Having undergone two mergers.
Lac Dao, a ward of Phan Thiet City, is familiar to many people both inside and outside Binh Thuan province, thanks to its memorable location: Phan Thiet market and many other attractions. In particular, 2024 saw Lac Dao mentioned more frequently as Phan Thiet City implemented Resolution No. 1253/NQ-UBTVQH15 of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on the rearrangement of commune-level administrative units in Binh Thuan province for the period 2023-2025. The two neighboring wards of Duc Nghia and Duc Thang were merged into Lac Dao ward, retaining the name Lac Dao. This is understandable, as Lac Dao houses many city administrative agencies, has a large population, and its modern office building is centrally located between Duc Nghia and Duc Thang wards, thus meeting the criteria for retaining the original name.
The merger increased the total number of neighborhoods and the population of the ward to 20 neighborhoods, totaling 37,953 people. This is the latest figure provided by the Lac Dao Ward Police when I accompanied Major Duong Minh Tien - the police officer in neighborhood 1 - and Mr. Tran Van Anh - the neighborhood leader - to gather feedback on the draft Resolution amending and supplementing some articles of the 2013 Constitution (constitutional amendment). This coincided with the time when Lac Dao, having only recently become operational, joined the rest of the country in implementing the Party and State's policy of merging administrative units at all levels according to the two-tiered local model. Simultaneously, feedback was being provided on the constitutional amendment.
Accordingly, after the district level was abolished and merged into Lam Dong, Binh Thuan reduced its administrative units from 121 communes to 45 units and special zones. Among them, Lac Dao, Phu Trinh, and Binh Hung merged to form Phan Thiet ward. This inevitably caused some regret, but the people of Lac Dao did not see it as a heavy burden, a "heavy mark" on a life of weariness from their duties and responsibilities, leaving them without the strength to strive forward… Instead, they understood that merging administrative units at all levels naturally required amending the Constitution. All of this aimed to create new spaces and strong impetus for the development of the locality and the country as a whole in the new situation. Ms. Tran Thi Yen, a citizen who has worked in the education sector for many years, shared when Major Tien guided her on using the VneID application to contribute to the constitutional amendments, “I trust in the leadership of the Party, so I agree with the constitutional amendments.”
Ensuring social security
The agreement to the constitutional amendments was not unique to Ms. Yen; it was shared by the people of Lac Dao, including those who had not offered suggestions. They also trusted in the leadership of the Party and the thorough, scientific preparation of state agencies... Their belief was that regardless of whether the country was merged or the constitution amended, they would still have to live and protect the country as their ancestors had done. As Venerable Thich Nguyen Tan, Abbot of Linh Thang Pagoda, said to the monks and Buddhist followers: “Buddhism has always been with the nation… In the glorious history of the nation, many Zen masters and renowned monks wholeheartedly supported the dynasties to build a prosperous and flourishing country; in the national resistance wars against foreign invaders, many monks ‘took off their robes and donned warrior attire,’ leaving behind glorious achievements for posterity…”
Lac Dao has many temples and communal houses such as Ong Temple, Phat Quang Temple, Linh Thang Temple, and Phat An Temple - Binh Thuan Provincial Buddhist Association… Linh Thang Temple alone currently has over 300 Buddhists who regularly participate in activities at the temple, not including 1,000 people who have taken refuge in the Three Jewels. The majority of Buddhists sincerely pray for family happiness and national peace. “Most monks, nuns, and Buddhists at the temple support the country's merger of administrative units at all levels and the amendment of the Constitution. The Venerable also supports this and has offered suggestions to adjust some wording in the draft Resolution amending the Constitution to make it more appropriate,” added Venerable Thich Nguyen Tan. Mr. Tran Van Anh, sitting beside him, expressed his admiration for the Venerable's excellent charitable work. Every year during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), the Venerable mobilizes Buddhists with better economic conditions to share food and clothing with the less fortunate in the neighborhood where the temple is located, as well as throughout the ward.
These charitable activities are reflected in the socio-economic reports of Lac Dao ward over the past years. Most recently, in the report for the first six months of 2025, Lac Dao is striving to reduce the poverty rate to 0.9%. "The People's Committee of the ward has reviewed the cases of war veterans and their relatives in the locality who are in difficult circumstances, frequently ill, and has organized visits and provided support to 56 beneficiaries from policy beneficiary families with a total of 149 million VND from the local Gratitude Fund," the report stated.
Security is stable.
Mr. Anh is one of the 20 neighborhood leaders in Lac Dao with a long history of serving the community, meaning he has served as a neighborhood leader for many years. Despite his family's difficult economic situation and meager monthly allowance, he always strives to fulfill his responsibilities. This is one of the most insecure neighborhoods in Lac Dao, located near Phan Thiet market, and especially because of the sacred statue of the Goddess of Mercy in front of Phat An Pagoda, at the intersection of Tran Phu and Trieu Quang Phuc streets. People from all over come here to light incense and pray for family peace, but there are also those addicted to gambling and lottery who come to pray for winning. Many homeless people gather here to beg for money, sell lottery tickets, and even drug addicts take advantage of the people's fanaticism to steal. However, the situation is now under control thanks to neighborhood 1's cooperation with the ward police in daily monitoring. This is also being done at similar sacred sites like Ong Pagoda and other tourist destinations in the ward.
Lieutenant Colonel Pham Nguyen Tan Phuoc, Head of Lac Dao Ward Police, reported that the unit has over 20 officers and soldiers, including 4 community police officers. The ward is densely populated, not only by local residents but also by people from other areas who come to trade goods at Phan Thiet market and the fishing port; and to worship at sacred sites… Not to mention other destinations such as the Ho Chi Minh Museum – Binh Thuan Branch, where President Ho Chi Minh taught before leaving to find a way to save the country… and Van Thuy Tu – a temple dedicated to the God of the South Sea (whale). The ward police regularly monitor the situation, detect illegal activities, and handle them immediately, ensuring security and order in the ward. The people of Lac Dao are always actively implementing the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State. Regarding the recent constitutional amendments, over 2,000 people from the ward contributed their opinions, Lieutenant Colonel Phuoc added.
Amidst the restructuring and streamlining of administrative units at all levels aimed at building a government closer to the people and developing the country with a vision for at least 100 years, the people of Lac Dao in particular, and Binh Thuan in general, are all complying well with the Party's guidelines and policies, and are ready to embrace change for the development of their homeland and country.
Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/ghi-o-lac-dao-giua-thoi-sap-nhap-131114.html
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