Hai Phong completes election preparations ahead of schedule

Proactively overcoming difficulties

The election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to the Hai Phong City People’s Council for the 2026–2031 term is taking place two months earlier than usual, while procedures and processes remain the same as in the previous election. The large workload and shortened timeframe have placed significant pressure on Election Committees at all levels across the city.

In addition, the election is being organized close to the Lunar New Year holiday, and the newly implemented two-tier local government model has only recently come into operation. The introduction of new regulations, many applied for the first time, has created certain challenges in the election preparations in Hai Phong.

However, officials and civil servants involved in election preparations across Hai Phong have proactively addressed obstacles and avoided passivity. During the Tet holiday of 2026, staff at the Department of Home Affairs continued working at various times, maintaining a high level of focus on election preparations.

As of February 23, the Hai Phong City Election Committee had issued around 120 directive and guidance documents regarding the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term. The Department of Home Affairs issued more than 100 documents urging and guiding election-related work.

Of the city’s 114 communes, wards, and special zones, 90 have issued Party Committee directives on the election, and 71 commune-level People’s Committees have issued election directives, ensuring unified and timely leadership and direction throughout the political system from the city level down to communes, wards, and special zones.

All 114 communes, wards, and special zones have organized conferences to implement election tasks in their localities, with a total of 4,476 delegates in attendance.

The City Election Committee, together with relevant departments, sectors, and local authorities, has proactively implemented necessary steps and overcome numerous difficulties.

Completing many tasks ahead of schedule, exceeding key targets

Thanks to the proactive approach, authorities, sectors, and localities across Hai Phong have completed many steps in the process of preparing for the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to the Hai Phong City People’s Council for the 2026–2031 term ahead of schedule, with several targets exceeding the requirements set by the Central Government.

From the very beginning, in establishing the City Election Committee, the Hai Phong City People’s Committee issued a decision on November 10, 2025, to establish the Election Committee for deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to the Hai Phong City People’s Council for the 2026–2031 term, comprising 35 members—20 days earlier than required by law.

Subsequent stages of the election preparation process were also carried out on time or ahead of the statutory deadlines.

Notably, the second consultative conference to select and nominate candidates for deputies to the 16th National Assembly and the Hai Phong City People’s Council for the 2026–2031 term was held on February 2, 2026, one day earlier than prescribed by law.

The third consultative conference was held on February 12, eight days ahead of the statutory deadline.

As the consultative conferences were organized ahead of schedule, the Hai Phong City Election Committee promptly announced the official list of candidates for deputies to the National Assembly and the City People’s Council on February 15 (the 28th day of the Lunar New Year).

According to statistics on the number, structure, composition, and qualifications of candidates for the Hai Phong City People’s Council for the 2026–2031 term, there are 61 women out of a total of 139 candidates, accounting for 43.88%. This rate significantly exceeds the requirement that women make up at least 35% of the official candidate list, as stipulated in Resolution No. 107/2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee.

At the commune level, among the 3,952 official candidates for commune-level People’s Councils across the city for the 2026–2031 term, there are 1,282 young candidates (under 40 years old), accounting for 32.4%—more than double the target.

Hai Phong has ensured a reasonable proportion of representatives from different religions, ethnic groups, genders, age groups, as well as candidates from working-class, farming, business backgrounds and from associations and trade unions in production and business, meeting regulatory requirements.

In Thai Tan Commune, there are 16 candidates under the age of 40 out of 33 candidates running for the Commune People’s Council. “Many candidates are young people from the 9X generation or those born from 2000 onwards. This is a young force participating in the Commune People’s Council election for the first time and is also a new feature of this election,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi To Uyen, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Thai Tan Commune.

In Gia Phuc Commune, the Commune Election Committee issued a resolution announcing the official list of candidates earlier than required. Mr. Bui Tuan Anh, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Gia Phuc Commune, stated: “Election preparations in the commune are progressing on schedule and in accordance with regulations, with several tasks completed ahead of the assigned deadline. Communication work and ceremonial decorations are nearly finished, creating an atmosphere of excitement for the upcoming festival of the entire people.”

To support election preparations, the City People’s Committee has issued two decisions allocating funds for election work to the Department of Home Affairs, departments, sectors, communes, wards, and special zones, with a total budget of nearly VND 162 billion.

With adequate resources and the proactive efforts of authorities at all levels, election preparations in Hai Phong are being carried out thoroughly, ensuring that the election day for deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term will truly be a major festival for all the people of Hai Phong.

Phong Tuyet

Phong Tuyet