On the afternoon of March 19, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc had a working session with District 1 to assess the socio-economic situation in 2024 and discuss the direction and tasks for 2025.
At the meeting, Mr. Ta Hoai Nam - Head of the Organizing Committee of District 1 Party Committee said that the locality is studying two options to rearrange the wards.
Currently, District 1 has 10 wards, including: Ben Nghe, Ben Thanh, Co Giang, Cau Kho, Cau Ong Lanh, Nguyen Cu Trinh, Nguyen Thai Binh, Pham Ngu Lao, Tan Dinh and Da Kao.
According to the first plan, the three wards of Da Kao, Tan Dinh and Ben Nghe will be merged into Ben Nghe ward, while the remaining seven wards will be merged into Ben Thanh ward. This option has the advantage of keeping the current administrative boundaries, facilitating management and operation.
The second option proposes to divide District 1 into three wards along the main road, however, this requires adjusting administrative boundaries, leading to some wards being cut off.
Currently, both options are in the process of discussion, and there is no consensus decision.
After listening to the proposals, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc suggested a broader approach, not just limited to District 1.
Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc commented that the arrangement of administrative units could go beyond the current administrative boundaries, even considering merging some wards of District 1 and District 3 if these areas have similarities in geography, population and economy.
"We need to think big, do big, think beyond existing limitations, propose solutions beyond current administrative boundaries" - Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee emphasized.
District 1 is the administrative, economic and cultural center of Ho Chi Minh City, with an area of about 7.72km2, bordering Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, District 3, District 5, District 4 and Thu Duc City.
Previously, according to Resolution No. 1278/2024 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Ho Chi Minh City had reorganized 80 wards of districts 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, Binh Thanh, Go Vap and Phu Nhuan, reducing the number to 41 wards. The wards after the arrangement will officially come into operation from January 1, 2025.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has 22 district-level administrative units (16 districts, 1 Thu Duc city and 5 districts) and 273 commune-level administrative units (210 wards, 5 towns and 58 communes).
