Vietnam is planning to develop 280 000 ha of rubber-based smallholdings in the central provinces, primarily in the Highlands. The region is characterized by its substantial soil and its climatic and socio-economic diversity. Smallholder rubber development in the region needs to be combined with the development of viable farming systems and also tally with smallholder objectives. Adaptive research is planned to tailor rubber growing and rubber-based farming system techniques to the specific conditions in the region. Rubber growing is not a traditional activity in the region at present. The research includes four methodologically complementary aspects: (i) study of the environment and of the functioning of farms, (ii) basic research in a controlled environment, (iii) adaptive research on smallholdings and (iv) participative research involving reference farms.