Thuan Hoa commune, An Minh district, Kien Giang province with newly coastal alluvial soils has been practiced the shrimp ? rice model in recent years. However, the target of people in this commune only focused on economic benefits without considering the soil and water environment that directly affected to their livelihood. The study "Assessment of the sustainability of shrimp- rice model based on the land suitability zones of Thuan Hoa commune, An Minh district, Kien Giang province" was carried out for identification of the sustainable efficiency zones of shrimp ? rice model. The study was done by using the data of investigating 120 households on the economic, social, environmental aspects.The results of study showed that land unit map has been made by overlapping of the land characteristic map of topsoil, salinity and salinity duration, and resulting 7 land units and 4 physical land suitability zones for rice ? shrimp model. This result was used as a key basis for establishment of sustainable land use scenarios throughout the economic quantitative evaluation of land (FAO, 1976). Three economic suitability zones were identified for shrimp ? rice model in which zone I was most sustainable for rice ? shrimp model. Besides, the zone II also gave economic efficiency but also high risks and while zone III gave high risks for environmental and economic aspects. The model of shrimp - rice in Thuan Hoa commune also faced with many difficulties such as: lack of advanced science and technology of people, capital demand for investment, climatic problems, including poor irrigation systems (water supply and drainage channels.

Keywords: Land suitability, sustainability, shrimp- rice model, Thuan Hoa