Decree No. 272/2025/NĐ-CP delineates the regions inhabited by ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas for the period 2026-2030.

DECREE

On the delineation of areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions for the period 2026-2030

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization No. 63/2025/QH15;

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

At the proposal of the Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion;

The Government promulgates the Decree on the delineation of areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions for the period 2026-2030.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree stipulates:

1. Criteria for determining villages, hamlets, towns, phums, socs, xoms, aps, residential areas, and equivalent units (hereinafter referred to collectively as villages); communes, wards, special economic zones (hereinafter referred to collectively as communes); provinces, cities (hereinafter referred to collectively as provinces) in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups; villages, communes, provinces in mountainous regions.

2. Criteria for delineating particularly difficult villages in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions (hereinafter referred to as particularly difficult villages).

3. Criteria for delineating communes in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions according to their level of development, including Commune Zone I, Zone II, and Zone III.

4. Procedures, files, authorities for determining, delineating, and announcing the results of determining and delineating villages, communes, and provinces during the period 2026-2030.

5. Effective implementation of the list of villages, communes, and provinces in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions; particularly difficult villages; Commune Zones I, II, and III.

6. Responsibilities of agencies and organizations in organizing the implementation of this Decree.

Article 2. Principles for determination and delineation

1. Objectivity, accuracy, transparency, ensuring reality, suitability to the specific characteristics of each region, area, locality.

2. Based on official data, updated at the specified time point, with clear legal basis and reviewed by competent authorities.

3. Determination and delineation based on the principle of combining relative ratios and absolute values, linked to natural geographic conditions, infrastructure, and the degree of socio-economic development of the locality.

4. Re-determination and re-delineation only when there is a change in the boundaries of villages and communes approved by the competent authority.

5. Ensuring the principle of power control, preventing corruption, negative practices, and group interests during the process of building, reviewing, approving, and implementing determination and delineation.

Article 3. Applicability

1. Villages, communes, provinces in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups; villages, communes, provinces in mountainous regions; villages, communes, provinces in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions.

2. Relevant agencies and organizations.

Chapter II

CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING AREAS

Article 4. Criteria for determining villages, communes, and provinces in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups:

1. Ethnic minority villages are villages where at least 15% of the population are ethnic minorities living stably as a community.

2. Ethnic minority communes are communes meeting at least one of the following two criteria:

a) At least 15% of the population are ethnic minorities living stably;

b) At least 4,500 ethnic minorities live stably.

3. Ethnic minority provinces are provinces meeting at least one of the following two criteria:

a) At least 15% of the population are ethnic minorities living stably;

b) At least 2/3 of the communes are ethnic minority communes.

Article 5. Criteria for determining villages, communes, and provinces in mountainous regions

1. Mountainous villages are villages meeting at least one of the following two criteria:

a) At least 2/3 of the natural area is located at an altitude of 200 meters or more above sea level;

b) At least 2/3 of the natural area has a terrain slope of 15% or more.

2. Mountainous communes are communes meeting at least one of the following two criteria:

a) At least 2/3 of the natural area is located at an altitude of 200 meters or more above sea level;

b) At least 2/3 of the villages are mountainous villages.

3. Mountainous provinces are provinces meeting at least one of the following two criteria:

a) At least 2/3 of the natural area is located at an altitude of 200 meters or more above sea level;

b) At least 2/3 of the communes are mountainous communes.

Article 6. Determination of Commune, Village, and Province in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas

1. Village in ethnic minority and mountainous areas is a village that meets at least one of the following two conditions:

a) Meets the provisions set out in Clause 1, Article 4 of this Decree;

b) Meets the provisions set out in Clause 1, Article 5 of this Decree.

2. Commune in ethnic minority and mountainous areas is a commune that meets at least one of the following two conditions:

a) Meets the provisions set out in Clause 2, Article 4 of this Decree;

b) Meets the provisions set out in Clause 2, Article 5 of this Decree.

