Circular No. 27/2025/TT-BNV on the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary files

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary files

Pursuant to the Law on Local Administration Organization No. 72/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Surveying and Mapping No. 27/2018/QH14;

Pursuant to the Law on Archives No. 33/2024/QH15;

Pursuant to the Land Law No. 31/2024/QH15 amended and supplemented by some articles of Law No. 43/2024/QH15;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 102/2024/NĐ-CP dated July 30, 2024 detailing the implementation of some provisions of the Land Law amended and supplemented by some articles of Decree No. 226/2025/NĐ-CP dated August 15, 2025;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 113/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 3, 2025 detailing some provisions of the Law on Archives;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 25/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 21, 2025 stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

Based on the proposal of the Director of the Department of Local Administration;

The Minister of Home Affairs issues this Circular regulating the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary files.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular regulates the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary files for provinces and centrally governed cities (hereinafter referred to as provincial level); communes, wards, special zones (hereinafter referred to as commune level); and special administrative-economic units.

Article 2. Principles for the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary files

1. Administrative unit boundary files shall be established when the competent authority's document regarding the reorganization, establishment, dissolution, merger, division, adjustment of administrative unit boundaries, or the competent authority's document resolving cases of inconsistent administrative unit boundaries becomes effective. In cases where there is a change in the location of boundary markers or new boundary markers are set up on the ground, an administrative unit boundary file must be established. Specifically:

a) A new administrative unit boundary file shall be established when reorganizing, establishing, merging, or dividing administrative unit boundaries;

b) An existing administrative unit boundary file shall be revised and supplemented for units not covered under point a of this Clause.

2. The work of establishing administrative unit boundary files shall be carried out in accordance with these regulations; technical regulations on determining the administrative unit boundary lines, setting up boundary markers, and establishing administrative unit boundary files at various levels; laws on inspection, review, acceptance of surveying and mapping products, and related laws.

3. The work of managing and archiving administrative unit boundary files shall be carried out in accordance with these regulations; laws on archives, and related laws.

Article 3. Budget for the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary files

1. The budget for the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary files, which falls under the responsibility of ministries and central agencies, shall be guaranteed by the central budget; that which falls under the responsibility of localities shall be guaranteed by the local budget and other lawful sources of funds at the local level.

2. The procedures for preparing, approving, and settling accounts for the budget for the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary files shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on the state budget and related laws.

Chapter II

PROCEDURES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, REVIEW, HANDOVER, AND MANAGEMENT

OF ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT BOUNDARY FILES

Article 4. Surveying and evaluating the current status of administrative boundary on-site and the administrative boundary files currently managed and used

1. Based on the documents from the competent authority regarding the reorganization, establishment, dissolution, merger, division, adjustment of administrative boundaries; documents for resolving cases where administrative boundaries are not consistent or cases requiring changes to the position of boundary markers or new boundary markers, the Provincial People's Committee shall organize surveys of the current status of administrative boundaries on-site, evaluate the current status of administrative boundary files being managed and used, and related documents to serve as the basis for determining the scope and volume of work to be implemented.

2. Based on the results of the survey and evaluation, the Provincial People's Committee shall organize the preparation and approval of the Technical Design - budget estimate for preparing the administrative boundary files of the locality.

Article 5. Procedures for preparing administrative boundary files

1. Preparation work.

The Provincial People's Committee, based on the documents from the competent authority regarding the reorganization, establishment, dissolution, merger, division, adjustment of administrative boundaries; documents for resolving cases where administrative boundaries are not consistent and related materials, shall organize updates and printing of base maps to serve the determination of administrative boundary lines on-site, and prepare original administrative boundary maps on-site.

2. Determining the administrative boundary line, determining the position of administrative boundary markers and distinctive points on the administrative boundary line.

The Provincial People's Committee shall organize the determination of the administrative boundary line on-site, unify the determination of the position of administrative boundary markers on the map and on-site, and determine the positions of distinctive points on the administrative boundary line.

