After nearly a year of operating the 2-level local government model, the removal of the intermediate level - district level, reducing the number of administrative units (UAs), and arranging communes and wards in a streamlined direction have contributed to reducing the cumbersomeness of the apparatus.
At the grassroots level, there are 3,321 administrative units, including 2,621 communes, 687 wards and 13 special zones.
However, there are still 705 commune-level administrative units nationwide that do not meet the regulations. Of which, 17 units do not meet both natural area and population scale standards, 529 units (5.93%) do not meet area standards, 159 units (4.79%) do not meet population standards. In the coming time, these commune-level administrative units will continue to be reviewed and arranged to complete the administrative apparatus.
After arranging commune-level administrative units and removing district-level units in 2025, Thanh Hoa province has 166 communes and wards. Based on Resolution No. 112/2025/UBTVQH15 dated December 24, 2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Thanh Hoa province has at least 78 communes that have not met the area standards.
In 2025, after implementing the arrangement of commune-level administrative units and removing district-level units, Lang Son province has 65 commune-level administrative units, including 61 communes and 4 wards.
Based on Resolution No. 1672/NQ-UBTVQH15 on arranging commune-level administrative units of Lang Son province in 2025, this locality has at least 14 communes and wards in the group of commune-level administrative units that do not meet standards.
According to Resolution 112/2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on standards of administrative units, which includes regulations on standards of commune and ward administrative units, effective from the beginning of 2026.
Accordingly, for mountainous communes, the population size must reach 5,000 people or more and the minimum natural area is 100km2. For communes in islands, the population must be from 2,500 people or more and the area from 15km2. The remaining communes must have at least 16,000 people and the area from 30km2.
Meanwhile, the standards for wards are regulated higher. A ward must have a population size of 21,000 people or more, a minimum natural area of 5.5km2 and an urban population ratio of 50% or more.
In addition to the criteria on scale, the ward must also meet the requirements for socio-economic development level. In which, the proportion of industry, construction and services in GRDP must reach 70% or more; the proportion of non-agricultural labor must be 70% or more; and the average income per capita in the last three years must be higher than the average level of the province or city directly under it.
However, the Government emphasized that these standards will not be the sole basis for deciding on the merger. Localities with specific historical, cultural, and long-standing traditions or special geographical conditions will still be considered comprehensively to ensure suitability with reality.
At the internal affairs sector conference on July 9, Mr. Phan Trung Tuan, Director of the Local Government Department (Ministry of Home Affairs) affirmed that this is not a simultaneous rearrangement of 705 communes and wards that have not met standards, but each case will be considered based on the specific conditions and characteristics of the area.
Many communes and wards belong to border areas, remote areas, with complex terrain or with specific historical, traditional, and cultural elements. These units may not continue to be arranged as in previous periods.
Because this is a big issue, deeply affecting the entire political system in the locality, especially at the commune level. Therefore, the Central Government will consider carefully before making a conclusion.