3. Province in ethnic minority and mountainous areas is a province that meets at least one of the following two conditions:

a) Meets the provisions set out in Clause 3, Article 4 of this Decree;

b) Meets the provisions set out in Clause 3, Article 5 of this Decree.

Chapter III

CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING THE TERRITORY OF VILLAGE AND COMMUNE BASED ON DEVELOPMENT LEVEL

Article 7. Criteria for Determining Particularly Difficult Villages

A particularly difficult village is a village in ethnic minority and mountainous areas that meets at least two of the following three criteria:

1. Has a multidimensional poverty rate that is at least 4.0 times higher than the national multidimensional poverty rate; for localities in the Mekong Delta region, it is at least 2.0 times higher than the national multidimensional poverty rate.

2. Less than 60% of village roads and inter-village roads are hardened to ensure year-round accessibility for automobiles according to technical standards prescribed by road laws.

3. The proportion of households with electricity purchase contracts is less than 90%.

Article 8. Classification of Communes Based on Development Level

1. The classification target based on development level is communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

2. Criteria for classifying communes based on development level:

a) Average income per capita is lower than 50% of the national average income per capita;

b) Multidimensional poverty rate is at least 2.0 times higher than the national multidimensional poverty rate; for localities in the Mekong Delta region, it is at least 1.5 times higher than the national multidimensional poverty rate;

c) The proportion of households with electricity purchase contracts is less than 95%;

d) The proportion of households using clean water according to standards is less than 30%;

đ) Less than 80% of commune roads are asphalted or cemented to ensure year-round accessibility for automobiles according to technical standards prescribed by road laws, or have been asphalted or cemented but are severely deteriorated, potentially causing travel difficulties and safety issues, especially during the rainy season, with a ratio exceeding 50%;

e) Commune health facilities have not reached the national standard criteria by 2030;

g) The proportion of schools at all levels (kindergarten, primary school, junior high school, or general education schools with the highest grade being junior high school) meeting basic infrastructure standards according to level 1 requirements is less than 50%;

h) There is no or there is dormitory housing for students but does not meet the accommodation needs of students (for boarding schools, it meets less than 80%; for semi-boarding schools, it meets less than 60%);

i) The proportion of agricultural land for irrigation and drainage is less than 50%;

k) There is no Commune Cultural and Sports Center or the Commune Cultural and Sports Center has not met the prescribed standards;

l) The proportion of villages with mobile internet access or fixed broadband internet service is less than 95%;

m) The proportion of households with hygienic toilets is less than 50%.

3. Classification of communes based on development level (Commune Area I, Area II, Area III):

a) Commune Area I (developing commune) is a commune that meets fewer than three criteria as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article;

b) Commune Area II (difficult commune) is a commune that meets from three to five criteria as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article;

c) Commune Area III (particularly difficult commune) is a commune that meets one of the following two cases: Meets six or more criteria as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article; or meets three or more criteria as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article and simultaneously has 50% or more of the commune's villages classified as particularly difficult villages as stipulated in Article 7 of this Decree.

Chapter IV

AUTHORITY, PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CLASSIFICATION

Article 9. Approval Authority

1. Provincial People's Committee: Organize the review and approval of the list of ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets, particularly difficult hamlets; ethnic minority and mountainous area communes, Commune Zones I, II, III within the province.

2. Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion:

a) Aggregate and issue decisions to announce the list of ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets, particularly difficult hamlets; ethnic minority and mountainous area communes, Commune Zones I, II, III nationwide;

b) Approve and announce the list of provinces in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Article 10. Procedures and Documents for Determining Hamlets, Communes, Provinces in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas; Identifying Particularly Difficult Hamlets; Commune Zones I, II, III

1. Implementation Procedure

a) Commune Level (Commune People's Committee):

Step 1: Base on the criteria stipulated in Articles 4, 5, and 6 of this Decree to determine ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets and communes;

Step 2: After determining ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets and communes, the Commune People's Committee bases on the criteria stipulated in Articles 7 and 8 of this Decree to identify particularly difficult hamlets; Commune Zones I, II, III;

Step 3: Prepare a report on the results of determination and identification to be submitted to the Provincial People's Committee within 25 working days from the date of receipt of the directive document for implementation issued by the Provincial People's Committee;

b) Provincial Level (Provincial People's Committee):

Step 1: Direct the organization to review and assess the results of determining ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets and communes, the results of identifying particularly difficult hamlets and Commune Zones I, II, III within the province;

Step 2: Base on the criteria stipulated in Clause 3 of Article 4, Clause 3 of Article 5, Clause 3 of Article 6 to determine provinces in ethnic minority and mountainous areas;

Step 3: After obtaining the results of determination and identification, the Provincial People's Committee issues a decision to approve the list of ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets, particularly difficult hamlets; ethnic minority and mountainous area communes, Commune Zones I, II, III within the province;

Step 4: Prepare a report on the results of determination and identification to be submitted to the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religion within 45 working days from the date this Decree takes effect;

c) Central Level (Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religion):

Aggregate the results of determination and identification of localities, issue decisions to announce the list of ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets, particularly difficult hamlets; ethnic minority and mountainous area communes, Commune Zones I, II, III nationwide;

Organize reviews and cross-checks with the criteria stipulated in Clause 3 of Article 4, Clause 3 of Article 5, Clause 3 of Article 6 to determine and issue decisions to approve and announce the list of provinces in ethnic minority and mountainous areas;

Implementation Timeframe: Within 15 working days from the date of receiving complete reports and results of determination and identification from localities;

2. Commune-level documents sent to the provincial level include: 01 electronic file and 01 paper file, each set comprising:

a) Forms for determining the degree of achievement or non-achievement of the criteria stipulated in Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Decree (Model Nos. 01, 02, 04, 05 promulgated together with this Decree);

b) Self-assessment reports of hamlets and communes on the degree of achievement or non-achievement of the criteria stipulated in Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Decree.

3. Provincial-level documents sent to the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religion: 01 electronic file and 01 paper file, each set comprising:

a) Reports on results and detailed lists of determination and identification of hamlets, communes, provinces in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; particularly difficult hamlets; Commune Zones I, II, III (Model Nos. 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 promulgated together with this Decree);

b) Decisions approving the results of determining multidimensional poverty rates by competent authorities for communes and hamlets;

c) Population data and data, documents of hamlets and communes related to the criteria stipulated in Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Decree;

d) Review reports by competent agencies on the results of determining ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets and communes, the results of identifying particularly difficult hamlets and Commune Zones I, II, III;

đ) Decisions approving the list of ethnic minority and mountainous area hamlets, particularly difficult hamlets; ethnic minority and mountainous area communes, Commune Zones I, II, III (Model Nos. 06, 07 promulgated together with this Decree);

e) Reports evaluating and determining provinces as provinces in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

4. In cases where documents and materials do not meet the regulations, within 05 working days from the date of receipt of the documents, the agency receiving the documents must issue a reply letter and guidance for the locality to know and implement.

5. Data for determining criteria: The data for determining the criteria shall be taken at the time of December 31, 2024.

6. In case of adjustment: When there is a division, merger of hamlets and communes or a request from the competent authority, the review, determination, and identification shall be carried out according to the provisions of Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Article. The data for determining the criteria shall be used at the time of December 31 of the year immediately preceding the year of review.

7. Encourage the application of information technology, digital transformation, and digital databases in the work of determination, identification, and updating changes in the area; while ensuring the construction, updating, connection, and sharing of data in a synchronized and consistent manner with the national information system, aiming to serve effectively state management and policy development in the area.

