Vietnam reveals planned names for provincial-level units after mergers

Party General Secretary To Lam has signed a resolution of the 11th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, which concluded on Saturday.

The committee approved many important matters, including specific measures to continue implementing tasks and solutions aimed at improving the efficiency of the political apparatus.

Regarding the two-tiered local government structure, the committee agreed on organizing local governments at two levels: the provincial level (provinces and centrally-governed cities) and the commune level (communes, wards, and special zones under provinces or centrally-governed cities).

The district-level administrative units will be dissolved from July 1, 2025, after the amended resolution revising certain articles of the 2013 Constitution and the amended Law on Local Government Organization officially comes into effect.

The committee also fixed the number of provincial-level administrative units after the ongoing mergers at 34, including 28 provinces and six centrally-governed cities.

According to the list attached to the resolution of the Party Central Committee, the 11 provincial-level administrative units that will remain unchanged include Hanoi, Hue, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh.

Newly-formed provincial-level administrative units

The list attached to the resolution of the Party Central Committee also shows 52 that will undergo mergers to form 23 new provincial-level units.

1. Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang Provinces will merge to form Tuyen Quang Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Tuyen Quang Province.

2. Lao Cai and Yen Bai Provinces will merge to form Lao Cai Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Yen Bai Province.

3. Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen Provinces will merge to form Thai Nguyen Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Thai Nguyen Province.

4. Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Hoa Binh Provinces will merge to form Phu Tho Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Phu Tho Province.

5. Bac Ninh and Bac Giang Provinces will merge to form Bac Ninh Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Bac Giang Province.

6. Hung Yen and Thai Binh Provinces will merge to form Hung Yen Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Hung Yen Province.

7. Hai Duong Province and Hai Phong City will merge to form Hai Phong City, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Hai Phong City.

8. Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, and Nam Dinh Provinces will merge to form Ninh Binh Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Ninh Binh Province.

9. Quang Binh and Quang Tri Provinces will merge to form Quang Tri Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Quang Binh Province.

10. Quang Nam Province and Da Nang City will merge to form Da Nang City, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Da Nang City.

11. Kon Tum and Quang Ngai Provinces will merge to form Quang Ngai Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Quang Ngai Province.

12. Gia Lai and Binh Dinh Provinces will merge to form Gia Lai Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Binh Dinh Province.

13. Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa Provinces will merge to form Khanh Hoa Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Khanh Hoa Province.

14. Lam Dong, Dak Nong, and Binh Thuan Provinces will merge to form Lam Dong Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Lam Dong Province.

15. Dak Lak and Phu Yen Provinces will merge to form Dak Lak Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Dak Lak Province.

16. Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Binh Duong Province, and Ho Chi Minh City will merge to form Ho Chi Minh City, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Ho Chi Minh City.

17. Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc Provinces will merge to form Dong Nai Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Dong Nai Province.

18. Tay Ninh and Long An Provinces will merge to form Tay Ninh Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Long An Province.

19. Can Tho City, Soc Trang Province, and Hau Giang Province will merge to form Can Tho City, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Can Tho City.

20. Ben Tre, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh Provinces will merge to form Vinh Long Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Vinh Long Province.

21. Tien Giang and Dong Thap Provinces will merge to form Dong Thap Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Tien Giang Province.

22. Bac Lieu and Ca Mau Provinces will merge to form Ca Mau Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Ca Mau Province.

23. An Giang and Kien Giang Provinces will merge to form An Giang Province, with the political - administrative center located in present-day Kien Giang Province.

The Party Central Committee also approved the merger of commune-level administrative units, aiming to reduce the total number of such units nationwide by 60–70 percent compared to the current number.