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On the point of view of agricultural system, this study was carried out in order to consider of the changes in an agricultural system which is integrated agro ecosystem (the system includes swidden, wet rice cultivation, and exploitation of forest) of a Tay minority community in the time periods of five years in the North-western mountainous region of Vietnam. Based on the data of two surveys (1999 and 2004), the authors have proposed indicator groups and indicators presenting for characteristics of each system’s component for measuring and evaluating them in term of sustainability. Then the integrated evaluation has carried out by radar graph for evaluating of the whole system. Six indicator groups selected are groups that present for Human Capital aspect; Household Assets aspect; Production Activities; Economic Activities; Environment aspect; and aspect of Cultural, Social, and Life. The results have revealed that almost of measurements of the indicator groups and indicators have presented their changes with non-negative trends after five years. And the final integrated evaluation by the radar graph has shown that the diagrams area of the year 2004 is larger than that of year 1999. With this provableness of changes the authors go to conclude that the agricultural system of Tay minority Community in the North-western mountainous region of Vietnam is sustainable while population pressure increasing of 65 persons per square kilometer.

By this way of evaluating of the system in this study the authors realized that the research results have reflected present state of the system correctly. But the selection of indicators needs to be discussed.Above obtained results have only meaningful in the period of time of this research, in order to have more completely conclusions on sustainability of this agricultural system it needs to be evaluated regularly by every period of time later on.

Eric Crystal received his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Since retiring from his long term position has Vice Chair of the U.C. Berkeley Center for Southeast Asia Studies in 2000 he has continued to undertake research on traditional Southeast Asian culture. Dr. Crystal currently teaches part time for the Group in Asian Studies at Berkeley and the San Francisco Art Institute.

In l980 several thousand Yao villagers were flown to northern California as part of the American endeavor to support former allies in the Vietnam War. Eric Crystal has worked with the Yao community in Oakland, California (his hometown) for a quarter century. Of the 22,000 Yao flown to America in the l980's none had higher education, less than a dozen had completed high school, and the vast majority were unable to read and write Lao, much less English.

This presentation will discuss crucial aspects of traditional Yao culture, religion, and expressive arts as observed by Dr. Crystal in highland Southeast Asia (Vietnam) in recent years. Adaptive strategies off U.S. Yao refugees, maintenance of traditional religious beliefs and ceremonies, and the results of engagement with the U,S. educational system will be explored.

This presentation will be illustrated with photographs in power point format.