Circular guiding the implementation of certain contents of criteria under the National Rural Development Standards and conditions under the Regulations of provinces and cities for completing the rural development tasks in the period 2026-2030 within the scope of management of the Ministry of Construction.

CIRCULAR

GUIDELINES ON IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN CONTENTS OF THE NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR NEW RURAL AREAS AND CONDITIONS FOR PROVINCES AND CITIES TO COMPLETE THE TASK OF BUILDING NEW RURAL AREAS IN THE 2026-2030 PERIOD UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION

 

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 33/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 25, 2025, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Construction;

Pursuant to Decision No. 51/2025/QĐ-TTg day 29 month December 2025 of the Prime Minister promulgating the National Criteria for New Rural Areas in the 2026-2030 period;

At the proposal of Director General Planning and Architecture Department; The Minister of Construction issues this Circular guiding the implementation of certain contents of the National Criteria for New Rural Areas and conditions for provinces and cities to complete the task of building new rural areas in the 2026-2030 period under the management of the Ministry of Construction. Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular guides the implementation of certain contents of the National Criteria for New Rural Areas and conditions for provinces and cities to complete the task of building new rural areas in the 2026-2030 period as prescribed in Decision No. 51/2025/QĐ-TTg dated December 2025 of the Prime Minister promulgating the National Criteria for New Rural Areas in the 2026-2030 period under the management of the Ministry of Construction, including:

Certain contents of the National Criteria for New Rural Areas in the 2026-2030 period attached as Appendix I to Decision No. 51/2025/QĐ-TTg include:

a) "1.1. Having general planning for the commune or urban planning approved, publicly announced within the deadline and issued implementation plan for the planning"; b) Having detailed construction planning for the commune center or detailed planning for new residential areas"; c) Having architectural management regulations approved or integrated into the general planning for the commune"; d) "System of rural roads on the commune territory ensuring connectivity and annual maintenance; ratio of commune roads meeting standards according to planning reaching 100%, ratio of km of commune roads planted with green trees along the road reaching ≥50%; village, alley, hamlet roads being hardened"; đ) "6.2. Ratio of households having solid houses"; e) 2026 - 2030 "8.4. Having appropriate drainage, sewage collection and treatment plans at rural residential areas on the commune territory ensuring environmental protection requirements". Article 2. Conditions for Provinces and Cities to Complete the Task of Building New Rural Areas in the 2026-2030 Period as Prescribed in Appendix III Attached to Decision No. 51/2025/QĐ-TTg include: "4. System of transportation on the provincial and city territory ensuring connectivity to communes and annual maintenance (including at least km of provincial roads on the territory planted with green trees along the road)". Article 2. Subjects of Application This Circular applies to People's Committees of provinces and cities, People's Committees of communes, agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the process of implementing the National Criteria for New Rural Areas in the 2021-2030 period. Chapter II GUIDELINES ON IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN CONTENTS OF THE NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR COMMUNE NEW RURAL AREAS IN THE 2026-2030 PERIOD 29 Article 3. Guidelines on Implementing Criterion 12 Having general planning for the commune or urban planning approved, publicly announced within the deadline and issued implementation plan for the planning 2025 General planning for the commune or urban planning must comply with laws on urban and rural planning. Note that the planning content must meet requirements for stable residential area arrangement (applicable to communes with needs for arrangement, relocation, and stabilization for subjects in special difficult regions such as disaster-prone areas, remote areas, border areas, islands, voluntary migrants, special-use forests; forms of arrangement: concentration, interlacing, or stabilization in place). Content of public announcement within the deadline and issuance of implementation plan for the planning as stipulated in Articles 50 and 51 of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning No. 47/2024/QH15. Commune groups adjacent to existing urban areas and planned for development into urban areas, or communes with agricultural industry share in economic structure below 10%, or communes planned for development into new urban areas shall meet the criteria for having planning as follows: a) Commune groups adjacent to existing urban areas and planned for development into urban areas when having urban general planning (including administrative boundaries of existing urban areas and adjacent communes) approved by competent authorities in accordance with laws on urban and rural planning. b) Communes with agricultural industry share in economic structure below 10% when having urban general planning or commune general planning approved by competent authorities in accordance with laws on urban and rural planning. c) Communes planned for development into new urban areas when having urban general planning according to administrative unit boundaries of communes or inter-commune areas approved by competent authorities in accordance with laws on urban and rural planning. Commune groups 2 and 3 shall meet the criteria for having planning when having urban general planning or commune general planning approved by competent authorities in accordance with laws on urban and rural planning. In case communes belonging to cities or communes belonging to provinces planned to become cities meet the criteria for having planning when having urban general planning approved by competent authorities in accordance with laws on urban and rural planning. In case the planning scope of communes is entirely within the planning scope of economic zones, national tourist areas, they meet the criteria for having planning when the general planning of economic zones, national tourist areas is approved by competent authorities in accordance with laws on urban and rural planning. In case the planning scope of communes has part within the planning scope of urban areas, economic zones, national tourist areas already approved, the content of commune general planning is implemented on the remaining area after inheriting the existing planning content. The content of urban general planning stipulated in Article 23 of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning No. 47/2024/QH15 is amended and supplemented in Clause 12 and Clause 13 of Article 1 of Law No. 144/2025/QH15; the content of commune general planning stipulated in Article 29 of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning No. 47/2024/QH15 is amended and supplemented in Clause 37 of Article 1 of Law No. 144/2025/QH15. section segment 2026 - 2030 within the scope of management under the Ministry of Construction, including:

