Ngu Loc Commune, located in Hau Loc District, Thanh Hoa Province, is Vietnam’s smallest commune by area but has the highest population density in the country. Remarkably, this commune has no agricultural land, and residents who pass away must be buried in the neighboring commune.

The most densely populated commune in Vietnam

Despite not being an urban area, Ngu Loc is the smallest commune in Vietnam, covering just 0.46 square kilometers (about 0.18 square miles), with a population of around 19,000. This results in an astonishing population density of about 40,000 people per square kilometer (approximately 103,600 per square mile).

Due to its limited area and high population density, Ngu Loc does not have agricultural land. Located near the sea, the commune has been home to generations of coastal communities.

Living in such a densely populated area presents many challenges. Without agricultural land, residents have limited means of local employment. When someone passes away, their burial takes place in the cemetery of the neighboring Da Loc Commune. However, after years of use, this cemetery is now severely overcrowded.

In the past, local authorities considered a land reclamation project to expand the commune’s administrative boundaries. Between 2016 and 2017, the proposal to reclaim land from the sea was put forward to alleviate population pressure and support local economic development.

However, this idea was deemed impractical due to the potential negative impact on water flow and neighboring coastal areas such as Hoang Hoa and Sam Son City. Additionally, land reclamation could disrupt the livelihoods of local fishing communities.

Nguyen Van Quang, Chairman of Ngu Loc Commune People’s Committee, stated, “After the sea reclamation plan was deemed unfeasible, Thanh Hoa Province devised a master plan for the coastal urban area of Diem Pho in Hau Loc District, with a vision extending to 2045.”

A cramped living environment

Ngu Loc Commune is characterized by cramped, multi-story houses tightly packed together. Narrow alleys, some just one meter wide, wind through the community like a maze.

According to local authorities, Ngu Loc has 3,585 households with more than 19,000 residents, of whom over 11,000 are of working age. However, despite this, the unemployment rate remains high - around 20%.

The high unemployment rate stems from the lack of agricultural land, which leaves fishing as the primary occupation. Local men typically venture to sea, while women stay behind to manage logistical tasks.

This division of labor results in many women being categorized as unemployed, as they do not directly produce goods or generate income.

A sustainable urban development plan

To address the commune’s challenges, Thanh Hoa Province is planning a coastal urban development project known as Diem Pho Coastal Urban Area.

The project will encompass the entire natural area of four communes: Ngu Loc, Da Loc, Hung Loc, and Minh Loc, covering approximately 2,503 hectares (about 6,186 acres). An additional 250 hectares (about 617 acres) of sea surface will also be studied.

Once completed, Diem Pho Coastal Urban Area is expected to meet the standards of a grade-V urban center, accommodating around 60,000 residents by 2030 and approximately 70,000 by 2045.

The new urban area will help significantly reduce population density in Ngu Loc, and an estimated 80 hectares (about 198 acres) of new residential land will be developed by 2045. This will improve living conditions and create more employment opportunities for local residents, fostering sustainable urban growth.

Le Duong