On July 8, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee said that the province will apply new regulations on regional allowances according to Circular No. 15/2026/TT-BNV of the Ministry of Home Affairs, effective from July 1, 2026.
The Circular amends and supplements a number of contents of Joint Circular No. 11/2005, stipulating the regional allowance regime for cadres, civil servants, public employees, employees receiving salaries from the state budget and armed forces working in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions.
According to new regulations, the Ministry of Home Affairs replaces the phrase "general minimum wage" with "basic salary", and at the same time adjusts the administrative term from "commune, ward, town" to "commune, ward, special zone" to be consistent with the current legal system after arranging administrative units.
Notably, communes, wards, and special zones named in the appendix issued with the Circular but previously not applied regional allowances will be retroactively entitled to the regime from January 1, 2026.
According to the list attached to the Circular, Lao Cai province has 37 communes and wards entitled to regional allowances with a coefficient of 0.7; 16 communes and wards enjoying a coefficient of 0.5; 15 communes and wards enjoying a coefficient of 0.4; 27 communes and wards enjoying a coefficient of 0.3 and 4 communes and wards enjoying a coefficient of 0.2.
In which, the group enjoying a coefficient of 0.7 includes many highland and border localities such as Si Ma Cai, Y Ty, Muong Hum, Bac Ha, Ban Lien, Muong Khuong, Pha Long, Bat Xat and western communes of the province such as Mu Cang Chai, Tram Tau, Ta Xi Lang, Pung Luong...
The coefficient of 0.5 applies to 16 communes and wards, including Vo Lao, Khanh Yen, Duong Quy, Chieng Ken, Trinh Tuong, Coc San, Van Chan, Gia Hoi, Lam Thuong...
The group enjoying the coefficient of 0.4 includes communes and wards of Van Ban, Phong Hai, Tang Loong, Bao Ha, Luc Yen, Gia Phu, Lao Cai, Sa Pa and Nghia Lo.
For the coefficient of 0.3, the list includes 27 communes and wards such as Bao Thang, Bao Yen, Hop Thanh, Lien Son, Tran Yen, Mau A and wards of Cam Duong, Trung Tam, Van Phu, Nam Cuong, Au Lau...
Four localities enjoying a coefficient of 0.2 include Thac Ba, Yen Binh, Bao Ai communes and Yen Bai ward.
The issuance of Circular No. 15/2026/TT-BNV aims to ensure uniform regional allowance policies after arranging administrative units, while ensuring the rights of cadres, civil servants, public employees, laborers and armed forces working in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions.