Article 11. Effectiveness of Application

1. The list of hamlets, communes, provinces of ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas; particularly difficult hamlets; communes in Zones I, II, III approved and published according to this Decree shall take effect from January 1, 2026 and be used throughout the period 2026-2030.

2. This list serves as the basis for determining the areas where ethnic policies, social welfare policies, socio-economic development policies, and other related state policies are applied.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12. Implementation Funding

The costs for organizing the implementation and preparing files to determine and delineate the regions of ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas shall be guaranteed by local budgets according to the current classification of state budget management.

Article 13. Implementation Organization

1. The Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religion:

a) Shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to guide and direct localities to organize reviews, determine, and delineate hamlets, communes, provinces of ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas, particularly difficult hamlets, and communes in Zones I, II, III;

b) Shall coordinate with central-level ministries and agencies to organize inspections and monitor the results of determining and delineating hamlets, communes, provinces of ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas, particularly difficult hamlets, and communes in Zones I, II, III of localities;

2. People's Committees of provinces and cities:

a) Based on the criteria stipulated in this Decree, shall direct People's Committees at the commune level to organize reviews and compile lists of hamlets, communes in ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas, particularly difficult hamlets, and communes in Zones I, II, III;

b) Shall organize reviews and approve lists of hamlets in ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas, particularly difficult hamlets; communes in ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas, communes in Zones I, II, III within their provincial jurisdiction;

c) Shall be responsible for the accuracy of related documents, data, and results of determination and delineation within their jurisdiction.

3. During the process of implementation, if difficulties arise, People's Committees of provinces and cities shall submit reports in writing to relevant ministries managing sectors and fields for detailed guidance to promptly resolve issues.

Chapter VI

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 14. Implementation clause

1. This Decree takes effect from December 1, 2025.

2. In case the list of hamlets, communes, provinces as stipulated in this Decree has not been published by January 1, 2026, the existing list issued under Decision No. 33/2020/QĐ-TTg dated November 12, 2020 of the Prime Minister shall continue to be temporarily applied. The application period shall not exceed March 31, 2026.

3. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and cities, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Decree.

ANNEX

FORM FOR REVIEWING AND DETERMINING REGIONS OF ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS FOR THE PERIOD 2026-2030
(Attached to Decree No. 272/2025/NĐ-CP dated October 16, 2025 of the Government)

Note:

1. Abbreviations:

a) Ethnic minorities, abbreviated as: DTTS;

b) Mountainous areas, abbreviated as: MN;

c) Ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, abbreviated as: DTTS&MN;

d) Particularly difficult, abbreviated as: ĐBKK.

2. Forms 01, 02, 04, 05 are used for both commune and provincial levels.

 

Form No. 01

 

FORM FOR REVIEWING AND DETERMINING HAMLETS IN ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS

(Attached to Report No. / dated / day / month / year /)

 

Form No. 02

 

FORM FOR REVIEWING AND DETERMINING COMMUNES IN ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS

(Attached to Report No. / dated / day / month / year /)

 Implementation Report of Production Projects of Supporting Industry Products Confirmed with Incentives

 

FORM FOR REVIEWING AND DETERMINING PROVINCES IN ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS

(Attached to Report No. / dated / day / month / year /)

 

Form number 04

 

FORM FOR REVIEWING AND DELINEATING PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT HAMLETS

(Attached to Report No. / dated / day / month / year /)

 

Form number 05

 

FORM FOR REVIEWING AND DELINEATING COMMUNES BASED ON DEVELOPMENT LEVELS (ZONES I, II, III)

(Attached to Report No. / dated / day / month / year /)

Note:Corresponding criteria

 

Form number 06

 

LIST OF VILLAGES IN AREAS WITH ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS, VILLAGES IN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS

(Attached to Decision number     /QD-UBND dated   month   year   )

 

Form No. 07

 

LIST OF COMMUNES IN AREAS WITH ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS, COMMUNES IN ZONES I, II, III

(Attached to Decision number      /QĐ-UBND dated   month   year   )