Sequence, procedures, and documents for establishing and reorganizing villages and residential areas.

Photo caption — A corner of the National Convention Center. Photo: Thanh Dat/VNA

The Decree, comprising 5 chapters and 20 articles, provides relatively comprehensive regulations on the organization and operation of villages and residential areas, as well as the regime and policies for part-time officials in these areas. It serves as an important legal basis for localities to promptly implement the reorganization of villages and residential areas; review, arrange, consolidate, and improve the regime and policies for part-time officials in villages and residential areas, in accordance with the two-tiered local government organizational model.

Standards for villages and residential areas

Regarding the standards for villages and residential areas, the Decree stipulates the following:

Regarding the number of households:

a) 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;

b) In the midland and mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam: Villages must have at least 150 households, and residential areas must have at least 300 households;

c) In the Red River Delta region: A village must have at least 400 households, and a residential area must have at least 550 households;

d) In the North Central region: A village must have at least 350 households, and a residential area must have at least 450 households;

d) In the South Central coastal region and the Central Highlands: Villages must have at least 300 households, and residential areas must have at least 450 households;

e) In the Southeast region: Villages must have at least 400 households, and residential areas must have at least 550 households;

g) In the Mekong Delta region: Villages must have at least 400 households, and residential areas must have at least 550 households.

Household size for villages and residential areas with specific characteristics.

For villages and residential areas located in mountainous regions, communes inhabited by ethnic minorities, particularly disadvantaged villages, villages in areas with complex and fragmented terrain, difficult transportation, and scattered populations; villages and residential areas in border areas, islands, or areas designated for land clearance, relocation, and resettlement; and villages and residential areas isolated on islands, islets, or sandbanks in rivers, the number of households may be lower.

The provincial People's Committee shall provide specific guidance to villages and residential areas in the special cases stipulated in point a, ensuring that it is consistent with the actual conditions of the locality, the requirements of territorial management, the organization of community activities, the stability and cohesion of the community, and meets the requirements of national defense, security, and protection of territorial sovereignty .

Sequence, procedures, and documents for establishing, reorganizing, and restructuring villages and residential areas.

Based on the principles for establishing, rearranging, and reorganizing villages and residential areas; the standards for villages and residential areas as stipulated in this Decree; and the guidance of the provincial People's Committee, the commune People's Committee shall develop a plan for establishing, rearranging, and reorganizing villages and residential areas and submit it to the People's Council at the same level for consideration and decision.

The People's Committee at the commune level is responsible for organizing public consultations on the plan for establishing, rearranging, and reorganizing villages and residential areas in a manner consistent with the law on grassroots democracy; compiling, incorporating, and fully explaining the public's feedback to finalize the dossier for submission to the Commune People's Council for consideration and decision.

The dossier for establishing, reorganizing, and restructuring villages and residential areas includes: A submission from the People's Committee of the commune; a plan for establishing, reorganizing, and restructuring villages and residential areas, comprising the following main contents: the necessity; the current size and number of households; the plan for establishment, reorganization, and restructuring; the name of the village or residential area; the conditions for ensuring the organization and operation of the village or residential area; the plan for assigning and resolving issues related to part-time personnel and other relevant matters; a summary report on the acceptance and explanation of people's opinions; and a draft resolution of the People's Council of the commune.

Based on the dossiers submitted by the People's Committee of the commune, the People's Council of the commune shall consider and issue a Resolution on the establishment, rearrangement, and reorganization of villages and residential areas at the nearest meeting...

Sequence, procedures, and documents for dissolving or renaming villages and residential areas; merging residential clusters into existing villages and residential areas.

The decree stipulates the procedures for dissolving and renaming villages and residential areas; and merging residential clusters into existing villages and residential areas as follows:

In the event of the dissolution of a village or residential area:

The People's Committee at the commune level shall prepare a submission accompanied by a list of households in the village or residential area to be dissolved.

