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| A major reorganization is on the cards for 52 provincial-level administrative units, as the Ministry of Home Affairs finalizes a draft resolution for submission to the Ministry of Justice. |
The resolution, which has been crafted with care by the National Assembly Standing Committee, outlines a set of criteria for restructuring provincial- and communal-level units, falling in line with six key factors previously agreed upon by the Politburo.
These criteria are far-reaching and include natural area, population size, historical and cultural considerations, religious and ethnic factors, geo-economic characteristics, geopolitical influence, and vital national defense and security concerns.
The draft also grants exemptions from mandatory reorganization to units with isolated locations and transport challenges, as well as those pivotal to national defense and security.
Out of all the provinces and cities, 52 are earmarked for reorganization. This includes four prominent cities: Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Can Tho. Alongside these, 48 provinces are also on the list: Ha Nam, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Thai Binh, Hai Duong, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Ninh Thuan, Quang Tri, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, Dak Nong, Tay Ninh, Binh Duong, Binh Thuan, Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Vinh Long, Hau Giang, Tra Vinh, Tien Giang, Soc Trang, Dong Thap, An Giang, Long An, Ca Mau, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Lam Dong, and Kien Giang.
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| Nguyet Duc commune in Yen Lac district, Vinh Phuc province, offers a scenic view. (Photo: VNA) |
On the other hand, 11 provinces and centrally-run cities are exempt from this restructuring process. These are Hanoi, Hue, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh.
At the communal level, the draft resolution calls for a significant restructuring of 9,996 out of 10,035 administrative units across the nation. It mandates a decrease of at least 70% and no more than 75% in the number of communes and wards within each province and city, compared to the current tally.
Additionally, the draft underscores the vital link between administrative unit reorganization and political system reform. This includes streamlining the apparatus for more efficient operations, harnessing local potential, expanding development opportunities, promoting decentralization, and bolstering the autonomy and accountability of local governments. The reorganization also goes hand in hand with administrative workforce restructuring, emphasizing improved official, civil servant, and public employee quality across the board.
