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This study utilized the contingent valuation method to estimate the value of water-related ecosystem services (ES) in Vietnam, focusing on provisioning and regulating services for addressing water scarcity (WS) in rice farming. By incorporating gender and climate change perceptions, it expanded the existing literature on valuing river ecosystem services. The findings showed a significant number of households experiencing severe water scarcity in the past five years, with over 70% facing occasional or regular WS in the last 12 months. Rice farmers were willing to adopt coping measures and preventive practices to preserve water-related ES, recognizing their importance for sustaining rice cultivation. Farmers demonstrated willingness to contribute financially to restore and maintain water-related ES in rivers and canals. The median willingness to pay for restoration was VND188,300/ha, with estimated values of US$2,898,133 for a 10% affected area and US$23,185,068 for an 80% affected area over five years. Perception of WS severity and associated risk positively influenced households’ decisions to contribute financially. These findings have policy implications and provide insights for effective coping strategies against WS, enhancing water-resilient agriculture in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Soil fertility conservation has become an increasing concern in Vietnamese agriculture owing to excessive use of agrochemicals. The use of organic fertilizers is considered an environment-friendly practice for sustainable agriculture. Although environmental awareness has emerged and production technologies of organic fertilizers have been introduced in recent years, their adoption remains limited among farming households. This study focuses on the causal effects of information acquisition on the use of organic fertilizers from agricultural extension services and from peers of farming households. The estimation results show that land size, land tenure, educational level, family labor endowment, and household wealth are significantly associated with the likelihood of using organic fertilizers. Information acquisition through both information sources positively affects the use of organic fertilizers. However, information acquisition from agricultural extension services has a greater marginal impact than that from peers. Despite its lower influence, information acquisition from peers plays a supplemental role in incentivizing farming households to use organic fertilizers as an environmentfriendly agricultural practice among rural communities in Vietnam.