Vietnam Accelerates Merger of Residential Clusters, Standardizing Local Governance

The Vietnamese government is pressing forward with a significant administrative reform: the consolidation of residential clusters, known locally as 'thôn' in rural areas and 'tổ dân phố' in urban settings. This initiative, emphasized in recent directives from the Central Committee and the Government's April session resolution, aims to streamline local governance and improve efficiency across the nation.

Existing regulations, outlined in Ministry of Home Affairs circulars, set specific household size thresholds for these clusters. These thresholds differ based on a province's location – Northern mountainous regions, Red River Delta, Central Vietnam, Southern regions, and the Central Highlands – as well as whether the area is rural or urban, or even a border or island commune. For instance, a 'thôn' in a northern rural area requires at least 150 households, while in the southern plains, it needs 350. Similarly, urban 'tổ dân phố' have varying minimums, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City having higher requirements.

The upcoming merger will see these clusters potentially expanding in size. For Hanoi, the plan is to establish new 'thôn' in rural areas with 500 or more households and 'tổ dân phố' in urban areas with 700 or more households. This recalibration aims to create more manageable and effective local administrative units. The government is also committed to ensuring that non-professional staff within these reorganized clusters receive appropriate compensation and benefits, with local authorities tasked to balance these provisions.

The merger process itself requires careful consideration of local peculiarities, including geography, terrain, and cultural customs. Crucially, any proposed merger must gain the approval of over 50% of the voters or their representatives within the affected clusters. This democratic element ensures that the consolidation respects the will of the local communities. Each consolidated 'thôn' will have a trưởng thôn (village head), and each 'tổ dân phố' will have a tổ trưởng (neighborhood head), with the possibility of deputies if deemed necessary, maintaining essential local leadership structures.