Vietnam: Rules for establishment, dissolution, merging, splitting and modification of geographical borders of administrative divisions

According to Article 128 of the Law on Local Government Organization 2015 of Vietnam, establishment, merging, splitting or modification of geographical borders of administrative units is carried out in certain necessary circumstances and must meet the following requirements:

- Conform to the master plan for socio-economic development, the general planning for administrative units, orientation towards the planning and program for urban development and the planning for relevant industries and sectors approved by competent authorities;

- Ensure the national interests, effectiveness and efficiency in state management of local governments at all levels; make best use of potential and advantages in order to promote the socio-economic development of the whole country and specific local areas;

- Meet requirements for national defense, security and social order and safety;

- Consolidate the people’s solidarity, conform to historical, traditional and cultural elements of specific localities; offer convenience to the people;

- Establishment, merging, splitting and modification of geographical borders of administrative units must be based on standards of these administrative units as stipulated in Clause 1, 2 and 3 Article 2 hereof in conformity with features of rural, urban areas and islands.

The Government shall request the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly to provide specific regulations on standards of administrative units.

Dissolution of each administrative unit shall be carried out under the following circumstances:

- The dissolution is to meet the socio-economic development demands, assure national defense and security at local areas or across the nation;

- The dissolution is triggered by changes to geographical and topographical factors that can affect the existence of such administrative units.

Besides, the authority to decide establishment, dissolution, merging, splitting and modification of geographical borders of administrative divisions, and naming and change made to names of administrative units, and resolution of disputes concerning geographical borders of administrative divisions is specified as follows:

- The National Assembly shall have authority to decide establishment, dissolution, merging, splitting and modification of geographical borders of provincial-level administrative divisions; naming and change made to names of provincial-level administrative units; and resolution of disputes concerning geographical borders of provincial-level administrative divisions.

- The National Assembly Standing Committee shall have authority to decide establishment, dissolution, merging, splitting and modification of geographical borders of district-level and communal-level administrative divisions; naming and change made to names of district-level and communal-level administrative units; resolution of disputes concerning geographical borders of communal-level and district-level administrative divisions

- The Government shall request the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee to decide establishment, dissolution, merging, splitting and modification of geographical borders of administrative divisions; naming and change made to names of administrative units; resolution of disputes concerning geographical borders of administrative divisions as stipulated in Clause 1 and 2 Article 129 of the Law on Local Government Organization 2015 of Vietnam.

This content is specified in Article 129 of the Law on Local Government Organization 2015 of Vietnam.

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