Vietnam Completes Village, Residential Group Mergers Nationwide, Cutting Over 46,000 Units

Vietnam has successfully concluded its nationwide initiative to merge villages (thôn) and residential groups (tổ dân phố), resulting in the consolidation of 41,511 such administrative units. This significant reduction represents a 46.3% decrease, streamlining grassroots governance. As of now, 34 provinces and centrally-governed cities have completed the restructuring of their local organizations. Speaking to VnExpress on August 3, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyễn Thị Hà announced that the total number of villages and residential groups nationwide has decreased from 89,589 to 48,078. According to Hà, the merger process was conducted with strict adherence to regulations, uniformity, transparency, and public participation, garnering widespread consensus from residents. This expansion of management scale has fundamentally addressed the issue of small and dispersed villages and residential groups. Units with unique historical, cultural, ethnic, religious, or national defense and security characteristics, or specific geographical locations, have been maintained in their established forms. Localities have also completed the reorganization of Party committees, Fatherland Front chapters, and socio-political organizations, alongside resolving benefits for non-professional staff and transferring facilities, records, and assets. "All necessary conditions have been ensured for the new villages and residential groups to commence operations without interruption," stated Hà. Data from the Ministry of Home Affairs indicates that by the end of 2021, Vietnam had approximately 21,200 villages with fewer than 150 households, predominantly located in the northern mountainous regions. Conversely, many residential groups in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City comprised over 1,000 households, highlighting a significant disparity in scale. In mid-May, the Prime Minister directed all localities to finalize the merger of villages and residential groups by June 30. This directive aimed to alleviate management pressures post-administrative unit reorganization and to achieve a leaner grassroots apparatus. Decree 185/2026, issued in late May, mandates that villages in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must have at least 500 households, and residential groups at least 700 households, an increase of 200 and 250 households respectively compared to previous standards. Minimum household requirements for other regions include 150 households for villages and 300 for residential groups in the northern midland and mountainous areas; 400 and 550 in the Red River Delta; 350 and 450 in the North Central Coast; 300 and 450 in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands; and 400 and 550 in the Southeast and Mekong Delta.