According to Hai Phong City's Department of Home Affairs, on 25/8, the department issued a document to city departments, boards, and agencies to solicit feedback on the draft plan for implementing, reviewing, researching, and rearranging administrative units at the commune level within the city.

However, immediately after, the aforementioned document appeared on social media platforms, accompanied by an attachment detailing a hypothetical list and plan for rearranging communes, wards, and special zones. This list proposed reducing 114 existing communes, wards, and special zones to 37 wards, 6 communes, and 2 special zones. The information quickly spread, attracting significant attention and causing public concern.

Hai Phong City's administrative center in Thuy Nguyen ward. *Photo: Le Tan*

Hai Phong City's Department of Home Affairs affirmed that no such appendix, as circulated online, exists. The department emphasized that, to date, it has not developed any official plan or project for merging or adjusting administrative units at the commune level.

Authorities advise residents, officials, and public employees to remain vigilant and proactively verify information from official sources. They are urged not to share or disseminate unverified documents or information, to avoid impacting social life and local security.

After merging with Hai Duong province, Hai Phong City has a natural area of 3.194,72 km2 and a population exceeding 4,66 million. Currently, the city comprises 114 communes, wards, and special zones. Among these, 9 communes and wards do not meet the natural area criteria, and one ward does not meet the population criteria.

Le Tan