Living with Floods: Applying the Adversity Acceptance as Resilience Framework to Flood Management Practices in Hoi An Ancient Town

Abstract This study examined resilience to flooding in Hoi An Ancient Town, a historical World Heritage Site in Vietnam. The town has been affected by flooding since at least the 17 th century, and floods have recently increased in frequency and severity under the impacts of climate change and urban development. This study used the Adversity Acceptance as Resilience framework, which focuses on people’s abilities to comprehend, acknowledge, and adapt to challenges, to analyse the results of empirical research comprising on-site observations, examinations of historical and contemporary documents, and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders. The long experience that Hoi An residents have with flooding has informed a community understanding that is closely tied to different stages of predicting, preparing for, coping with, and recovering from floods. Residents have learned to predict the onset and retreat of floods by observing changes in the natural environment, adapted the layout and architecture of the town to flooding, and developed comprehensive measures to prepare for flooding each year. This proactive and holistic approach to flood management is deeply rooted in transgenerational knowledge, as exemplified by the flood marks provided on buildings to serve as both symbolic reminders of previous floods and indicators of possible flooding scenarios. Advances in modern technology have allowed weather forecasts and social media to play significant roles in flood management strategies as well. Finally, floods have even been incorporated into the tourism experiences offered by the town. Indeed, floods are woven into Hoi An’s identity, illustrating how environmental challenges can be transformed into opportunities for cultural sustainability.