The aim of this study was to have a clearer and better understanding of the existing contexts of forest management, especially traditional management practices of the “Thai” in the highlands. We have also explored the potential in sustainable community- based forest management, attempting to understand how the “Thai” reproduced and transformed their traditional management to persists through this period of transformation and to provide the necessary information based on a case study to improve the legal framework for developing community- based forest management. This study was conducted in Khe Ran Village, Bong Khe Commune, Con Cuong District, Nghe An Province, Viet Nam. The set of activities involved in community based forest management were, Perception on Property Relations and Participation of Villagers in Community Forest Management and The “Thai’s” livelihood as coping strategies. Documentary research; semi-structured interview; key informant and focus group discussion; participant and non-participant observation; discourse analysis; participatory rural appraisal and data analysis methods was used to collect the information.