At the preliminary conference on 1 year of operating the 3-level government organization model on July 1st, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra requested localities to continue to review and comprehensively assess the development space after arranging commune-level administrative units (ĐVHC), ensuring compliance with the development requirements, formation and development of commune-level administrative units, especially the nucleus and growth pole of the province and regional linkages.
In which, the study of arranging commune-level administrative units does not meet the standards according to regulations. Currently, there are still 705 commune-level administrative units that do not meet the standards. However, the arrangement must still closely follow the basic requirements, which is to be suitable for the specific characteristics of culture, history, tradition, ethnicity, religion, and geography.
Based on the Politburo's conclusion after the conference, the Government will provide specific guidance and complete it completely in 2026.
Currently, the standards of administrative units of communes and wards are stipulated in Resolution 112/2025/UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee as follows:
Article 2. Standards of communes
1. Population size:
a) Mountainous communes with 5,000 people or more;
b) Communes in islands with 2,500 people or more;
c) Communes not belonging to points a and b of this clause from 16,000 people or more.
2. Natural area:
a) Mountainous communes from 100km2 or more;
b) Communes in islands from 15km2 or more;
c) Communes not belonging to points a and b of this clause from 30km2 or more.
Article 3. Standards of rural administrative units with specific elements
1. Provinces and communes with 50% of the population being ethnic minorities in mountainous areas or having national borders on land, the minimum level of population size standards is equal to 50% of the level prescribed for the corresponding province and commune; for every additional 10% of the population being ethnic minorities, an additional 5% of the level prescribed for the corresponding province and commune is reduced.
2. Specially difficult communes in coastal and coastal areas certified according to the decision of competent authorities, the minimum level of population size standards is equal to 50% of the level specified in point c, clause 1, Article 2 of this Resolution; other standards shall be implemented according to the provisions in this section.
3. For the Red River Delta region, the minimum level of natural area standards of the province is 50% of the prescribed level, of the commune is 70% of the prescribed level; other standards are implemented according to the provisions of this Section.
4. For rural administrative units with many specific factors, each standard is only subject to a reduction corresponding to one specific factor specified in Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this Article.
Article 5. Standards of the ward
1. Population size from 21,000 people or more.
2. Natural area from 5.5km2 or more.
3. The position and function defined in the plan or orientation approved by competent authorities is a regional-level or provincial-level or sub-regional-level integrated center or specialized center in the province or city, playing a role in promoting socio-economic development of the province or city or sub-region in the province or city.
4. The ratio of urban population size to population size of administrative units is 50% or more.
5. The structure and level of socio-economic development achieve the following targets:
- The ratio of total local budget revenue to total local budget expenditure in the area is 100% or more;
- The proportion of industry - construction and services in GRDP reaches 70% or more;
- The proportion of non-agricultural labor is 70% or more;
- Average per capita income per year higher than average per capita income per year of the province or city under its jurisdiction in the last 3 years;
- The poverty rate is lower than the poverty rate of the province or city under its jurisdiction in the last 3 years.
