Vietnam - Local government

Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces ( tinh ), and three municipalities ( thu do )—Hanoi, Haiphong, and Ho Chi Minh City—all administered by the national government. Districts, towns, and villages are governed by locally elected people's councils. Council candidates are screened by the party. Council members' responsibilities include upholding the constitution and laws and overseeing local armed forces units. The councils in turn elect and oversee executive organs, called people's committees, to provide day-to-day administration. The entire system functions in a unitary fashion, with local organs of authority directly accountable to those at higher levels.