A representative from the Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the latest draft resolution on administrative unit reorganization has been completed and submitted for feedback.

Under the proposed new criteria, Vietnam's total number of commune-level administrative units is expected to be reduced to approximately 5,000.

Speaking to the Government e-Portal, the Ministry representative said the agency has drafted and finalized the resolution for submission to the National Assembly Standing Committee, and has sent it to localities for comments. Under the plan, the current 10,035 commune-level units nationwide would be consolidated to around 5,000.

“Compared to the initial draft, some adjustments have been made to the criteria for commune-level restructuring to better align with directives from higher authorities and the actual situation,” the ministry noted.

In the previous draft, the number of communes was to be reduced by 70–75%, bringing the total down to roughly 3,000.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the consolidation of commune-level administrative units - without restructuring at the district or provincial level for now - is part of a broader strategic vision to ensure sustainable, long-term national development.

The reorganization is not merely about adjusting administrative boundaries or streamlining units. It also reflects a broader economic spatial restructuring aimed at enhancing national momentum and creating new growth dynamics.

In addition to legal criteria such as geographic area and population size, other important factors will also be considered - including historical context, cultural identity, strategic location, and transportation infrastructure.

Regarding the procedural steps, the draft resolution requires provincial-level People’s Committees to collect public opinion from household representatives in affected commune-level units. Once public feedback is gathered, the provincial People’s Committee must complete the proposal and submit it to the corresponding People’s Council for review and approval.

Each local plan will then be appraised by the Ministry of Home Affairs before being submitted to the Government for consideration. The finalized national proposal will be presented to the National Assembly Standing Committee.

On March 28 in Da Nang City, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the restructuring of the political system must be carried out decisively and urgently with the principle of “moving fast while staying orderly - neither perfectionist nor hasty.” He stressed that the restructuring process must avoid work disruption and ensure new models are more efficient than those they replace.

The General Secretary also stated that the political apparatus reform has been pursued thoroughly, scientifically, and humanely, from central to local levels, following the principle: “The central government sets the example; localities follow.”

As part of the plan, Vietnam’s 63 provinces and cities are expected to be restructured into approximately 34 units. The district level will be eliminated, and the number of commune-level administrative units will be reduced to about 5,000.

Nguyen Thao