Continuing to Review and Perfect Conditions for Establishing Wards Across the Province

On November 11, Comrade Nguyen Khac Hieu — Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee — chaired a conference to hear the Department of Home Affairs and relevant departments and sectors report on seeking policy approval to establish wards for communes meeting prescribed standards and conditions.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Hieu delivering directive remarks at the conference.

According to the review by the Department of Home Affairs, the entire province has 9 communes meeting 5 out of 5 standards for a ward administrative unit, including: Lam Thao, Xuan Lang, Tho Tang, Luong Son, Te Lo, Binh Nguyen, Vinh Tuong, Binh Xuyen, and Yen Lac. These are localities holding important positions in the province’s urban development planning orientation, featuring key infrastructure projects, growing urban populations, and developing commercial, service, and industrial activities.

Considering the establishment of wards in these localities is evaluated as contributing to perfecting the urban system, elevating state management efficiency, and creating favorable conditions to mobilize and allocate investment resources for socio-economic development, technical infrastructure, and social infrastructure.

According to Resolution No. 112/2025/UBTVQH15 dated December 24, 2025, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, ward establishment standards include requirements on population size, natural area, urban position and function, urban population ratio, and socio-economic development structure and level. However, meeting 5 out of 5 administrative unit standards is only one of the conditions to consider establishing a ward. Communes must also meet standards regarding the level of urban infrastructure development, assessed and recognized under Resolution No. 111/2025/UBTVQH15 dated December 24, 2025, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, with a minimum score of 75 points.

For the 48 communes situated within urban development planning that have not yet met all 5 administrative standards, the Department of Home Affairs proposed that the province direct localities to proactively formulate plans to address missing criteria and coordinate with the Department of Construction to review and orient urban development investment—focusing on transport systems, drainage, wastewater treatment, public lighting, and green park spaces.

Leadership of the Department of Home Affairs reporting review results of communes qualified to establish wards.

Leadership of the Department of Finance speaking at the conference.

Leadership of the Department of Construction speaking at the conference.

At the conference, delegates requested the Provincial People’s Committee to strengthen guidance for localities regarding conditions, identification methods, and calculation formulas for criteria—particularly the urban population criterion alongside norms and standards for urban infrastructure development. Concurrently, medium- and long-term plans, roadmaps, and solutions are needed to step-by-step perfect ward establishment standards.

Delegates also proposed stepping up urban review and classification, evaluating the development level of commune-level administrative units under Resolution No. 111/2025/UBTVQH15 dated December 24, 2025. Departments, boards, and sectors will coordinate with commune People’s Committees to provide and verify data for each standard and criterion, forming a solid foundation to formulate ward establishment schemes strictly in compliance with regulations.

Overview of the conference.

Delivering concluding remarks at the conference, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Hieu assigned the Department of Home Affairs to lead and coordinate with relevant departments, sectors, and commune People’s Committees to urgently finalize the Ward Establishment Scheme; concentrating on reviewing and verifying complete, accurate figures, standards, and conditions in accordance with regulations.

The Department of Home Affairs will early advise the Provincial People’s Committee to establish an Appraisal Council, specifically assigning tasks to each department and sector in charge of respective criteria; guiding localities in building and perfecting criteria, organizing appraisals and evaluation votes, and advising the Provincial People’s Committee to report and seek policy approval from the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee on ward establishment once full standards and conditions are guaranteed. The Provincial Statistics Office is responsible for guiding localities on methods to determine and calculate urban populations.

For commune People’s Committees, the Vice Chairman requested proactively establishing Appraisal Councils and working groups to review and specifically evaluate each criterion; clearly identifying missing criteria, formulating completion plans and roadmaps—especially regarding per capita income and poverty rate criteria—while guaranteeing accurate, objective, and well-grounded reported data.

The Department of Construction will lead and coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs and relevant departments and sectors to guide and support localities in reviewing and perfecting criteria—prioritizing investment and development solutions for urban infrastructure to ensure compliance with prescribed ward establishment requirements.

Thuy Huong