Abstract: In the central highlands, a key coffee growing area of Vietnam, water for coffee production is becoming increasingly scarce. Although, central and local governments have implemented several mitigation strategies, only 19% of areas under coffee cultivation in the Central Highlands have access to state-constructed irrigation schemes. As a result, coffee producers have had to develop alternative strategies to cope with water scarcity. Based on quantitative and qualitative data collected from an ethic minority group of Ede in the Central Highlands, this research has indicated that farmers develop coping strategies for water scarcity based on their local skills, knowledge and gender division of labor. Although, differentiation of gender roles has been discussed in the literature for agricultural production, few studies have specifically focused on gender roles in construction and implemention of coping strategies in response to water scarcity. It was found that men played more significant roles in responding to water scarcity. However, women’s roles have significantly changed in coffee production in general and in cpoing with water scarcity in particular. To supplement the coping strategies of farmers to water scarcity, it is recommended that central and local governments provide more technical and financial support to male and female farmers.