Mergers and renaming of provinces and communes must be approved by 50% or more of the households.

The government has just issued Decree No. 321/2025/ND-CP guiding the process of soliciting public opinion on the establishment, dissolution, merger, division, boundary adjustment, and renaming of administrative units. The Decree takes effect from December 16, 2025.

In cases of establishment, dissolution, merger, division, boundary adjustment, and renaming of provincial-level administrative units, the Provincial People's Committee shall organize public consultations in all commune-level administrative units within that provincial-level administrative unit.

In cases of establishment, dissolution, merger, division, boundary adjustment, and renaming of commune-level administrative units, the provincial People's Committee shall organize a public consultation in that commune-level administrative unit.

The provincial People's Committee shall organize the collection of public opinions by distributing opinion survey forms to households according to the mẫu prescribed in the appendix attached to this Decree and the provisions of the law on the implementation of democracy at the grassroots level.

The decree stipulates the procedures for soliciting public opinion as follows:

After developing proposals for the establishment, dissolution, merger, division, boundary adjustment, and renaming of administrative units, the provincial People's Committee shall send a document, along with sample opinion forms and consultation materials, to the commune-level People's Committee; and direct and guide the commune-level People's Committee to develop a plan and organize the collection of public opinions in each village and residential area.

Within 60 days of receiving the document from the provincial People's Committee, the commune People's Committee shall complete the process of gathering public opinions.

Within 5 working days from the date of completion of the public consultation, the People's Committee of the commune shall compile and prepare a report on the results of the public consultation in the area and send it to the People's Council of the same level, the People's Committee of the province, and the website or electronic portal of the People's Committee of the commune.

For commune-level administrative units that do not have a People's Council, the commune-level People's Committee shall compile and prepare a report on the results of the public consultation in the area and send it to the provincial-level People's Committee and also to the commune-level People's Committee's website or electronic portal.

Within 5 working days from the date of receiving the report on the results of the public consultation from the commune-level People's Committee, the provincial-level People's Committee shall direct the preparation of a consolidated report on the results of the public consultation from the directly involved commune-level administrative units and send it to the People's Council at the same level, the Government's electronic information portal, and the website and electronic information portal of the provincial-level People's Committee.

Within 5 working days, the Government's electronic portal and the websites and portals of provincial and commune-level People's Committees are responsible for publishing the results of the public consultation.

If the results of the public consultation on the establishment, dissolution, merger, division, boundary adjustment, and renaming of provincial-level administrative units show that 50% or more of the total number of households in the area (provincial-level administrative unit) approve, the agency developing the proposal will continue to refine the proposal and submit it to the Provincial People's Council for consideration and feedback.

If the results of the public consultation on the establishment, dissolution, merger, division, boundary adjustment, and renaming of commune-level administrative units receive the approval of 50% or more of the total number of households in the area (at the commune level), the agency developing the proposal will continue to refine the proposal and submit it to the Provincial and Commune People's Councils for consideration and feedback.

In cases where a commune-level administrative unit does not have a People's Council, the provincial People's Committee shall direct the completion of the proposal and submit it to the provincial People's Council for consideration and comments.

According to the Labor Newspaper

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202512/sap-nhap-doi-ten-tinh-xa-phai-duoc-tu-50-tro-len-ho-dan-tan-thanh-9dc5b0a/