3. Setting up administrative boundary markers, preparing descriptions of administrative boundaries.

The Provincial People's Committee shall organize the setting up of administrative boundary markers on-site, measure the coordinates and elevation of the markers, prepare diagrams of the positions of administrative boundary markers, determine the coordinates of distinctive points on the administrative boundary line, prepare a general description of the administrative boundary situation, and prepare minutes confirming the description of the administrative boundary.

4. Preparing and signing confirmation of the original administrative boundary map on-site.

The Provincial People's Committee shall organize the transfer of the administrative boundary line, the position of administrative boundary markers, and the positions of distinctive points on the administrative boundary line onto the current national coordinate system topographic map, and organize the signing confirmation by the People's Committees of relevant administrative units. In cases where the administrative boundary line cannot be shown on the original on-site map, the Provincial People's Committee shall prepare diagrams and explanatory maps.

5. Completing the administrative boundary file.

Based on the original administrative boundary map on-site that has been signed and confirmed by the People's Committees of relevant administrative units, the Provincial People's Committee shall establish the administrative boundary file and map according to this Circular and technical regulations on determining the administrative boundary line, setting up administrative boundary markers, and preparing administrative boundary files at all levels.

6. Replicating and components of the administrative boundary file at the commune level.

The administrative boundary file at the commune level shall be replicated into four sets, signed by the Commune People's Committee, including the following types of documents:

a) A list of documents in the administrative boundary file;

b) Copies of documents from the competent authority regarding the reorganization, establishment, dissolution, merger, division, adjustment of administrative boundaries; documents for resolving cases where administrative boundaries are not consistent;

c) Confirmation diagram of the positions of administrative boundary markers;

d) Table of coordinates of administrative boundary markers;

đ) Table of coordinates of distinctive points on the administrative boundary line;

e) General description of the administrative boundary situation;

g) Minutes confirming the description of the administrative boundary;

h) Statistical form of place names of residents;

i) Statistical form of hydrographic place names;

k) Statistical form of mountainous place names;

l) Minutes transferring administrative boundary markers;

m) Set of administrative boundary maps.

7. Replicating and components of the administrative boundary file at the provincial level.

The administrative boundary file at the provincial level shall be replicated into three sets, signed by the Provincial People's Committee, including the following types of documents:

a) A list of documents in the administrative boundary file;

b) Copies of documents from the competent authority regarding the reorganization, establishment, dissolution, merger, division, adjustment of administrative boundaries; documents for resolving cases where administrative boundaries are not consistent;

c) Confirmation diagram of the positions of administrative boundary markers;

d) Table of coordinates of administrative boundary markers and distinctive points on the administrative boundary line;

đ) General description of the administrative boundary situation;

e) Confirmation document of the description of the administrative boundary;

g) Set of administrative boundary maps.

Article 6. Examination and Acceptance of Administrative Unit Boundary Documents

1. Examination and Acceptance Documents.

After the administrative unit boundary documents have been duplicated and signed for confirmation, the People's Committee of the province sends to the Ministry of Home Affairs various types of documents for examination and acceptance, including:

a) The provincial People's Committee's request for examination and acceptance;

b) Report on the results of compiling the administrative unit boundary documents by the provincial People's Committee;

c) Administrative unit boundary documents in paper form (one set) and digital form recorded on storage devices;

d) Copy of the decision approving, along with the Technical Design - Estimate for compiling the administrative unit boundary documents;

đ) Copy of the inspection and acceptance quality documents of the administrative unit boundary documents from the project sponsor level and the construction unit;

e) Copy of the documents and materials regarding the determination of the administrative unit boundary lines on the ground;

g) Opinions of central ministries and agencies on the results of updating national border lines on the administrative unit boundary maps.