1.   Some contents of the criteria in the National Criteria for New Rural Areas during the period 2026-2030 attached as Appendix I to Decision No. 51/2025/QĐ-TTg include:

a)   "1.1. Having a general plan for the commune or urban planning approved, publicly announced within the prescribed time limit, and issued a plan to implement the planning"; b)

Having  “1.2. detailed construction plan for the central area of the commune or detailed residential area plan for new

residential   “1.3. areas"; c) Having regulations on architectural management approved or integrated in the general plan

of the commune";

d)  “2.1. The system of rural roads on the territory of the commune ensuring connection and maintained annually; the ratio of commune roads meeting standards according to planning reaching 100%, the ratio of kilometers of commune roads planted with trees along the road reaching ≥50%; village roads, alleys, hamlets being hardened"; e) "6.2. The ratio of households having sturdy housing";

f)  "8.4. Having a plan and implementing a suitable plan regarding drainage, collection, and treatment of domestic wastewater in rural residential areas within the commune's territory, ensuring environmental protection requirements". Conditions belonging to provincial and municipal regulations to complete the task of building new rural areas as stipulated in Appendix III attached to Decision No. 51/2025/QĐ-TTg include: "4. The transportation system within the province or city ensuring connection to communes and maintained annually (including at least kilometers

of   provincial

2.   roadswithin the territory being planted with trees 2026 - 2030 along the road)". Article 2. Scope of Application This Circular applies to People's Committees of provinces, 70% cities, People's Committees of communes, agencies, organizations, individuals related in the process of implementing the National Criteria for New Rural Areas during the period 2021-2030 Chapter II GUIDELINES FOR SOME CONTENTS OF THE CRITERIA IN THE NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR NEW RURAL COMMUNES PERIOD 2026 - 2030 Article Guidance

on

implementation of criteria Having general plan for the commune; or urban planning approved, publicly announced within the prescribed time limit, and issued a.

 

plan

to

implement

 

the 3. planning General plan for the commune 1.1. or general urban plan must comply

1.   with laws on urban and rural planning. Note that the content of the plan must meet the requirements for implementation of stable residential arrangements (applicable to communes with needs for resettlement, arrangement, and stabilization for subjects belonging to the following regions: disaster-prone areas, particularly difficult areas, border areas, islands, voluntary relocation, special-use forests; forms of resettlement: concentration, interweaving, or stabilization in place). Contents of public announcement within the prescribed time limit and issuance of a plan to implement the planning as stipulated in Articles 50 and 51 of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning No. 47/2024/QH15. Commune groups adjacent to existing urban areas and have a development orientation towards becoming urban areas or communes with agricultural sector share in economic structure below 10% or communes oriented towards becoming urban areas shall meet the criteria of having a plan as follows: a) Communes adjacent to existing urban areas and have a development orientation towards becoming urban areas when

2.   there

3.   is a 1 (general urban plan (including the administrative boundaries of existing urban areas and the administrative boundaries of communes adjacent to) existing

urban   areas) approved by competent authorities in accordance with laws on urban and rural planning. b) Communes with agricultural sector share in economic structure below 10% when there is a general urban plan or general commune plan approved bycompetent

authorities  inaccordance with laws

on   urbanand rural planning. c) Communes oriented towards becoming new urban

4.   areas when there is a general urban plan according to the administrative unit boundaries of the commune or multiple communes approved by competent authorities in

5.   accordance

6.   with laws on urban and rural planning. Communes in group 2, communes in group 3 shall meet the.

