The traditional village hierarchy comprises, in order of seniority, the first notable (tiên chỉ), the second notable (thứ chỉ), retired village officials (kỳ mục), and then the chief currently in office.
The village chief and the assistant chief (phó lý) would be elected by the villagers, then receive a wooden seal (mộc triện) from the district mandarin. The assistant village chief would assist the chief in dealing with security, tax collection, communal labor, maintenance of dikes and military supplies. Village chiefs had no salary but received substantial income in the form of gifts. After three years in office, they would retire and become part of the group of retired officials.