2. Inspection and Review of Administrative Unit Boundary Documents.

a) After receiving all required documents as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, the Ministry of Home Affairs organizes the inspection and review of the administrative unit boundary documents of the locality according to this Circular; technical regulations on determining administrative unit boundary lines, setting up boundary markers, and compiling administrative unit boundary documents at all levels, and relevant laws;

b) In case the administrative unit boundary documents comply with the regulations, the Ministry of Home Affairs decides to convene the examination board; in case they do not comply with the regulations, the Ministry of Home Affairs issues a document requesting the provincial People's Committee to supplement and complete the documents;

c) In case of supplementing and completing the documents, the provincial People's Committee directs related agencies and units to organize supplementation and completion, and report the results to the Ministry of Home Affairs for examination and acceptance.

3. Administrative Unit Boundary Document Examination Board shall be chaired by the leadership of the Ministry of Home Affairs, with members representing the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

4. Content of Examination.

a) Procedure for compiling administrative unit boundary documents, evaluation of the legal value of the types of documents used in the process of compiling administrative unit boundary documents;

b) Verification of the number of administrative unit boundary documents compiled according to the Technical Design - Estimate;

c) Evaluation of the quality of administrative unit boundary documents compiled according to this Circular; technical regulations on determining administrative unit boundary lines, setting up boundary markers, and compiling administrative unit boundary documents at all levels, and relevant laws.

5. Acceptance of Quantity and Quality of Administrative Unit Boundary Documents.

a) Based on the examination board's voting results, the Minister of Home Affairs considers and decides on the acceptance of the quantity and quality of administrative unit boundary documents of the locality for management, use, and storage;

b) In case of supplementing and completing the documents, the provincial People's Committee directs related agencies and units to organize supplementation and completion, and submit a request to the Minister of Home Affairs for consideration and decision on the acceptance of the quantity and quality of administrative unit boundary documents of the locality for management, use, and storage.

Article 7. Transfer of Administrative Unit Boundary Records for Management, Use, and Storage

1. After the administrative unit boundary records have been recognized by the Minister of Interior regarding quantity and quality, the provincial People's Committee shall organize their transfer for management, use, and storage as follows:

a) Provincial administrative unit boundary records shall be transferred one set to the central state historical archive, one set to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and one set to the Department of Home Affairs;

b) Commune administrative unit boundary records shall be transferred one set to the central state historical archive, one set to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, one set to the Department of Home Affairs, and one set to the commune People's Committee.

2. When transferring, the provincial People's Committee shall issue a request for transfer, prepare the records, create an index of records, and draft a record transfer protocol in accordance with regulations (for digital administrative unit boundary records, they must be recorded on storage devices).

3. The entity receiving the records shall be responsible for checking the record index, signing the transfer protocol; implementing the management, use, and storage of administrative unit boundary records in accordance with regulations.

Chapter III

RESOLUTION OF ISSUES IN ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT

OF ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT BOUNDARY FILES

Article 8. Establishment of Administrative Unit Boundary Records when Implementing Authoritative Documents Adjusting Provincial Administrative Unit Boundaries; Resolving Cases of Inconsistent Provincial Administrative Unit Boundaries; Areas with Inconsistent Administrative Unit Boundaries; Administrative Units with National Borders

1. The Ministry of Interior shall lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees involved to determine the administrative unit boundary lines on-site, identify marker positions and distinctive points on the administrative unit boundary lines, organize marker placement, establish a description of the administrative unit boundaries, create and sign confirmation of the original field administrative unit boundary maps, and transfer the results to the provincial People's Committee to continue completing the administrative unit boundary records of the locality when implementing authoritative documents adjusting provincial administrative unit boundaries or resolving cases of inconsistent provincial administrative unit boundaries.

2. For areas with inconsistent administrative unit boundaries, the provincial People's Committee shall depict the administrative unit boundary lines according to each administrative unit's proposals on the current national coordinate system topographic map and organize the signature confirmation of the People's Committees of the relevant administrative units before completing the administrative unit boundary records of the locality.

3. For administrative units with national borders, the provincial People's Committee shall update the national border lines on the current national coordinate system topographic map, ensure that the administrative unit boundary lines close to the national border, and send for comments from relevant central ministries and agencies before completing the administrative unit boundary records of the locality.

