The Ministry of Home Affairs in Vietnam issued a document on March 23, 2025, to all People's Committees across provinces and cities, announcing a temporary suspension of several administrative operations concerning units at all levels. This decision pertains to the enforcement of Conclusion No. 127 on the restructuring of the political system's organizational framework, particularly regarding the merger of certain administrative units at the provincial level, excluding the district level, while maintaining the merging of commune-level administrative units.
In the memorandum, the Ministry advocated for the temporary halt of submissions concerning the arrangement and establishment of district and commune administrative units as stipulated by Resolution No. 1211 of 2016 from the National Assembly Standing Committee. The suspension aims to provide clarity and structure before further action is taken.
Mr. Phan Trung Tuấn, Director of the Department of Local Government at the Ministry, elaborated on the situation, stating that the tasks currently on hold are those being executed by localities based on earlier resolutions by the National Assembly Standing Committee. He reassured that the ongoing construction of projects to merge provincial and commune-level administrative units, and the abolition of the district level as outlined in Conclusion 127 of the Politburo, will continue unabated.
The Ministry’s proposal includes an interruption in the classification of administrative units according to the old criteria. Local jurisdictions have been instructed to cease the appraisal and acceptance of documentation along with the creation, adjustment, and supplementation of records and maps delineating administrative boundaries. This is particularly pertinent for the ongoing plans organizing district and commune units for the period spanning 2023-2025.
Further directives encouraged a suspension in overall planning concerning both district and commune-level administrative units through 2030, and a vision to 2045—as mandated by Document No. 8657 issued on December 31, 2024—until a fresh policy directive is received from higher authorities.
To give some context, the standards set forth by the National Assembly Standing Committee identify that mountainous and highland districts should comprise a minimum population of 80,000 over a land area of 850 km². In contrast, delta districts must have a population of at least 120,000, spread across 450 km². Each district is required to encompass 13 commune-level administrative units, of which at least one must be a town.
Commune standards also vary; mountainous and highland communes are defined as having a population of 5,000 and an area of 50 km², while delta communes require 8,000 residents and a minimum territory of 30 km². Many regions have merged districts and communes adhering to these standards over the past few years.
Additionally, on March 20, 2025, the Central Steering Committee for the summary of Resolution 18 tasked the Government’s Party Committee with completing a report and project aimed at reorganizing administrative units at all levels. This includes the establishment of a two-tiered local government model, due to be presented to the Politburo by March 25. It is expected that after input from the Politburo, the Government Party Committee will finalize the report to be submitted to the Central Executive Committee by April 1.
Moreover, directives from the Government will guide how administrative units at the provincial and commune levels will be managed moving forward—including specific tasks, structural organization, staff arrangements, and asset management.
Anticipation grows that the National Assembly Standing Committee will endorse a resolution concerning the arrangement of commune-level administrative units, which will be followed by the National Assembly’s approval of the resolution to merge provincial administrative units by June 30, 2025.
As the Ministry of Home Affairs navigates these changes, local authorities remain alert, awaiting clarity and definition from the government. These administrative reforms strive to streamline and optimize local governance, while addressing the current standards and their applicability efficiently.
