 2 million VND/month to 60 million VND/month, with an average of 9.9 million VND/month.About 50.0% of households said that migrants in their families earned more than 7 million VND/month.The professions whose income was declared through the survey are nonagricultural occupations, in which the highest-earning occupations are employees at companies and enterprises; the lowest are unskilled labor occupations.
The similarity of individuals' viewpoints regarding alterations in the environment and their consequential effects at the regional level is consistent with the findings of previous research.The implications of this observation indicate that the coastal regions have incurred substantial agricultural losses as a result of climate change-induced phenomena such as erosion, saltwater intrusion, drought, and storms [26], [27].Drought, saltwater intrusion, and landslides are increasingly aggravated compared to the previous 5 and 10 years (since 2015 and 2010, respectively), "Ten years ago saltwater intrusion was also present, but it had no effect on cultivation.But in recent years, there is a serious shortage of water in the dry season, and the water quality is not as good as before" (in-depth interview, male, 76 years old, Thanh Phu, PVS -05), or "There is nothing here to do for a living.It's not good to raise shrimp here, too salty.Rice cultivation is also not possible.You know, the coconut can't live, let alone people" (In-depth interview, female, 65 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -02).According to interviewees, if climate change is too severe, households with land can still switch to cultivating or raising other crops or livestock to cope with the situation.However, households with little or no land have no way to change their type of production.As a result, the best livelihood strategy is to migrate to find another job."He (the son of the interviewee) went because I don't have land.Even it's salty, but other people's families have land they still are fine.If you don't plant this, you can raise the other.But my family doesn't have any land, what can we do to live" (In-depth interview, male, 65 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -08).
There are many issues related to socio-economic environmental change that concerns farmers.Among them, market and input-output prices are the frequent ones."The place where I now grow rice is not effective anymore due to salty water, the rice crop is not productive, selling without profit, in 2016 my house was completely empty" (In-depth interview, male, 63 years old, Ba Tri, PVS -11), or "This year, rice cultivation is considered abandoned, it can't sell, it's too salty, no tree can survive.In the past, our family used to grow 2-3 crops of rice, but now there is a one-time crop.Meanwhile, I also put in the effort to take care of this and that, but it's not that simple.But in the end, nothing was sold."(In-depth interview, female, 57 years old, Thanh Phu, PVS -10).Saline draught has been causing serious economic losses to farmers, especially in the matter of finding output market for their agricultural products.According to interviewees, the year of 2020 is considered to be the most volatile in market price so far."Fruit prices have fallen since the beginning of 2020 with no signs of improvement.No one buys longan and pomelo.Fruits are picked to pile up, lower the price to the minimum, but traders do not come" (In-depth interview, male, 52 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -04).Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has made this problem worse."This year was affected by NcoV, so although I planted a lot, I couldn't sell it.I sell on credit and no one buys."(In-depth interview, female, 65 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -05).Output prices of agricultural products have decreased gradually since the beginning of 2020 and have not shown signs of stabilization.Besides, the purchase price of agricultural materials and the labor cost are constantly increasing, making agricultural production activities of households greatly affected.
These disadvantages encouraged individuals to make their own migration decisions."The shrimp farm is getting worse and worse, so we directed our son to go to Sai Gon to study and then find a way to get a job there, after studying, he got a job, so he stayed" (In-depth interview, male, 60 years old, Ba Tri, PVS -18), "The area is heavily affected by saltwater intrusion, so it is difficult to develop agriculture.Besides, children go to school, so they want to get out of farming to relieve suffering, but farming now the weather is erratic, I can't even do how my children can do it, they are young, so they should do other jobs that are more suitable and pay more" (In-depth interview, male, 64 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -17).Migrants leave with a lot of expectations from their families, when they leave.In households that see migration as a long-term family plan, members often come together to create multiple postmigration scenarios that depend on the migrant's success."Farming is very precarious now, mainly old people grow three trees to earn money every day.Older children should go out to get a job, quit this farming, leave the countryside.It's too much here."(In-depth interview, female, 65 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -07)."My son himself does not want to grow crops like his parents, nor does he want to stay at home.If he wants to go, I'll try to find a way to let him go.After I get better, I'll take care of my younger siblings."(In-depth interview, male, 60 years old, Ba Tri, PVS -18).It can be seen that migrants leave with a lot of expectations from their families (repaying debts, sending money back, etc.) and most of them shoulder the responsibilities for the family (being the first to go away, laying the long-term foundation of the family in a new destination, etc.).