7.   criteria

8.   of having

Article 4. Guidance on implementing criterion 1.2. Having detailed planning for the construction of the commune center or detailed planning for new residential areas Detailed planning for the construction of the commune center or detailed planning for new residential areas

1.   Planning Detailed planning for construction of the commune center or detailed planning for new residential area must ensure compliance with laws and regulations on urban and rural planning. Communes in Group 1 and Group 2 meet the criterion of having detailed planning when they have detailed specific plans that concretize the general urban planning or district planning (if any) or the general commune planning approved by the competent authority. The

2.   content of detailed planning is prescribed in Article 26 and Article

3.   of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning No. 47/2024/QH15. Article 5. Guidance on implementing criterion 1.3. Having architectural management regulations Architectural management regulations must be approved or integrated into the general commune planning. 30 Architectural management regulations established for cities and rural residential areas of provinces and cities must ensure compliance with laws on architecture. Communes in Group 1 and Group 2 meet the criterion of having architectural management regulations when they

havearchitectural

1.   management

2.   regulations for cities or architectural management regulations for rural residential areas or the content of the general commune planning has integrated architectural management regulations for rural residential areas orthe content of the general commune planning has integrated architectural management regulations for rural residential areas The content of architectural management regulations for cities and rural.

3.   residential areas is prescribed in Clause 12 and Clause 13 of Decree No. 85/2020/NĐ-CP dated July 17, 2020 of the

Government

1.   providing

detailed   guidance

on  some

provisions   of the:2022 Law;

on  Architecture. Article 6. Guidance on implementing criterion 2.1. The rural road system within the commune ensures connectivity and annual maintenance; the ratio of roads meeting the planning standards is 100%, and the ratio of kilometers of roads planted with trees along the roadside is ≥50%; village roads, alleys, and hamlets are hardened.;

For communes in Group 1, the rural road criterion is considered met when the following requirements are satisfied: a)

Ensuring traffic connectivity in accordance with the provisions set out in Clause 4 of this Article;

b)

All commune roads constructed or upgraded to meet the approved planning standards, consistent with the pace of urbanization, are 100%;   c)

All commune roads meet the technical grade standards for urban roads according to National Standard TCVN 13592  Urban Roads - Design Requirements;

d)   At least 50% of the length of commune roads are planted with trees along the roadside; e) All village roads, alleys, and hamlets are hardened (concrete or asphalt). f)All rural roads within the commune are organized for annual maintenance work in accordance with the provisions set out in Clause 5 of this Article.

2. For communes in Group 2, the rural road criterion is considered met when the following requirements are satisfied:  a) Ensuring traffic connectivity in accordance with the provisions set out in Clause 4 of this Article;;

b)

All commune roads constructed or upgraded to meet the approved planning standards are 100%;

c)

All commune roads meet at least Grade B technical standards according to National Standard TCVN 10380:2014

Rural Roads - Design Requirements;  ensuring necessary infrastructure facilities such as: road traffic signs (signposts, warning signs, road markings, etc.), drainage systems, protective structures (retaining walls, guardrails at steep slopes, deep valleys, etc.), lighting systems, sidewalks in densely populated areas, etc.;

d)   At least 50% of the length of commune roads are planted with trees along the roadside; e) At least 90% of village roads, alleys, and hamlets are hardened (concrete or asphalt); f);

All rural roads within the commune are organized for maintenance work in accordance with the provisions set out in Clause 5 of this Article.  3. For communes in Group 3, the rural road criterion is considered met when the following requirements are satisfied: a) Ensuring traffic connectivity in accordance with the provisions set out in Clause 4 of this Article; b);

All commune roads constructed or upgraded to meet the approved planning standards are 100%;

c)

All commune roads meet at least Grade B technical standards according to National Standard TCVN 10380:2014