Article 9. On-Site Management of Administrative Unit Boundaries in Cases Where Administrative Unit Boundary Records Have Not Been Established

In cases where authoritative documents on the reorganization, establishment, dissolution, merger, division, or adjustment of administrative unit boundaries come into effect but administrative unit boundary records have not yet been established, local authorities at all levels shall manage the administrative unit boundaries on-site as follows:

1. An administrative unit established based on the entire natural area and population size of another same-level administrative unit shall use the administrative unit boundary records already established by the previous administrative unit to manage the administrative unit boundary on-site of the newly established administrative unit.

2. An administrative unit established based on the full merger of the entire natural area and population size of several same-level administrative units shall use the administrative unit boundary records already established by the previous administrative units to manage the administrative unit boundary on-site of the newly established administrative unit. The on-site management boundary of the new administrative unit is the administrative unit boundary of the previous administrative units merged with adjacent administrative units.

3. An administrative unit established based on the adjustment of the boundaries of several same-level administrative units shall use the administrative unit boundary records already established by the previous administrative units and the map of the plan approved by the authority for reorganization, establishment, dissolution, merger, division, or adjustment of administrative unit boundaries to manage the administrative unit boundary on-site of the newly established administrative unit.

Chapter IV

EFFECTIVENESS AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. Transitional Provisions

The management, use, and storage of administrative unit boundary records established before the implementation of the two-level local government organization model shall be carried out as follows:

1. For provincial and commune-level administrative unit boundary records.

a) The Provincial People's Committee shall organize reviews and evaluations of the value of use for provincial and commune-level administrative unit boundary records to inherit them when establishing new administrative unit boundary records;

b) The Provincial People's Committee shall organize reviews and evaluations of the value of use for the provincial and commune-level administrative unit boundary markers to convert them into new commune-level administrative unit boundary markers; in cases where the provincial and commune-level administrative unit boundary markers are no longer suitable, they must be organized to be canceled and a cancellation record must be established.

2. For district-level administrative unit boundary records.

The Provincial People's Committee shall compile district-level administrative unit boundary records for submission to archival storage according to the laws on archiving; review the district-level administrative unit boundary marker system to convert them into provincial and commune-level administrative unit boundary markers; in cases where the district-level administrative unit boundary markers are no longer suitable, they must be organized to be canceled and a cancellation record must be established.

Article 11. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from the date of issuance and replaces Circular No. 11/2024/TT-BNV dated October 18, 2024, issued by the Minister of Home Affairs regarding the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary records.

Article 12. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for guiding and directing the work of organizing the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary records.

2. The Provincial People's Committee assigns the Department of Home Affairs to be responsible for:

a) Organizing the establishment and management of administrative unit boundary records; organizing reviews and evaluations of the value of use for provincial and commune-level administrative unit boundary records that have been established; compiling district-level administrative unit boundary records and submitting them to the national historical archives at the provincial level for reference and use when implementing the two-level local government organization model;

b) Ensuring necessary resources and conditions for the timely and quality establishment and management of administrative unit boundary records according to regulations.

3. The Commune People's Committee is responsible for:

a) Cooperating in organizing the establishment of administrative unit boundary records according to the functions and tasks assigned by the Provincial People's Committee; receiving, managing, and using administrative unit boundary records according to regulations;

b) Managing administrative unit boundary markers on-site in the locality; organizing publicity and dissemination to raise public awareness about the responsibility to protect administrative unit boundary markers. When discovering changes in position, damage, or loss of markers, a record must be established, and violations by individuals or organizations must be handled within their authority; reports must be made to competent authorities to organize the restoration of administrative unit boundary markers according to regulations.

4. The Minister, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Heads of Government Agencies, Chairmen of Provincial and Central City People's Committees, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

5. During the process of implementation, if there are difficulties, they should be reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs for guidance and resolution.