Cost-benefit analysis of household migration activities in the study area
Cost-benefit analysis of migration is an important step to determine the impact on families and people themselves in the context of environmental change.The goal of cost-benefit analysis is to find information that demonstrates that migration is an appropriate livelihood strategy to help farmers adapt to environmental change.
Family members of migrants incur significant economic costs in their preparation for and in relocation itself.The majority of households interviewed reported that they had to put aside money to cover expenses such as car and luggage purchases, living expenses, and tuition for their migrant family members.Among the 26 families interviewed, 21 incurred some form of financial cost in preparing for migration (ranging from small expenses such as transportation fees to more important expenses such as tuition).Ten of the families with children going to school also reported spending more due to the additional expenses associated with raising school-aged children in a new location."It costs a few hundred million for my children to go to university for about 4 years, then the rent for a room.After finishing school, worry about 3 more years to stabilize the job, then don't worry anymore" (In-depth interview, male, 64 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -17).In households where family members are employed, they provide financial support to cover transportation fees as well as to save money and purchase additional provisions.Out of the 26 households that do not provide funding, 5 consist of migrant families who are married or are able to self-fund.Two of the households that do not provide funding are destitute and do not have any savings or borrowing capacity.Nine of the 26 households shared that they did not have sufficient initial funding to support family members during the migration process, which forced them to rely on bank loans borrow money from acquaintances.
The non-economic cost may refer to the intangible consequences associated with the absence of family members, leading to mental distress for households.The outcomes of the survey depicted in the table illustrate the detrimental effects incurred by farmers as a result of migration, encompassing both tangible and intangible losses impacting their livelihoods and well-being.According to the findings presented in Table 4, the initial percentage of "Anxiety" loss in Binh Dai was 35.2%, whereas it was observed to be 26.4% in Ba Tri and 40.0% in Thanh Phu.This observation indicates that familial affiliates tend to prioritize emotional concerns over other ones, as evidenced by the participation of children, grandchildren, or siblings in the family.The individuals who remained affirmed that, prior to the departure of those who left, amicable relations between all parties were sustained.The departing individuals purportedly departed due to familial expectations.The second detriment, namely "Lack of labor in the family," is interconnected with the production operations carried out by the family.The majority of the interviewed farmers engaged in small to medium-scale cultivation and aquaculture, with the bulk of the labor force comprising of family members.Thus, the decision to migrate results in shortageof domestic labor.Furthermore, it is notable that the older population constitutes the majority of residents, therefore it is imperative to acknowledge the potential workload burden.In the examined districts, the survey rate for this particular loss was found to be 21.7% of the cumulative responses on average.The third loss recorded by the surveyed households is distinguished by its lack of homogeneity, as opposed to the consistent characteristics with regard to the first two losses.The response indicating uncertainty about the future was selected by households residing in Binh Dai, with a proportion of 11.1%.Ba Tri selected the response " Must cover more expenses for migrants" accounting for 13.2%, whereas the inhabitants of Thanh Phu expressed concern regarding the issue of " It's difficult to go back" with a proportion of 12.5%.The issue of future-oriented losses is a source of apprehension among a significant number of farmers.When surveyed, it was found that the highest proportion of farmers in Binh Dai district had migrated due to educational opportunities when compared to the other two districts.Consequently, the major concern of these households pertains to the matter of post-graduation employment and its corresponding location.There exist several future plans, however, the majority of individuals deem it necessary to postpone their realization until their children have graduated.In the interim, the district of Thanh Phu boasts the most considerable quantity of laborers and untrained personnel across the three districts while exhibiting comparatively inferior remunerations.Consequently, subsequent to their migration, one must apply diligent effort and perseverance to accrue sufficient funds for the purpose of visiting their relatives.The frequency of visits is limited due to the significant associated expenses.Consequently, individuals who elect to remain in a specific location are frequently characterized by a mood of apprehension regarding the infrequent visits of their children.Such individuals often bemoan the difficulty of returning home after an extended period of absence.Moreover, residents who migrate from the district of Ba Tri encounter greater challenges in sustaining their means of livelihood.Consequently, the pressing issue that arises for the remaining inhabitants is providing financial assistance to facilitate a prompt and smooth transition for the migrants at their new abode.The migration activities of farmers in the area have been identified with three main purposes including (1) solving the immediate difficulties of the household, (2) being part of the family's longterm plan, and (3) being the family's livelihood strategy in the short term (solving difficulties) and long-term (transforming livelihoods).Regardless of the purposes, the wishes of the household are directed towards the good results or positive