Two cases where merging provinces and communes is not mandatory.
According to the draft Resolution of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on the reorganization of administrative units, there are two cases where merging provinces and communes is not mandatory.
The first case involves an administrative unit (AD) located in an isolated position with difficult-to-organize transportation. The second case involves an AD that occupies a particularly important location, affecting national defense and security and the protection of national sovereignty.
Along with other criteria such as natural area, population size, historical and cultural factors, infrastructure, etc., the Ministry of Interior proposed that 11 provinces and cities remain unchanged: Hanoi, Hue, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh.
The remaining 52 provincial-level administrative units subject to restructuring include 4 cities: Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Can Tho, and 48 provinces: 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.
Furthermore, the research process also prioritizes the arrangement of mountainous and lowland administrative units with coastal administrative units; harmoniously and rationally combining adjacent administrative units with development orientation requirements to support each other and jointly promote the economic development of the reorganized administrative units.
The reorganization of administrative units and the merger of provinces aim at the highest goal of national development, expanding the development space for new administrative units, and promoting the leading role of dynamic regions, economic corridors, and growth poles.
Regarding the selection of the administrative and political center, the Ministry of Interior offered several suggestions: Choose the administrative center of one of the current provincial-level administrative units to ensure that the provincial-level local government quickly becomes stable and operational; the new administrative center must have a favorable geographical location, synchronized socio-economic infrastructure, especially a developed transportation system (airport, roads, ports, etc.); the new administrative center needs space for future development, avoiding imbalances between localities when merged.
According to the plan, the current 63 provinces and cities will be reorganized into approximately 34, eliminating district-level administrative activities and establishing around 5,000 commune-level administrative units – a reduction from over 10,000 commune-level administrative units.
TWO-TIER LOCAL GOVERNMENT MODEL, ABOLISHING THE DISTRICT LEVEL
According to Conclusion No. 126 dated February 14th and Conclusion No. 127 dated February 28th, the Politburo and the Secretariat requested: "To study the orientation of merging some provincial-level administrative units, eliminating district-level organizations, and merging some commune-level units; to implement a two-tiered local model (party organization, government, mass organizations), ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and effectiveness."
The recently drafted Law on Organization of Local Government (amended) also proposes organizing administrative units and local governments at two levels: province and grassroots, without establishing a district level.
In this plan, the provincial level will remain as currently stipulated, including provinces and centrally-administered cities, but some provincial-level administrative units will be merged to ensure compliance with regulations and to expand development space.
At the same time, the current commune-level administrative units will be reorganized to form grassroots-level administrative units including communes, wards, and special zones in islands to suit the new organizational model.
Special economic administrative units will remain as per current regulations and will be established by decision of the National Assembly.
