The meeting was attended by leaders of provincial departments and connected online with 21 communes.

According to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021, approving the list of communes in Areas 1, 2 and 3 of ethnic minority and mountainous regions for the 2021-2025 period, Son La province had 202 communes classified as ethnic minority and mountainous areas (including 66 communes in Area 1, 10 communes in Area 2, and 126 communes in Area 3).

Since July 1, 2025, under the two-level local government model, Son La province reduced the number of commune-level administrative units from 202 to 75 (including 67 communes and eight wards). Immediately after the Government issued Decree No. 272/2025/ND-CP on the zoning of ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2026-2030, the provincial People’s Committee established an appraisal council to verify the results of identifying villages and communes as ethnic minority and mountainous areas, as well as particularly difficult villages, and classify communes into Areas 1, 2 and 3.

By December 2, 2025, 74 out of 75 communes and wards had submitted their zoning results to the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. The appraisal of 53 communes has been completed, while 21 communes are still under review. According to the zoning results proposed by the communes, the province has 13 communes in Area 1, five in Area 2, and 57 in Area 3.

At the meeting, representatives from provincial departments and commune-level People’s Committees reviewed and evaluated in detail the criteria for identifying villages as ethnic minority and mountainous areas, particularly difficult villages, and the classification of communes into Areas 1, 2 and 3. Special attention was given to indicators such as poverty rates, transportation, education, health care, and clean water, in order to gather accurate information reflecting the socio-economic realities of each village as a basis for determining support policies for the upcoming period.

Speaking at the meeting, Hau acknowledged the proactive cooperation of communes and wards in implementing the zoning of ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2026-2030. He requested relevant departments to coordinate closely, provide complete information and review criteria, and urged commune and ward authorities to promptly complete the zoning dossiers according to the prescribed standards to ensure the scheduled timeline.

The Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs was tasked with supervising and guiding localities to complete dossiers and procedures, while also taking responsibility for consolidating, appraising, and submitting the results to the provincial People’s Committee for consideration and for seeking the opinions of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board.