Conclusion No. 126-KL/TW of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the 13^th Central Committee addresses key tasks for restructuring and streamlining the political system in 2025, including the proposal to “study the direction of eliminating intermediate administrative levels (district-level).” For the people of Da Nang, however, the idea of reducing district-level administrative divisions is not a new topic.

Da Nang City Administrative Center. Photo: Archive

Looking back at historical records, the people of Da Nang recognize that as early as the period following the August Revolution of 1945, President Ho Chi Minh issued numerous decrees aimed at reducing intermediate administrative levels. This reflects that in the administrative reform mindset of the leader of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, centrally governed cities at the time (under the authority of the Government or regional administrative committees) and provincial-level administrations—meaning cities—were considered the true local governing bodies. These entities had People’s Councils and directly managed commune-level units, which, in urban areas, were known as neighborhoods. This model was seen as a “radical” urban governance approach, as it effectively eliminated an entire intermediate administrative level.

In April 1946, during its first meeting, Da Nang City People’s Council passed a resolution dividing the city’s administrative boundaries into seven neighborhoods (excluding Hoàng Sa, which was a commune under the city's jurisdiction). However, when the French reoccupied Da Nang  at the end of 1946, for the convenience of managing activities within the city, these seven neighborhoods were consolidated into three: Central Zone, Western Zone, and Eastern Zone. By June 1949, with the incorporation of several communes from Hoa Vang District, Da Nang—then under the administration of Liên Khu 5 (Interzone 5)—was reorganized into six neighborhoods: Tran Phu, Phan Thanh, Phan Dang Luu, Central Zone, Western Zone, and Eastern Zone.

Thus, following the August Revolution of 1945 and throughout the resistance against French colonial rule, Da Nang essentially operated under a "streamlined urban governance model"—with no intermediary administrative level such as districts.

What’s noteworthy is that among the provinces and cities that have piloted or officially implemented urban governance models—albeit not in their most streamlined form (which typically involved the removal of People’s Councils at either the district or ward level, or both, since the late 2000s)—Da Nang stands out as having the most experience. In 2008, Da Nang piloted the removal of People’s Councils at both district and ward levels. In 2021, the city once again tested the same model. By 2025, Da Nang will officially eliminate People’s Councils at both district and ward levels—a step beyond Hanoi, which only removed People’s Councils at the ward level. This accumulated experience gives Da Nang a significant advantage in its ongoing efforts to reduce intermediary administrative levels.

In the case of Hoa Vang, a rural district, the concept of reducing intermediary administrative levels is not unfamiliar. As early as 1946, during the first wave of commune mergers, Hoa Vang eliminated the “tong” level—historically significant administrative units such as Thai Hoa, An Luu, and An Phuoc, which had played a vital role in the August Revolution of 1945, were dissolved after fulfilling their historical mission. At the same time, the district consolidated 158 former villages into 28 new communes. By late 1947, a second merger further streamlined the system, reducing the 28 communes to 15—all of which were renamed with the prefix "Hoa" to reflect their connection to Hoa Vang. Then, in 1950, a third merger took place, consolidating 15 communes into just 8, continuing the district’s long-standing approach to administrative simplification.

After 1997, in response to the requirement for a sufficient number of district-level administrative units to establish Da Nang as a centrally governed city, Hoa Vang District underwent significant territorial adjustments. It transferred Hoa Hai and Hoa Quy communes to contribute to the formation of Ngu Hanh Son District. It als ceded Hoa Hiep, Hoa Khanh, and Hoa Minh communes to establish Lien Chieu District. By 2005, it further transferred Hoa Tho, Hoa Phat, and Hoa Xuan communes to help form Cam Le District. For the people of Hoa Vang, the problem is how to make their homeland truly "a bright spot on the map of Vietnam”.

The author of this article once served as Secretary of the Thanh Khe District Party Committee for more than five years, spanning both the periods before and after the pilot implementation of the district- and ward-level People's Council elimination model. During both phases, I also held the position of Head of the City People's Council Delegation for Thanh Khe District, which allowed me to deeply understand the "three-in-one" role of a city-level elected representative.

Listening, acknowledging, and, more importantly, promptly reflecting the legitimate aspirations of the people is the mission of elected representatives at every administrative level. When a locality pilots or officially implements the elimination of district- and ward-level People's Councils, meaning there are no longer elected representatives at these two levels, city-level representatives cannot operate as they would under the traditional model. If they fail to embrace their "three-in-one" role—which includes gathering public concerns, overseeing the responsiveness of administrative agencies, and ensuring feedback on issue resolution—it will be difficult to drive local development and foster genuine public consensus.

The "three-in-one" responsibility is not only a requirement for city-level elected representatives but also for the entire system of officials, civil servants, and public employees within the city's political framework. It is essential to recognize that the urban governance model is fundamentally about centralizing authority at the city level—of course, based on the premise that the central government continues to delegate greater powers to the city—rather than decentralizing authority downward to lower levels.

Entrusted by the nation with the solemn mission of continuously overseeing the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago since 1946, the people of Da Nang continue to reflect on their responsibility to uphold this sacred duty. In essence, similar to Bach Long Vi Island District of Hai Phong City, Con Co Island District of Quang Tri Province, Ly Son Island District of Quang Ngai Province, and Con Dao Island District of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, Hoang Sa Island District under Da Nang City does not have any subordinate administrative units at the commune level.

The only distinction in the pilot implementation and official adoption of the urban governance model without district- and ward-level People's Councils—from 2008 to the present—lies in the legal legitimacy granted to the position of Chairman of the Hoang Sa District People's Committee. In this context, the Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee has the authority to appoint all district- and ward-level chairpersons under the city's administration. Looking ahead, when districts and counties are no longer part of the administrative structure, this authority will extend to the appointment of all ward- and commune-level chairpersons, including Hoang Sa—shining like the edge of a sword on the horizon (poem written by Bui Van Tieng).

Reporting by BUI VAN TIENG – Translating by HONG VAN