Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam had 8,978 communes and79,899 hamlets as of July 1, 2016, representing decreases of 93 and 1,005respectively from five years ago, according to the preliminary outcomes of thelatest rural, agricultural and fisheries survey, which was released in lateDecember 2016.

Deputy head of the General Statistics Office Pham Quang Vinhsaid the reduction is attributable to rapid urbanization.

The national electricity grid has reached all communes,which was a significant achievement of the national programme to bringelectricity to rural, mountainous, and island areas.

The rural transport system witnessed strong development inboth quantity and quality. As of July 1, 2016, 8,927 communes (or 99.4 percent)had automobile-accessible roads.

At the same time, 99.6 percent of communes havekindergartens and 99.7 percent have primary schools. Additionally, 58.6 percentof communes have cultural houses and 99.5 percent have medical stations.

A total of 2,069 communes fulfilled criteria for new ruralareas.

The preliminary statistics also showed that 60.8 percent ofcommunes nationwide have markets (compared to 57.6 percent in 2011), of whichthe Red River Delta recorded the highest rate of 72.9 percent (compared to 64.8percent in 2011), and the Central Highlands registered the lowest proportion of37.7 percent.

Additionally, 80.5 percent of communes have stores supplyingagro-forestry-fishery varieties and material for farmers across the country.

Cooperatives have been set up in 2,479 communes to supportproduction development, making up 27.6 percent of the total nationwidecommunes. The Mekong Delta led in the field with 84.3 percent of communes,followed by the south eastern region, 61.5 percent.

However, in some mountainous provinces, the rate of hamlets yetto be connected to electricity is still high, such as Dien Bien (14.7 percent),Ha Giang (11.1 percent), Son La (10.9 percent), Lao Cai (10.4 percent), and BacKan (8.5 percent).

The transport system in some remote, mountainous and islandareas remain undeveloped, especially in the northern midland and mountainousparts of the country.

The country is now home to 9.32 million households engagingin agriculture, forestry and fisheries production. The number of farms andlarge-scale paddy fields is on the upward trend.

The official outcomes of the survey will be announced in thethird quarter of 2017./.