Editor's note: According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the country has 10,035 commune-level units, which will be reorganized to a scale of only about 2,000 communes. In the current system of commune-level administrative units in Vietnam, many communes have very interesting characteristics. VietNamNet has started publishing a series of articles about the most unique communes and wards in Vietnam.

Below is some information and pictures of Ngu Loc commune (Hau Loc district) - this place has the smallest natural area in the country but the highest population density.

Although not an urban area, Ngu Loc commune, Hau Loc district (Thanh Hoa) is the locality with the smallest land area in the country (0.46 km2), with a total population of about 19,000 people. This is also the commune with the highest population density in the country (40,000 people/km2).

Because of its small area and large population, Ngu Loc commune has no agricultural land. Located near the sea, Ngu Loc has been home to many generations of people from coastal areas.

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Ngu Loc Commune has the smallest area in the province, located close to the sea. Photo: Le Duong

Narrow area, high population density, make people's lives encounter many difficulties and inconveniences.

According to the leader of Ngu Loc commune, not having agricultural land is a concern of the locality.

In particular, whenever someone in Ngu Loc commune passes away, they must be buried in the cemetery of the neighboring commune. Currently, Ngu Loc commune cemetery is planned on the land area of ​​Da Loc commune. However, after many years, this cemetery has gradually fallen into a state of overload.

Proposed to reclaim the sea to expand the commune

The image of tiny high-rise houses located close together is a recognizable feature when coming to Ngu Loc commune. Here, the inter-commune and inter-village roads are concreted and weave through small alleys. There are even alleys only about 1 meter wide, with winding paths like a "matrix".

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Ngu Loc is the commune with the highest population density in the country. Photo: Le Duong

According to the leader of Ngu Loc commune, the commune currently has 3,585 households with more than 19,000 people, of which more than 11,000 are of working age. However, although the number of people of working age accounts for more than half of the population, the local unemployment rate is high, up to 20%. The reason for the high unemployment rate is that the commune has no agricultural land.

People in Ngu Loc commune go fishing and exploitation at sea all year round, without any side jobs. The lives of families here are familiar with the image of the husband going to sea, the wife staying at home doing logistics services. For those who stay at home doing logistics, because they do not directly create products or material wealth, this group accounts for the majority of the unemployed.

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The alley in Ngu Loc commune is only about 1 meter wide. Photo: Le Duong

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, Chairman of Ngu Loc Commune People's Committee, said that in the face of limited land and a large population, in the period of 2016-2017, the locality proposed a plan to reclaim the sea to expand administrative boundaries, helping to reduce population pressure and create conditions for the development of the local marine economy.

However, according to Mr. Quang, the authorities consider this idea unfeasible, as reclaiming land from the sea could affect the flow of water, negatively impacting neighboring coastal localities such as Hoang Hoa and Sam Son City. In addition, expanding the area by reclaiming land from the sea also risks affecting people's livelihoods.

“After the idea of ​​reclaiming the sea was not implemented, Thanh Hoa province built a master plan for the coastal urban area of ​​Diem Pho in Hau Loc district with a vision to 2045,” said Mr. Quang.

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Because of the small area, every time a person from Ngu Loc commune dies, they have to be buried in the neighboring commune. Photo: Le Duong

According to the planning project, the coastal urban area will include the entire natural area of ​​the four communes of Ngu Loc, Da Loc, Hung Loc and Minh Loc. The planning area is about 2,503 hectares, of which about 250 hectares of sea surface will be studied.

After completion, the coastal urban area of ​​Diem Pho is expected to meet the criteria of a type V urban area, with an estimated population of about 60,000 people by 2030 and about 70,000 people by 2045.

“When the urban area is formed, the population density in the communes, especially Ngu Loc commune, will decrease significantly. It is expected that the newly developed residential land area by 2045 will be about 80 hectares, with an average target of 45.85 square meters per person, contributing to improving living conditions, creating more jobs for local people and meeting the needs of sustainable urban development,” Mr. Quang shared.

The largest commune in the country, larger in area than the provinces of Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Hung Yen

The largest commune in the country, larger in area than the provinces of Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Hung Yen

Among more than 10,000 commune-level administrative units, this is the locality with the largest natural area in Vietnam with 1,110 km2, a figure larger than the areas of Bac Ninh, Ha Nam and Hung Yen provinces.
Vietnam's largest district expected to be reduced to 6-7 communes

Vietnam's largest district expected to be reduced to 6-7 communes

Nghe An Province Department of Home Affairs proposed that Tuong Duong District People's Committee develop a plan to reduce the number of commune-level administrative units to 6-7 after rearrangement.
Vinh City is required to be arranged into 3 communes and wards.

Vinh City is required to be arranged into 3 communes and wards.

Based on the area scale, population and other conditions, the Department of Home Affairs of Nghe An province proposed that the People's Committee of Vinh city develop a plan to reduce the number of commune-level administrative units to 3.