Proposing new criteria for reorganizing villages and residential areas nationwide.

VHO - The Ministry of Interior has submitted to the Government a draft Decree on the organization and operation of villages and residential areas, and the regime and policies for part-time officials, which proposes new criteria for rearranging and streamlining villages and residential areas to suit the two-tiered local government model.

According to the Ministry of Interior , many villages and residential areas still do not meet the criteria regarding the number of households as stipulated in current regulations, and this is uneven across different regions. (Photo: Provided)

The draft Decree is being developed to align with the two-tiered local government model as stipulated in Law No. 72/2025/QH15 on the Organization of Local Government, while also meeting the requirements for streamlining the administrative apparatus and improving operational efficiency at the grassroots level. The draft is currently under review by the Ministry of Justice .

According to the Ministry of Interior, implementing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW and current legal regulations, the reorganization of villages and residential areas has achieved significant results, reducing the number from 136,824 in 2015 to 89,574 in 2025 (a reduction of 47,250 villages and residential areas, equivalent to 34.53%). However, many villages and residential areas still do not meet the criteria regarding the size of the number of households as stipulated in current regulations, and the reduction is uneven across different regions.

Following the reorganization of provincial and commune-level administrative units in 2025, the average number of villages and residential areas per commune-level administrative unit will increase significantly (from approximately 9 villages/residential areas per commune to approximately 27 villages/residential areas per commune). Specifically, this will increase from 89,574 villages/residential areas per 10,035 commune-level administrative units to 89,574 villages/residential areas per 3,321 commune-level administrative units.

This increases the number of administrative points and creates significant management pressure on commune-level authorities; moreover, current regulations have not been adjusted to suit current practices.

The Ministry of Interior stated that the draft basically inherits the current regulations on the organization and operation of villages and residential areas, while adding many new contents to suit practical realities.

Specifically: Villages and residential areas are organized at the commune, ward, and special zone levels. Villages are organized at the commune level, and residential areas are organized at the ward level; the provincial People's Committee is delegated the authority to decide on the organization of villages and residential areas in special zones to suit the urban and rural characteristics of each special zone; it continues to affirm that villages and residential areas are self-governing organizations of the community, where direct democracy is practiced and where the people implement the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, and the tasks assigned by the commune-level government.

The draft amendment requires ensuring a streamlined and efficient organizational structure, appropriate to the population size and management requirements of the commune-level government; clearly defining the tasks of supporting state management from the self-governance tasks of the local community.

The organization and operation of villages and residential areas are also required to enhance transparency and openness, promote the application of information technology, and facilitate digital transformation. At the same time, the activities of villages and residential areas must closely coordinate with the Fatherland Front Committee, forces involved in maintaining security and order at the grassroots level, and self-governing organizations in the area; and be linked to the activities of the Party branch to promote the role of the people in community management.

One of the notable aspects of the draft is the specific regulation of criteria for the size of households in villages and residential areas according to each region after the reorganization of administrative units and the establishment of a two-tiered local government structure.

Specifically, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, a village must have at least 500 households, and a residential area must have at least 700 households.

In the Northern Midlands and mountainous regions, a village has 150 or more households, and a residential area has 300 or more households.

In the Red River Delta region, the regulations stipulate a minimum of 400 households per village and 550 households per residential group; in the North Central region, the figures are 350 and 450 households respectively.

For the South Central Coast and Central Highlands regions, villages must have at least 350 households, and residential areas must have at least 500 households. However, for Gia Lai, Lam Dong, and Dak Lak provinces, the criteria are lower, with villages requiring at least 300 households and residential areas requiring at least 450 households.

In the Southeast and Mekong Delta regions, a village must have at least 400 households, and a residential area must have at least 550 households.

In addition to criteria regarding household size, the draft also requires villages and residential areas to have essential socio-economic infrastructure to serve community life.

At the same time, provincial People's Committees are tasked with regulating appropriate scales for border areas, islands, areas with complex and fragmented terrain, or areas with other unique characteristics.

The draft also includes many provisions to address situations arising in practice, aiming to simplify procedures and facilitate management at the grassroots level.

These include cases of converting villages into residential areas when establishing wards; merging newly formed residential areas into existing villages or residential areas when the conditions for new establishment have not yet been met; and transferring management of villages and residential areas that have encroached on cultivated land or settled illegally.

Regarding the sequence and procedures, the draft inherits the current process but adjusts it to conform with the Law on Organization of Local Government and the Law on Implementation of Democracy at the Grassroots Level.

Accordingly, the People's Committee at the commune level is responsible for developing the plan; organizing public consultations through appropriate methods; compiling, incorporating, and explaining the feedback to finalize the dossier for submission to the People's Council at the same level for consideration and decision on the establishment, rearrangement, reorganization, dissolution, naming, and renaming of hamlets and residential areas.

For areas without a local government structure, the People's Committee at the commune level will develop the plan and make decisions within its authority.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/doi-song/de-xuat-tieu-chi-moi-de-sap-xep-thon-to-dan-pho-tren-ca-nuoc-230564.html