4 communes and special zones recognized as island communes of Quang Ninh province include: Cai Chien commune, Vinh Thuc commune, Van Don special zone and Co To special zone.
Cai Chien commune, formerly part of the old Hai Ha district, is an island located far from the shore. This is also the only commune-level administrative unit in Quang Ninh that does not have to be merged due to terrain, population and is an independent island.
Vinh Thuc commune was formerly under the old Mong Cai city. Vinh Thuc commune was merged with Vinh Trung commune to form Vinh Thuc commune.
Meanwhile, Co To Special Zone was formed on the basis of changing the natural area and population of Co To town, Thanh Lan commune and Dong Tien commune in the old Co To island district.
Van Don Special Zone was formed on the basis of changing the natural area and population of the previous administrative units of Van Don district, including many island communes, such as: Ban Sen, Minh Chau, Ngoc Vung, Quan Lan, Thang Loi...
According to Decision No. 40/2025/QD-TTg dated October 31, 2025 on criteria, order, and procedures for recognizing island communes and safe zone communes during the resistance war against France and the US, to become island communes, the following two criteria must be met:
Having 50% or more of the natural area of islands and archipelagos as prescribed in Article 19 of the Law on the Vietnam Sea 2012 (amended and supplemented in the Law on Organization of Local Government dated June 16, 2025), or having the entire natural area of islets isolated from the mainland, with conditions similar to the islands.
There are people residing or having armed forces stationed on islands, islands, and islands to participate in managing, protecting national defense, security and sovereignty of the sea and islands.
