We compare international best practice guidelines on Social Impact Assessment with current practices in Vietnam, based on a desk review of relevant regulations; participative observation; stakeholder interviews and three exemplary hydropower project cases. We find that infrastructure development is booming in Vietnam despite administrative complexity and inefficiencies; resettlement for hydropower projects has become a kind of lightning rod for questions of environmental justice in Vietnamese society; compensation is the key issue there; overshadowing other social impact considerations. Options to improve the investment of all stakeholders in the social impact assessment and management are discussed.