Prioritizing urban "nuclei
Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee has just issued Plan No. 530/KH-UBND and Official Dispatch No. 1210/UBND-TH on establishing ward units based on communes meeting urban core elements.
According to the plan, the establishment of wards will be implemented on the basis of maintaining the status quo of existing communes, focusing on prioritizing areas that already have urban foundations. Specifically, communes formed from the process of arranging former towns and communes that have been classified as urban areas.
Notably, 11 communes were selected to be implemented first to implement the process of collecting people's opinions, including: Thuong Phuoc, Tram Chim, My Tho, Thap Muoi, Lap Vo, An Huu, Cai Be, Binh Phu, Chau Thanh, Vinh Kim and Vinh Binh. These are all areas with central roles or driving forces for development in sub-regions in the province. To be upgraded to wards, localities must synchronously meet many strict criteria on scale, economy and society. Accordingly, the minimum population size is from 21,000 people, and the natural area is from 5.5 km2 or more.
Regarding the economic structure, the proportion of industry - construction and services must reach 70% or more; the proportion of non-agricultural labor must reach at least 70%. At the same time, localities must ensure budget balance (revenue/expenditure ratio reaches 100%), have an average income per capita higher than the provincial average and a poverty rate lower than the general level in the last 3 years. Communes expected to establish wards must be identified in the plan as general centers or specialized centers, playing a leading role in socio-economic development of the region or sub-region.
Urgent, synchronous
Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee set a very urgent implementation schedule. Accordingly, no later than May 3, 2026, localities must complete the issuance of forms and get opinions from each household in hamlets and villages. By May 5, 2026, the Commune-level People's Council will pass a resolution approving the policy of establishing wards. It is expected that on May 11, 2026, the Provincial People's Council will hold a thematic meeting to consider and pass the provincial-level resolution. The entire project dossier will be completed and submitted to the Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs for appraisal before June 15, 2026.
To ensure the progress and quality of the project, the People's Committee of Dong Thap province has assigned specific tasks to each agency and unit. In which, the Department of Home Affairs plays the role of focal point, guiding and summarizing. The Provincial Police is responsible for reviewing and providing accurate population data; The Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinates to build a map of the current status of administrative boundaries. Provincial press and media agencies will implement communication products, including documentary films reflecting the current development status of planned areas to wards, serving the project development work.
Creating momentum for development
The establishment of wards is not only an administrative adjustment, but also has the meaning of creating a new development space.
When upgraded, localities will have conditions to complete urban infrastructure, attract investment, strongly develop industry - services, thereby improving the quality of life of people. On the other hand, the establishment of wards is not simply changing the name, but also the province's commitment to improving the quality of life, infrastructure and breaking through the economic potential of Dong Thap in the new period.
With a clear roadmap, specific criteria and the synchronous involvement of the entire political system, Dong Thap is showing high determination in promoting urbanization in a practical and sustainable direction.
