Ho Chi Minh City's Standing Party Committee has approved a policy to appoint an additional vice chairman to the people's committees of 83 eligible wards and communes. This decision, outlined in Conclusion 235, aims to reduce administrative burdens at the local level following recent mergers.

This move addresses significant operational challenges faced by many local units since the mergers on 1/7. Previously, each ward and commune people's committee operated with only two vice chairmen, one of whom concurrently served as the director of the public administrative service center. This structure proved insufficient for areas with populations two to four times the general regulation, leading to a large volume of paperwork and overworked officials.

Wards and communes qualify for this additional position if they meet specific criteria: a population of 50,000 or more, a natural area of 5,5 square kilometers or greater for wards, 30 square kilometers or greater for communes, or designation as critical areas with social order and safety challenges. The addition of a vice chairman is expected to enhance the flexibility of the grassroots administrative apparatus, expedite task resolution, reduce pressure on officials, and improve service quality for residents in Ho Chi Minh City's populous wards and communes.

The former Ho Chi Minh City area accounts for over half of the wards and communes set to receive an additional vice chairman. Examples of these densely populated wards include Hiep Binh, Tang Nhon Phu, Thu Duc, Linh Xuan, Tam Binh, An Phu, An Phu Dong, Binh Tri Dong, Binh Hung Hoa, Nhieu Loc, Ben Thanh, and Sai Gon. Similarly, large communes with dense and dispersed populations such as Ba Diem, Binh Hung, Nha Be, Cu Chi, Xuan Thoi Son, Tan Nhut, Dong Thanh, Vinh Loc, and Tan Vinh Loc are also included.

Officials assisting residents with administrative procedures at Thu Duc Ward Public Administration Center, Ho Chi Minh City, 7/2025. *Photo: Quynh Tran*

The initiative also extends to areas in the former Binh Duong region, including Thuan An, Di An, Tan Uyen, Ben Cat, Lai Thieu, Thu Dau Mot, Phu Loi, Binh Duong, Dong Hoa, Thuan Giao, Tan Hiep, and Tan Khanh. This also applies to rapidly industrializing and urbanizing communes and wards such as Bau Bang, Vinh Tan, Phu My, Thoi Hoa, and Hoa Loi. From the former Ba Ria – Vung Tau region, Vung Tau, Ba Ria, Tam Thang, Rach Dua, and Phuoc Thang wards, along with extensive coastal communes such as Long Dien, Ho Tram, and Long Hai, are also designated for the additional position.

In conjunction with this increase, the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee also approved the allocation of an average of two deputy heads for specialized departments and public administrative service centers under the commune-level people's committees, as per Government Resolution 332. The Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee has also mandated the discontinuation of the model where a commune-level vice chairman concurrently serves as the director of the public administrative service center. Units that currently exceed the prescribed number of deputy heads must review their structures, develop a plan for reorganization and reduction, while those with insufficient staff will receive additional personnel in accordance with regulations.

Le Tuyet