Law on Organization of Local Administrations No. 65/2025/QH15

Issuing authority, legal basis and identification

This is Law No. 65/2025/QH15 on Organization of Local Administrations, promulgated by the National Assembly on the basis of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The excerpt covers Chapters I and following, from general provisions through to transitional and enforcement provisions.

Scope and administrative structure

The Law regulates administrative units of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the organization and operation of Local administrations at each administrative unit. Article 1 defines the system of administrative units, Article 2 provides that the local administration at the relevant level of local administration consists of the People's Council and the People's Committee, and Article 3 provides for classification of administrative units as a basis for planning and organization. Articles 8 to 10 govern principles for organizing administrative units and the competence and the order and procedures for establishment, dissolution, merger, division and adjustment of boundaries of administrative units and special administrative-economic units. Articles 5 to 7, 27 to 40 define the status, organizational structure and operation of People's Councils (including Standing Bodies of the People's Councils, presidents, vice-presidents and People's Council deputies, sessions and voting) and of People's Committees (including presidents and vice-presidents, regular meetings, delegation and authorization of the position of Chairpersons of People's Committees). The Law also regulates working relations between local administrations and the Vietnam Fatherland Front and other mass organizations, and dialogue at commune level between the commune-level administration and the People.

Delineation of powers, delegation and authorization

Articles 11 to 14 establish the framework for delineating competences of Local administrations and for assignment of powers. Article 11 provides for definition of tasks and powers of each level, Article 12 governs decentralization (phan quyen) to local levels in accordance with law and resolutions of the National Assembly, Article 13 governs devolution (phan cap) by provincial-level and district-level People's Committees, and Article 14 governs authorization (uy quyen) by People's Committees to Chairpersons of People's Committees, agencies and organizations, with obligations on authorized bodies to perform authorized tasks and bear responsibility.

Tasks and powers by level and special territories

Articles 15 to 23 detail tasks and powers of provincial, district and commune levels, including organization of implementation of the Constitution and laws, decisions on planning, programs and socio-economic development plans and handling of local affairs within their authority, with separate provisions for Communes, Wards and similar units. Articles 24 to 26 provide for annual dialogue with the People at commune level and for tasks and powers of local administrations in islands and in administrative-economic special units.

Organizational handling of changes and effectiveness

Articles 41 to 46 regulate organization of local administrations when administrative units at the same level are merged, when one unit is divided into several units, when new units are established from part of another unit, and continuity of People's Councils and People's Committees until a new term is elected, including appointment of acting Chairpersons of People's Committees by the immediate superior level. Article 46 addresses operation when a People's Council no longer has two-thirds of its total deputies, and Article 47 provides for dissolution of a People's Council that causes serious damage to the interests of the People. Article 48 provides for amendment and supplementation of the Law on the Sea of Vietnam No. 18/2012/QH13 by adding clause 3 after clause 2 of Article 7. Under Article 49, this Law takes effect from 1 March of the year stated in the full text (excerpt shows "tu ngay 01 thang 3 nam [...]"), with transitional provisions in Article 50 for organization of urban administrations in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and other localities governed by specific laws and resolutions.