The article explores the relationship between social and ecological resilience, emphasizing their interconnectedness, particularly for communities reliant on ecological resources. Social resilience is defined as the ability of communities to cope with external stresses and disturbances due to social, political, and environmental changes. It is closely linked to ecological resilience, which refers to ecosystems' ability to maintain themselves in the face of disturbances. However, it is not clear whether resilient ecosystems necessarily lead to resilient communities. The article discusses the origins of this interdisciplinary study in human ecology, ecological economics, and rural sociology. It examines the impacts of ecological change on a resource-dependent community in contemporary coastal Vietnam, focusing on the resilience of its institutions. The study highlights how market liberalization and privatization of mangroves reduce both ecosystem and social resilience, leading to negative impacts on livelihoods and undermining collective institutional resilience. The concept of resilience is related to other environmental-society relationships, such as vulnerability and criticality. Social vulnerability refers to the exposure of groups to stress from environmental change, while criticality refers to situations where environmental degradation precludes the continuation of current systems. The article also discusses the importance of social capital, institutional structures, and the role of cultural contexts in determining resilience. Resource dependency is a key factor in social resilience, as communities reliant on a narrow range of resources face economic and social stresses. The article argues that resilience depends on the diversity of ecosystems and the institutional rules governing social systems. It highlights the importance of examining social resilience through economic, demographic, and institutional variables. The study of mangrove conversion in Vietnam illustrates the impact of external pressures on social and ecological resilience. The privatization of mangroves and conversion to aquaculture have led to increased inequality and reduced resilience in local communities. The article concludes that social resilience is crucial for sustainable development and that understanding the links between social and ecological resilience is essential for effective resource management. The resilience of institutions, social capital, and the ability to adapt to change are key factors in maintaining resilience in the face of environmental and social challenges.The article explores the relationship between social and ecological resilience, emphasizing their interconnectedness, particularly for communities reliant on ecological resources. Social resilience is defined as the ability of communities to cope with external stresses and disturbances due to social, political, and environmental changes. It is closely linked to ecological resilience, which refers to ecosystems' ability to maintain themselves in the face of disturbances. However, it is not clear whether resilient ecosystems necessarily lead to resilient communities. The article discusses the origins of this interdisciplinary study in human ecology, ecological economics, and rural sociology. It examines the impacts of ecological change on a resource-dependent community in contemporary coastal Vietnam, focusing on the resilience of its institutions. The study highlights how market liberalization and privatization of mangroves reduce both ecosystem and social resilience, leading to negative impacts on livelihoods and undermining collective institutional resilience. The concept of resilience is related to other environmental-society relationships, such as vulnerability and criticality. Social vulnerability refers to the exposure of groups to stress from environmental change, while criticality refers to situations where environmental degradation precludes the continuation of current systems. The article also discusses the importance of social capital, institutional structures, and the role of cultural contexts in determining resilience. Resource dependency is a key factor in social resilience, as communities reliant on a narrow range of resources face economic and social stresses. The article argues that resilience depends on the diversity of ecosystems and the institutional rules governing social systems. It highlights the importance of examining social resilience through economic, demographic, and institutional variables. The study of mangrove conversion in Vietnam illustrates the impact of external pressures on social and ecological resilience. The privatization of mangroves and conversion to aquaculture have led to increased inequality and reduced resilience in local communities. The article concludes that social resilience is crucial for sustainable development and that understanding the links between social and ecological resilience is essential for effective resource management. The resilience of institutions, social capital, and the ability to adapt to change are key factors in maintaining resilience in the face of environmental and social challenges.