Ho Chi Minh City neighborhoods to be reorganized

Ho Chi Minh City authorities are undertaking a comprehensive review of its "khu phố" (neighborhoods) and "ấp" (villages) to reorganize them in line with new government directives. The initiative aims to streamline administrative divisions and ensure they meet established population and management standards.

The Municipal People's Committee has instructed the Department of Home Affairs and the Police Department to urgently collect data on the number of households in each "khu phố" and "ấp." This data, reflecting both permanent and temporary residents as of May 26, 2026, will be used by the Department of Home Affairs to formulate a master plan for reorganization. Local commune-level authorities are responsible for verifying these figures and also counting non-professional staff within these areas.

New regulations stipulate that "khu phố" should ideally comprise at least 700 households, while "ấp," "thôn," and "khu dân cư" (residential areas) should have a minimum of 500 households. However, exceptions are made for areas with challenging geographical features, difficult access, dispersed populations, or those designated for land clearance and resettlement. In these specific cases, the minimum household requirement is lowered to 350 for "khu phố" and 250 for "ấp," "thôn," and "khu dân cư."

The reorganization will be implemented for areas that do not meet these criteria or where changes are deemed necessary due to urban development, population distribution, or community organization needs. The Department of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Police Department and local authorities, is tasked with finalizing the overall reorganization plan by June 2.