Decree 307/2025/ND-CP: New regulatory framework on the classification of administrative units

The government has issued Decree No. 307/2025/ND-CP detailing the classification of administrative units. This is an important document aimed at standardizing the system of criteria, scoring methods, and classification procedures for administrative units nationwide, thereby contributing to improving the efficiency of state management and meeting development requirements in the new period.

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The classification of administrative units serves as the basis for developing socio -economic development policies, organizing the government apparatus, allocating personnel, and determining the regime and policies for officials and civil servants according to the specific characteristics of each locality. Decree 307/2025/ND-CP was issued to ensure that the classification is consistent, transparent, and in line with reality, creating conditions for localities to proactively manage and develop.

According to the Decree, the administrative unit system is classified into different levels: Provincial level: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are classified as special; other centrally-administered cities are classified as type I; provinces are divided into three types I, II, and III. Commune level: Communes are classified as I, II, and III; wards and special zones are classified into four types: special, I, II, and III. This classification allows for an objective assessment of population size, area, socio-economic conditions, and development characteristics of each locality.

The decree applies a scoring method with a maximum of 100 points, plus priority points for meeting specific criteria. The four main groups of criteria include: Population size; Natural area; Socio-economic development conditions; and Specific criteria. Depending on the total score achieved, administrative units are classified into categories: special (from 90 points), category I (from 75 points), category II (from 60 points), and category III (below 60 points). In addition, priority points are awarded in some cases, such as localities with strategically important locations, UNESCO heritage sites, areas or populations exceeding the prescribed thresholds, or being a provincial-level comprehensive center.

The decree clearly defines the authority: The Minister of Home Affairs decides on the classification of provincial-level administrative units, wards, and special-zone administrative units. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee decides on the classification of communes into categories I, II, and III. The project dossier includes a submission letter, explanatory report, data tables of criteria, and supporting documents. Data is calculated up to December 31st of the preceding year and is verified by the police agency for population data. The appraisal time at the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Department of Home Affairs is a maximum of 30 days, and the competent authority issues a decision within 15 days of receiving the appraisal results. Every 5 years, the Provincial and Commune People's Committees must review the classification results to ensure they are consistent with actual development and management requirements.

With Decree 307/2025/ND-CP, the system for classifying administrative units has been standardized, made more transparent and clearer, contributing to creating a solid legal foundation for the organization, management, and development of local government in the new period.

Source: https://sonnmt.camau.gov.vn/tin-hoat-dong/nghi-dinh-307-2025-nd-cp-khung-quy-dinh-moi-ve-phan-loai-don-vi-hanh-chinh-292251