For the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, national food self-sufficiency is a
core concern. The state focuses on rice production and output levels for local and
overseas markets, endorsing the adoption of hybrid rice seeds through numerous
development initiatives. Yet, this approach overlooks an important group of rice
producers and consumers in Vietnam: highland ethnic minorities. Fluctuations in global
grain demand mean little for their daily coping mechanisms and near-subsistence
livelihoods, but food security is an ongoing preoccupation for their households. In this
research note, we take an actor-oriented livelihood approach to examine food security
among ethnic minorities—namely, Hmong and Yao—in Lào Cai province, northern
Vietnam. Arguing that the everyday, subjective experiences of upland minority groups
have been ignored, we examine how these groups have reacted to the introduction of
hybrid seeds, their negotiations with the state over its use, and their trials and
tribulations along the way.