effects that migration can bring to the household.The benefits of migration can be immediate benefits (economic and non-economic) as well as long-term effects that have a great impact on household life and the migrants themselves.Finishing school and getting a job The process of conducting a benefit analysis commences by comprehending the initial expectations of the household at the onset of the migration of its members or the expectations of the individuals who remain towards the departing ones.The subsequent step entails making comparisons between these expectations, which represent anticipated outcomes, and the actual results that the households receive upon completion of the migration.Such evaluations will ultimately determine the efficacy of the migration.Remainers' greatest expectation of migrants is to "find good jobs" (27.5% of the total).This expectation ranks high in the three districts, namely Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu, and was indicated by 28.3%, 26.9%, and 27.5% respondents, respectively.Thus, the predominant factor contributing to the discussed phenomenon is the clear prevalence of job-seeking migrants.Subsequent expectations are the consequences of "finding a good job" such as "sending money home" (20.9% of the total), meaning that those who stay expect that new jobs at the destination will give migrants a good income that will enable them to send money back to their home town.Anticipating an improved future, those who remain have sanguine expectations that individuals who emigrate are afforded with the possibility to "find a good place to live" (13.7% of the aggregate), which would culminate in permanent habitation prospects (13.7% of the overall, as presented in Table 5).The strategic migration processes of a household are exemplified by the consideration of both immediate and enduring benefits.These benefits encompass short-term advantages such as monetary gain, job opportunity, and improved living conditions, as well as long-term advantages such as the potential for settling down and enabling the relocation of other household members.Consequently, households place a significant level of expectation on the migration process as a means of achieving these goals."I hope to have more income with a better job.But because it is a newly established district, when I went there to work, my salary was increased by 70%" (In-depth interview, female, 62 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -02), "I also hope he sends some money back to take care of the children's school fees at home, and pray for him to work to get promoted at work" (In-depth interview, male, 55 years old, Thanh Phu, PVS -03).According to the survey findings, a proportion of 10.5% of the participants reported that they harbored "no expectations" with regard to their children's support or assistance to the family, indicating a lack of inclination towards such familial obligations.Achieving goals and venturing into unfamiliar territories can instill a sense of security in parents with respect to their children.Those who choose to remain in their homeland seek to minimize the emotional strain and positional encumbrances on their progeny; rather, they aspire that their descendants will achieve an improved existence in the foreign territory."I hope they have a stable job and can take care of themselves, but don't expect it to take care of the family.Currently, some children work at banks, while others work as lecturers and then build a house in the city, so life is much more stable now" (In-depth interview, male, 64 years old, Ba Tri, PVS -01)..0The advantages that migration provides to farmers bear resemblance to familial aspirations.The selected benefits identified by individuals encompass a diverse spectrum, encompassing both economic and non-economic dimensions.Amongst the former, the benefits include an increase in income, savings, and investment opportunities, facilitated by the receipt of remittances.In contrast, the non-economic benefits encapsulate an improved spiritual well-being, secure prospects for future family wellbeing, and housing security in the event of natural calamities, amongst others.The biggest benefit for farmers is that families "have more income", accounts for 28.2%.It is followed by "better family future" with 23.1% of responses.The initial advantage of "having more income" is similar in terms of percentage distribution across the three districts under study.Notably, Binh Dai district records 26.2%, while Ba Tri and Thanh Phu districts show the highest percentage, standing at 27.5% and 31.5%,respectively.Upon attaining employment and acclimating to a novel locale, or upon the completion of one's education and subsequent acquisition of employment, a majority of migrants will remit funds to sustain their kin.The funds will be allocated by the kinfolk to cater for various familial necessities, as exemplified by expenditures on sustenance, production investment, scholastic pursuits, medical assessments and interventions, residence refurbishments, and savings, in accordance with the accounts given in 24 out of the 26 interview cases.Two of the 26 cases do not receive remuneration due to the prolonged hardships experienced by migrant workers during their time at the destination.The arduous nature of their work coupled with the challenging living conditions often renders them wholly incapable of providing for their families.The provision of financial aid by migrants to their respective households is predominantly on a monthly basis.However, a significant proportion of households have reported irregularity in the provision of monetary assistance.Notwithstanding, migrant individuals continue to remit funds in times of financial exigencies."When I first went to school, the house was under construction, so I had financial difficulties, had to borrow from banks, friends and relatives.Now that his son can go to work, he pays his debt for me" (In-depth interview, male, 55 years old, Thanh Phu, PVS -19), "Before my children emigrated, it was very difficult at home, first to take care of the cost of education, then to take care of housing (the house has many people -researcher).After I graduate from school to work, the family is better, he can take care of himself, but he also sends money to support the family, such as going to parties, eating, shopping for this house, generally supporting some money" (In-depth interview, male, 52 years old, Binh Dai, PVS -04).A noticeable change over time is that households had a "fuller material life" (11.9% of responses), a "better spiritual life" (14.4% of responses) and a "better family work" (12.8% of responses) subsequent to the settlement of migrants in their destination of choice, which enabled them to support their families.These phenomena may be regarded as the most evident facets of the advantage attributed to the "Better family future" category, which accounts for 23.1% of responses.The present benefit was chosen as the second benefit in the three districts of Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu, with proportions of 19.7%, 25.0%, and 24.1%, respectively.
The data derived from 25 to 26 of in-depth interviews suggests that the family life of migrants has ameliorated subsequent to their settlement in the target location.Moreover, apart from the provision of financial resources from migrants to sustain their livelihoods, households obtain additional nonmonetary advantages upon the incorporation of migration members. .Firstly, this sentiment evokes a sense of comfort regarding the prospects of individuals who have migrated and their respective households.It has been observed that migrants who are gainfully employed and have a secure source of income frequently tend to establish an improved standard of living in their destination.There are instances where such migrants have established permanent settlements, engaged in matrimony, procreated, acquired property and accumulated wealth.The outcome of this situation has been deemed satisfactory by individuals who have departed as well as those who have remained.Moreover, the household maintains a sense of certainty regarding the prospects of the family members who did not migrate.The provision of monetary contributions from the remittances of migrants has played a significant role in effecting profound economic and spiritual transformations in households.These changes include the reliving of dependents of the costs associated with accommodation, education, medical examination and treatment upon departure of children from the household, procuring of family amenities and machinery to enhance agricultural work, improvement of labor productivity through the transfer of knowledge from migratory members to non-migratory members, and the creation of a safe haven in the event that natural disasters negatively impact production or the overall quality of life for the household, as well as the ability to honor outstanding financial obligations, among others.brought positive benefits to the staying households in both life and livelihood aspects, making them feel quite satisfied with their current life.The analysis of Table 7 reveals a discernible tendency towards positive outcomes resulting from the investment strategy implemented by households in relation to migration activities.Substantiated by the highest percentage of responses, which exceed 50.0% of households surveyed, the answer that asserts "Costs are less than benefits" appears to be the popular choice.Furthermore, a noteworthy proportion of households, accounting for 11.8% of the total, have also opted for the response "Costs are more than benefits but in the long run benefits will be more", which underpins the notion of expected long-term benefits to be accrued from migration investments.The aforementioned comparisons provide evidence that the costs entailed in migration have either been or will not surpass the benefits associated with said undertaking.This is consistent with previous household analyses of the gains and losses of households when there are migrants.The initial disbursements made from the familial financial resources are entirely reimbursed by means of the deposited funds.In the context of households that have obtained loans to facilitate the migration of their offspring, it has been reported that a consensus exists among these households in affirming that, upon attaining employment stability, the children are capable of discharging the financial obligations incurred by the indebted family.Regarding the notion that "costs equal benefits," individuals have further explained that a comparison between the expenditures incurred and the monetary equivalent of support extended by migrants reveals near parity of amounts.This is corroborated by data obtained up until December 2020, which coincided with the time of the survey.In the event that such scenario transpires, it is highly likely that a preponderance of perspectives would culminate in a favorable result, namely that the act of migration has yielded and shall continue to yield numerous benefits, chiefly consisting of diminished expenditures and adverse outcomes, for both migrant individuals and their respective households."In fact, I feel that letting my son go was the right decision because the things I wanted happened according to my wishes and it was better when my son had a wife and children and worked in the city for a long time."(In-depth interview, male, 60 years old, Ba Tri, PVS -18), "It's more beneficial to go that far, son, go to school and get a job, but there is no job here that is suitable for them.Besides, farming is so hard, these droughts don't make money anymore.Working in the city (Ho Chi Minh City -researcher) has a much more stable income than farming, and in the long run can also send money back to parents.Then get married and get married, live there, but come here to do whatever job you can to earn a living" (Indepth interview, male, 59 years old, Thanh Phu, PVS -26), "Although the children are away, the house is empty, the aunt and uncle are also sad, but for their future, these sadness has no purpose.I rarely go home, but I talk on the phone often.When you see that their lives have improved like that, then they are considered very successful" (In-depth interview, female, 42 years old, Ba Tri, PVS -06).

