Hanoi chooses Phuc Thịnh and Thu Lâm to pilot socialist commune‑ward model

The Hanoi Party Committee has selected the adjacent communes of Phuc Thịnh and Thu Lâm, together home to about 200,000 residents, as the pilot sites for a “socialist commune‑ward” governance model. The pilot will be prepared in 2026 with a full rollout from 2027‑2030, after which the city will evaluate results and consider expanding the model.

The plan includes a 54‑item criterion set covering economic development, infrastructure, public services, and citizen wellbeing. From 1 July 2025 the two new communes will operate under a two‑tier local government structure, merging several former communes and towns. Expected average income in 2025 is about 90 million VND per person, and the combined population is projected to reach roughly 690,000 by 2030. Officials say the pilot aims to test and refine a modern, democratic, and disciplined grassroots administration that reflects Vietnam’s socialist values.