An Investment Disparities and Socio-Economic Implications of Community-Based Tourism for Climate-Induced Migration in Vietnam

This study examines how macro- and micro-level investments shape the uneven development of community-based tourism (CBT) across Vietnamese regions, particularly in the context of climate-induced migration. Anchored in theories of spatial justice and post-development critique, the research assesses disparities in infrastructure readiness, funding distribution, and community participation. Using a systematic review of CBT literature (2014–2025) and comparative analysis of financial flows from multilateral donors (World Bank, ADB) and grassroots-focused institutions (IFAD), the study reveals a geographic and institutional bias toward the Southern Mekong Delta. While this region benefits from climate resilience funding and participatory planning models, Northern ethnic minority regions remain structurally marginalized—receiving only poverty-focused, non-tourism-specific investments. These disparities not only reflect broader patterns of development injustice but also shape the academic and institutional visibility of CBT initiatives. The paper argues that equitable CBT development requires re-centering local agency, restructuring funding mechanisms, and addressing the epistemic and material exclusions embedded in current tourism investment logics.