Proposal to make Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City special provincial administrative units

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra has just submitted to the Government a draft Decree on classification of administrative units (ADUs).

According to the explanation of the Ministry of Home Affairs , the draft decree basically inherits the system of administrative unit types that has been built and applied stably for a long time. Accordingly, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are special administrative units identified in the Law on Organization of Local Government.

Ho Chi Minh City is a special administrative unit. Photo: Nguyen Hue

The remaining units are divided into 3 categories (type I, type II, type III), which are determined by the scoring method (under 60 points is type III, from 60-75 points is type II, over 75 points is type I).

After merging 63 provinces and cities into 34 provinces and cities, the average natural area of provincial administrative units is 9,743 km², an increase of 4,484 km² (85.30%). In which, the provincial administrative unit with the largest area is Lam Dong with 24,243.13 km²; compared to the province with the largest area before June 2025 of 16,486.50 km² (Nghe An), an increase of 7,756.63 km² (47.05%). The average population size of provincial administrative units is 3,362,519 people, an increase of 1,547,826 people (an increase of 85.30%); The provincial administrative unit with the largest population size is Ho Chi Minh City with 14,668,098 people; Compared to the province with the largest population before June 2025, it was 9,966,166 people (old Ho Chi Minh City), an increase of 4,701,932 people (47.17%).

However, the content of urban classification for each type of administrative unit is adjusted to suit the viewpoints and principles of drafting the decree and the practical context.

Specifically, for centrally-run cities , the draft decree stipulates: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are special administrative units, centrally-run cities are type I administrative units.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the basis of this proposal is that according to the Constitution and the Law on Organization of Local Government 2025, a centrally-governed city is a regional center or a driving force for national development, with a comprehensive strategic position. In particular, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are special administrative units as stipulated in the Law on Organization of Local Government.

In fact, cities such as Hue, Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Can Tho have met all the highest criteria regarding population, area, socio-economics, infrastructure, finance, and administration. Therefore, the regulation of these cities as type I not only ensures stability, transparency, and reduces procedures, but also creates a legal basis for specific policies appropriate to the role of these cities.

For the province, The draft decree stipulates that provinces are divided into 3 types (types I, II, III) based on the total score of 5 standard groups.

Specifically, the maximum population size standard is 20 points, minimum 10 points; the maximum natural area standard is 20 points, minimum 10 points; the number of affiliated administrative units is 10 points, maximum 6 points; the socio-economic conditions standard (including 11 component criteria) is 40 points, minimum 18 points; the specific factor standard is 10 points, minimum 0 points.

How to calculate the classification score of provincial administrative units

In addition, there are 11 component criteria including: State budget revenue and expenditure balance; proportion of industry, construction and services; economic growth rate; non-agricultural labor rate; labor productivity growth rate; average income per capita; social insurance participation rate; poverty rate according to multidimensional poverty standards; rural population rate using clean water that meets standards; household rate with Internet connection; administrative procedure records processed through online public services.

For communes, the draft decree stipulates that communes are divided into 3 types (types I, II, III) based on the total score of 4 standard groups.

How to calculate the classification score of communal administrative units

Specifically, the population size standard is a maximum of 25 points and a minimum of 15 points; the natural area standard is a maximum of 25 points and a minimum of 15 points; the socio-economic conditions standard (including 7 component criteria) is a maximum of 40 points and a minimum of 21 points; the specific factor standard is a maximum of 10 points and a minimum of 0 points.

For the ward, The draft decree stipulates that wards are divided into 3 types (types I, II, III) based on the total score of 4 standard groups similar to those for communes, but with adjustments to the maximum and minimum levels of each criterion and standard to suit the specific characteristics of population size, natural area and socio-economic development level of the ward.

How to calculate the classification score of ward administrative units

For special zones , the draft decree stipulates that for special zones classified as urban areas, the ward classification standards apply, and for the remaining cases, the commune classification standards apply; at the same time, it stipulates that the score for the special factor of the special zone is 10 points (maximum).

The Ministry of Home Affairs reports to the Government for permission to develop and promulgate a draft decree on classifying administrative units according to a simplified procedure.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/de-xuat-ha-noi-tphcm-la-don-vi-hanh-chinh-cap-tinh-loai-dac-biet-2442295.html