The People's Committee at the commune level shall organize the collection of public opinions on the Proposal for the dissolution of villages and residential areas in a manner appropriate to the provisions of the law on the implementation of grassroots democracy; summarize, explain, and fully incorporate the opinions of the people; and finalize the dossier for submission to the People's Council at the commune level for consideration and decision.

The dossier for dissolving a village or residential area includes: a submission form accompanied by a list of households in the village or residential area to be dissolved; a summary report, explanation, and full incorporation of public feedback submitted to the commune-level People's Council for consideration and decision; and a draft resolution of the commune-level People's Council on the dissolution of the village or residential area.

Based on the dossier submitted by the People's Committee of the commune, the People's Council of the commune shall consider and issue a Resolution on the dissolution of the village or residential group at the nearest meeting.

In the case of renaming a village or residential area:

The People's Committee at the commune level shall prepare a plan for renaming villages and residential areas, clearly stating the reasons for the renaming; and the name of the village or residential area after the renaming.

The People's Committee at the commune level shall organize the collection of public opinions on the plan to rename hamlets and residential areas in a manner appropriate to the provisions of the law on the implementation of grassroots democracy; summarize, explain, and fully incorporate the opinions of the people; and finalize the dossier for submission to the People's Council at the commune level for consideration and decision.

The dossier for renaming villages and residential areas includes: a proposal and plan for renaming villages and residential areas; a summary report on the acceptance and explanation of people's opinions; and a draft resolution of the commune-level People's Council on renaming villages and residential areas.

Based on the dossier submitted by the People's Committee of the commune, the People's Council of the commune shall consider and issue a Resolution on renaming hamlets and residential areas at the nearest meeting.

For cases involving the merging of residential clusters into existing villages or neighborhoods:

The People's Committee at the commune level shall prepare a plan for merging residential clusters into existing villages or residential areas, clearly stating the necessity of the merger; the scope of the merged residential clusters; the number of households; and the receiving villages or residential areas.

The People's Committee at the commune level shall organize the collection of public opinions in the merged residential clusters and the receiving villages and hamlets in a manner appropriate to the provisions of the law on the implementation of grassroots democracy; summarize, explain, and fully incorporate the opinions of the people; and complete the dossier for submission to the People's Council at the commune level for consideration and decision.

The dossier for merging residential clusters into existing villages or residential areas includes: a submission from the People's Committee of the commune regarding the merging of residential clusters into existing villages or residential areas; a plan for merging residential clusters into existing villages or residential areas; and a summary report summarizing, receiving, and explaining the opinions of the people.

Based on the dossier submitted by the People's Committee of the commune, the People's Council of the commune shall consider and issue a Resolution merging residential clusters into existing villages or residential groups.

In special zones without local government levels, the People's Committee of the special zone shall follow the procedures for preparing dossiers and soliciting public opinion on the dissolution, renaming of hamlets and residential areas, and merging of residential clusters as stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 above.

Based on the completed dossiers, the People's Committee of the special administrative region will consider and issue a Decision on the dissolution, renaming of hamlets or residential areas, or merging of residential clusters into existing hamlets or residential areas within the region.

This Decree takes effect from May 26, 2026; repealing the regulations related to part-time officials at the village and neighborhood levels stipulated in Government Decree No. 33/2023/ND-CP dated June 10, 2023, on commune-level officials and part-time officials at the commune, village, and neighborhood levels.

*Previously, on May 20, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Directive 21/CT-TTg on the reorganization of villages and residential areas, and the arrangement, utilization, and policies for part-time officials at the commune, village, and residential area levels.

In the Directive, the Prime Minister requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to urgently review all villages and residential areas in their localities; develop a comprehensive plan for rearranging and reorganizing villages and residential areas, and report it to the Party Committee at the same level before issuance; to complete this before June 10, 2026; direct the People's Committees of communes to develop a plan for rearranging villages and residential areas; organize public consultations in accordance with the law and submit the plan to the People's Council of the commune for approval, ensuring transparency and consensus during implementation; to complete this before June 30, 2026.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/trinh-tu-thu-tuc-ho-so-thanh-lap-sap-xep-thon-to-dan-pho-20260526194243965.htm