Regulations on the organization of villages and residential areas

Government Decree No. 185/2026/ND-CP dated May 26, 2026 (Decree 185) specifies the organization and operation of villages and residential areas (TDPs) and unifies the regime and policies for part-time officials. SGGP newspaper would like to introduce the regulations on the organization of villages and residential areas according to Decree 185.

Village and neighborhood organizations

According to Decree 185, each village has a Village Head; each residential area has a Residential Area Leader, who are part-time officials working in the village or residential area. In addition to the positions of Village Head and Residential Area Leader, based on task requirements, geographical characteristics, and the local budget's capacity, the Provincial People's Council decides on the appointment of individuals to support the Village Head and Residential Area Leader or to carry out self-governing activities of the community.

The election and dismissal of village heads and neighborhood group leaders shall be carried out in accordance with the Law on the Implementation of Democracy at the Grassroots Level and the Decree guiding the implementation of the Law on the Implementation of Democracy at the Grassroots Level. In cases of establishing, rearranging, or reorganizing villages or neighborhood groups, or in cases where the position of village head or neighborhood group leader is vacant, the People's Committee of the commune shall appoint a temporary village head or neighborhood group leader to manage the activities of the village or neighborhood group until a new village head or neighborhood group leader is elected, within a period not exceeding 6 months from the date of the decision appointing the temporary village head or neighborhood group leader.

Term of office of the Village Head, Neighborhood Group Leader

According to regulations, the term of office for a village head or neighborhood group leader is 5 years. In cases where it is necessary to ensure consistency with the reorganization of villages or neighborhoods, or due to force majeure circumstances such as natural disasters or epidemics that prevent the election from being held on time, the commune People's Committee may decide to shorten or extend the term of office of the village head or neighborhood group leader, but not by more than 6 months. If the term must be shortened or extended by more than 6 months, the commune People's Committee shall report to the provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision.

Villages, hamlets, settlements, and similar communities (collectively referred to as villages); residential areas, neighborhoods, and sub-districts (collectively referred to as residential areas). Villages and residential areas are self-governing organizations of communities sharing a common residential area within a specific administrative unit at the commune level (commune, ward, special zone); they are places where direct and broad democracy is practiced to promote self-governing activities of the community; and they organize the people to implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws and regulations.

CTBD Department

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/quy-dinh-ve-to-chuc-cua-thon-to-dan-pho-post855822.html