The Prime Minister has just issued Directive No. 21/CT-TTg dated May 20, 2026 on arranging villages and residential groups and arranging, using, regimes, and policies for non-specialized personnel at the commune level, in villages and residential groups.
According to the directive, up to now, there are still many villages and residential groups that do not meet the criteria according to regulations. After implementing the arrangement of provincial-level and commune-level administrative units in 2025, the average number of villages and residential groups per commune-level administrative unit has increased significantly, creating great management pressure on local authorities at the grassroots level.
In order to ensure that the implementation is carried out uniformly, synchronously, and effectively throughout the country, in accordance with management requirements in the new situation, the Prime Minister requests ministries, branches, and localities to urgently implement the arrangement of villages and residential groups to ensure compliance with the criteria and conditions according to the Government's regulations and local management requirements when operating the 2-level local government.
At the same time, fully consider the specific factors of history, culture, customs, habits, geographical conditions, national defense, security and the natural cohesion of the community, especially in mountainous areas, border areas, islands, ethnic minority areas and areas with religious elements.
In the process of implementation, it is necessary to maintain political stability and social order and safety; proactively grasp the situation, promptly handle arising issues, and prevent hot spots and complicated cases at the grassroots level.
The arrangement and use of non-specialized personnel at the commune level, in villages and residential groups must ensure publicity, transparency, objectivity, and compliance with regulations associated with the implementation process of village and residential group arrangement in the locality.
Fully implement regimes and policies, ensure the stability of ideology and rights of non-specialized workers at the commune level, in villages, and residential groups in the process of arranging and consolidating the organization.
Select and introduce non-specialized workers in villages and residential groups who are reputable, healthy, dedicated, responsible, and capable of mobilizing the masses, gradually rejuvenating and improving the level of information technology application, community management skills, and quality and effective service to the people.
Ensure that people are fully informed, participate in contributing opinions, and supervise the arrangement of villages and residential groups in accordance with the law on implementing democracy at the grassroots level.
The Prime Minister requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities to urgently organize a review of all villages and residential groups in the area; develop a Master Plan for arranging and reorganizing villages and residential groups, and report to the Party committees at the same level before promulgation; complete it before June 10, 2026.
This includes a plan to consolidate the team of non-specialized personnel in villages and residential groups after arrangement and support policies according to regulations; and at the same time resolve regimes and policies for people who do not continue to participate in non-specialized activities in villages and residential groups.
Direct the commune-level People's Committee to develop a project to arrange villages and residential groups; organize to collect people's opinions in accordance with the law and submit the project to the commune-level People's Council for approval to ensure publicity, transparency and create consensus in the implementation process; complete before June 30, 2026.