Rural Roads - Design Requirements;

d)

At least 50% of the length of commune roads are planted with trees along the roadside;

Article 7. Guidance on implementing criterion 6.2. Ratio of households with sturdy housing

1.   Regarding structural housing

Sturdy housing is housing with three main structures (foundation - footing, frame - wall, roof) classified as durable. A durable structure is a structure that falls under the following cases:

a)   The foundation - footing of the house is made from materials that increase the hardness of the foundation such as cement-sand mortar, concrete, reinforced concrete, brick, stone, tile, wood.

b)  Frame - wall including the system of frame, column, wall including also footing support. In this case, the frame and columns are made from materials such as reinforced concrete, iron, steel, durable wood; brick walls, stone or made from durable wood, metal.

c)   The roof includes the roof support system and the roofing material. Among them, the roof support system is made from various types of materials: reinforced concrete, iron, steel, durable wood; the roof is made of reinforced concrete or tiled with tiles. In the case of a metal roof coated with tiles, cold rolled metal, thermal insulation metal, corrugated metal and having a solid support structure (iron frame, steel, durable wood) firmly connected to the brick wall, reinforced concrete column then the metal roof in this case is considered a durable material. Regarding the service life of sturdy housing has a service life of at least 20 years. Article 8. Guidance on implementing criterion 8.4. Having plans and implementing appropriate plans for drainage, collection, and treatment of domestic wastewater in rural residential areas within the commune to ensure environmental protection requirements Drainage

2.   and collection plan:

The commune must have plans for

surface

1.   water drainage and collection, treatment of domestic wastewater suitable to topography and residential areas; have solutions to construct public works and non-public works to minimize flooding and pollution of the environment. Standards for wastewater treatment: a) General requirement: Ensure that the ratio of domestic wastewater collected and treated by appropriate measures (non-centralized) reaches ≥50%. Appropriate measures: May apply various models of non-centralized wastewater treatment (for clusters of households or rural residential areas) based on population density and natural conditions. b) Specific requirement for Commune Group 1: Have at least one centralized wastewater treatment facility applying appropriate technical methods, the effluent meets environmental technical standards. Chapter III GUIDANCE ON SOME CONDITIONS UNDER PROVINCE AND CITY REGULATIONS TO COMPLETE THE TASK OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT FROM 2026 TO 2030 Article 9. Guidance on condition 4. Transportation system in the province, city ensuring connection to all communes and annual maintenance (including at least 70% of the length of provincial roads being planted with trees along the road) The transportation system in the province, city completes the task of building new countryside from 2026 to 2030 when meeting the following requirements: 1.   Ensuring connection to 100% of communes in the area, the connection complies with the provisions of the Road Law and the guidance in Clause 4, Article 6 of this Circular. 2.   Ensuring 100% of roads in the area are organized for annual maintenance work according to the guidance in Clause 5, Article 6 of this Circular. 3.   At least 70% of the length of provincial roads in the area are planted with trees along the road. Chapter IV a plan when

2.   there is a general urban

plan   or general commune plan approved by competent authorities in accordance with laws on urban and rural planning. In cases

where  the commune's planning area is entirely within the planning area of an economic zone, national tourist area, the

 

criteria

of

having

a

plan

shall

be

met

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 10. Organization of Implementation

The People's Committees of provinces and cities shall concretize the application of the content of criteria for each group of communes (Commune Group 1, Commune Group 2, and Commune Group 3) within their jurisdiction based on the guidance provided in this Circular, in accordance with actual conditions and socio-economic development needs of the locality, ensuring that the requirements are not lower than the standards and guidance set forth in Chapter II of this Circular; based on the guidance provided in Chapter III of this Circular and the actual conditions of the locality, implement the conditions for provinces and cities to complete the new rural construction tasks during the period from 2026 to 2030 within their jurisdiction.

Article 11. Effective Date

1.   This Circular takes effect from March 31, 2026. In case the legal normative documents, technical standards, and regulations cited in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced, they shall be applied according to the amended, supplemented, or replaced documents, standards, and regulations.

2.   During

3.   the implementation process, if any issues arise, relevant agencies, units, organizations, individuals should reflect to the Ministry of Construction for research, amendment, and supplementation as appropriate. when the