On December 31, information from the National Assembly Office said that Politburo Member, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man signed and promulgated the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee on standards for administrative units.
Accordingly, for provinces, the resolution clearly states the population size standard for mountainous provinces from 900,000 people or more; the remaining provinces from 1.4 million people or more.
The natural area of mountainous provinces is from 8,000 km2 or more; other provinces from 5,000 km2 or more.
Regarding commune standards, the population scale of mountainous communes is from 5,000 people or more; island communes from 2,500 people or more; remaining communes from 16,000 people or more. The natural area of mountainous communes is from 100 km2 or more; island communes from 15 km2 or more; remaining communes from 30 km2 or more.
The Resolution also stipulates the standards for rural administrative units with specific elements.
Specially difficult communes in coastal and sandy areas are certified according to the decision of competent authorities, the minimum level of population scale standards is equal to 50% of the level specified in point c, clause 1, Article 2 of this Resolution; other standards are implemented according to the provisions of this Section.
For the Red River Delta region, the minimum level of natural area standards of the province is equal to 50% of the prescribed level, of the commune is equal to 70% of the prescribed level; other standards are implemented according to the provisions of this Section.
Rural administrative units have many specific factors, so each standard is only allowed to apply a reduction corresponding to one specific factor specified as above.
Meanwhile, the city's standard is a population size of 2.5 million people or more. Natural area of 2,500 km2 or more. The ratio of wards to the total number of commune-level administrative units is 30% or more. The urbanization rate is 45% or more.
The location and functions identified in the planning or orientation approved by competent authorities are national or regional integrated centers on economy, finance, culture, education, training, tourism, health, science and technology, traffic hubs, domestic and international exchanges, playing a role in promoting socio-economic development of the region or the whole country. Along with that, they have been recognized as type I urban areas.
In addition, the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee also stipulates the project on the establishment, dissolution, merger, division of administrative units, adjustment of boundaries and renaming of administrative units.
The Resolution takes effect from January 1, 2026.
