Priority points in classifying administrative units

The Lao Dong Newspaper Legal Consulting Office replied:

Article 9, Decree 307/2025/ND-CP (effective from November 27, 2025) stipulates the priority points in the classification of administrative units as follows:

1. Administrative units with a population of 300% of the standards prescribed in the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the standards of administrative units or higher will be added 5 points; over 300%, for every additional 50%, an additional 0.5 point will be calculated, but not exceeding 10 points.

2. Regarding natural area:

a) Provinces and communes with a natural area of 300% or more compared to the standards prescribed in the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee on standards for administrative units shall be added with 10 points.

b) Wards with a natural area of 42 km2 or more will be added 10 points.

3. Regarding position and role:

a) Provincial and commune-level administrative units with particularly important strategic locations in terms of socio-economics, national defense, security, national sovereignty protection over seas and islands of the Fatherland, and tourist centers with international brands are awarded 10 points;

b) Commune-level administrative units are identified as economic, cultural, educational, training, medical centers, traffic hubs, playing a role in promoting the socio-economic development of an inter-commune and ward cluster with 3 points added;

c) Commune-level administrative units are identified as provincial-level specialized centers for economy, finance, culture, education, training, healthcare, tourism, science and technology at the provincial level, and traffic hubs, with the role of promoting the socio-economic development of provinces and cities, with an additional 5 points;

d) Commune-level administrative units are identified as provincial-level comprehensive centers for economy, finance, culture, education, training, health, tourism, science and technology, and traffic hubs, with the role of promoting the socio-economic development of provinces and cities, with an additional 10 points.

4. Administrative units that have many priority factors specified in Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this Article at the same time shall only apply one highest priority criterion.

Thus, the priority point in classifying administrative units is regulated as above.