To meet the progress of administrative unit arrangement in 2025, localities in Lang Son have been organizing a public consultation on the naming and renaming of commune and ward-level administrative units after the merger.
In many districts and cities, new naming plans have been announced to collect public opinions, in which some locations are proposed to be associated with district names with serial numbers, such as "Huu Lung 1, Huu Lung 2, Bac Son 1, Bac Son 2, Van Lang 1, Van Lang 2 ...".
This option is considered convenient in the short term for administrative management. However, many people are concerned, thinking that naming communes by numbers will lose the spiritual, historical and cultural identity of each locality.
Ms. Hoang Thi Trang (Hoang Van Thu commune, Van Lang district) said: "We are always proud to have the commune name as the birthplace of the heroic communist Hoang Van Thu, and at the same time this is also the homeland of the revolution.
However, according to the project, Hoang Van Thu commune, along with Nhac Ky, Hong Thai, Tan My, Tan Thanh communes, will be merged into Van Lang 1 commune.
"We hope to keep the name that has been associated with the people for generations, to remind the next generation of the proud traditions that previous generations have been building, instead of dry, popular names" - Ms. Trang said.
In another development, in Chi Lang district, the merger of communes and the decision to name new communes were approved by the people up to 98%.
Speaking with reporters, Mr. Mai Viet Lao - Chairman of the People's Committee of Y Tich commune, Chi Lang district said: "Y Tich commune was merged with Van Linh commune and Hoa Binh commune to become the new Van Linh commune, one of two communes "after the pass" (after Deo Ben - connecting from Dong Mo town to the communes in the mountainous areas of Chi Lang district)".
According to Mr. Lao, with the name Van Linh, the people almost completely agree because the name Van Linh has a local mark, a name from the time their ancestors opened the land to establish the village.
Previously, at the regular meeting of the Lang Son Provincial People's Committee on April 22, the issue of naming new communes and wards was discussed. The conference agreed with the draft submission on the merger of communes, accordingly, the whole province will merge from 194 communes to 65 commune-level administrative units (including 4 wards and 61 communes).
Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Tien Thieu requested districts and cities to continue to collect voters' opinions, especially in places with different opinions on the names or adjusting the administrative boundaries at the village level. The collection of opinions must be democratic, public, in line with the aspirations of the people, avoiding imposition.
"For naming, it is necessary to prioritize names rich in historical significance, easy to read, easy to remember, not overlapping and highly appreciated by the people," Mr. Ho Tien Thieu emphasized.
