Google Maps to update Vietnam place names after administrative overhaul

Vietnam completed a nationwide reorganization of its administrative system in July 2025, reducing the number of provinces and centrally governed cities from 63 to 34, eliminating the district level, and merging commune-level units into larger wards and communes under National Assembly resolutions to streamline local governance.

The Google Maps update is expected to be gradual, with old addresses remaining searchable during a transition period rather than being removed immediately.

Experts said Google Maps operates on multiple data layers, including official administrative records, historical data, and user search behavior.

As new place names are added, the platform will increasingly prioritize them while keeping older names as references to avoid disrupting users.

The update process typically unfolds in stages, starting with the coexistence of old and new names on the map.

In the next phase, older names remain searchable but appear less prominently, increasing the risk of confusion.

Delivery workers, ride-hailing drivers, and small businesses are expected to be most affected because they rely heavily on digital maps.

Older users may also face difficulties as familiar place names become less visible.

Addresses on digital maps are used not only for navigation but also for online services, account verification, and transactions.

Google Maps sources its data from official agencies, community edits, and real-world usage patterns.

Users are advised to try both old and new names when searching and to pin exact locations when navigating.

Businesses are encouraged to update their addresses promptly on Google Maps and other digital platforms.

Users can also submit edit requests on Google Maps to help speed up data updates.