Conclusion
The survey results show that migration is almost an inevitable result of economic and social development and changes in the living environment.In the research area, environmental change has had specific impacts on production activities and people's lives, the decision to migrate is an important consideration from individuals and families as a livelihood strategy to help farmers adapt to environmental changes.The migration activities of farmers in the area have been identified with three main purposes including (1) solving the immediate difficulties of the household, (2) being part of the family's long-term plan, and (3) being the family's livelihood strategy in the short term (solving difficulties) and long-term (transforming livelihoods).The costs that migrants and their families can face are direct costs (packing, travel costs, rental housing, etc.) and indirect costs (change in living environment and social relations, anxiety of family members, and social evils at the destination, etc.).The costs that migrants and households faced can be obstacles for them when they lack information about the destination, lack of social relationships at the destination.The benefits of migration can be immediate benefits (economic and non-economic) as well as long-term effects that have a great impact on household life and the migrants themselves.The results of the cost-benefit analysis suggest that migration brings many benefits to households and migrants.From a managerial perspective, migration can be seen as a form of adaptation to these changes despite bringing certain issues to the local areas including population and labor market structure changes.This study provides further evidence of the relationship between environmental change and migration activities in a particular area.However, the limitation of the study is that the research object only includes those who stay.In the future, the research should follow up by surveying migrants of each household.This will provide more insight into their migrating decisions.

Figure 1 :
Figure 1: Study area (Source: Author, 2020) Secondary data in this topic is collected by the method of synthesizing materials from various sources with content related to the research problem.Data sources collected include specialized journals, monographs, theses, dissertations, annual reports of domestic and foreign organizations, reports of people's committees of research districts.

Table 1 .
Table1illustrates the relationship between migrants and household leaders in terms of their interdependence and connectivity.The majority of the aforementioned migrants are offspring of the individuals who were interviewed.Table1illustrates that in the Binh Dai district, a higher proportion of male children in families opted to migrate, comprising 57.5% of the total population surveyed.Conversely, in the Ba Tri and Thanh Phu districts, female children in families displayed a greater inclination to migrate with percentages of 50.0% and 55.0%, respectively.Relationship between migrants and heads of households

Table 2 .
Migration decision makers

Table 3 .
Purpose of migration

Table 4 .
Household losses due to migration

Table 5 .
Family expectations when there are migrants.

Table 6 .
Benefits of migration for farmers

Table 7 .
Comparison of costs and benefits of migration