In Conclusion No. 126-KL/TW dated February 14, the Politburo and the Secretariat assigned the Government Party Committee to preside over and coordinate with the Central Organizing Committee, the National Assembly Party Committee, and relevant Party committees and Party organizations to study the orientation of merging a number of provincial-level administrative units.
Agencies also need to study the orientation to continue to arrange the removal of intermediate administrative levels (district level).
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Duong - former Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office, Member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front - said that the research orientation of merging some provinces and cities will create strengths for the region and better regional linkages.
According to him, when studying the merger of some provinces, it is necessary to build a specific system of criteria to create consensus as well as strong development momentum. If there are no criteria and they just Merge according to their subjective wishes, it will not be possible and can even create "huge" areas, developing unreasonably.
Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Duong believes that with the determination of our Party at present, we will do it strongly and quickly. Because we have determined that the starting point of the new era will start from the 14th National Party Congress (January 2026), we need to prepare a solid foundation right now so that when we step in, we can implement it immediately. The merger of provinces can also be implemented before the 14th National Congress.
Former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Tien Dinh said that studying the removal of district level and merger at provincial level is the next step in the process of summarizing the implementation of Resolution No. 18 of the Central Committee.
According to him, now, the transport infrastructure is convenient, information technology is developed, and the qualifications of civil servants have been improved. This is the "golden time" to reduce the number of provincial-level administrative units.
Not to mention, we are preparing to enter the era of national growth with a growth target of over 8% in 2025, contributing to creating a solid foundation to achieve double-digit growth rate in a long enough time ( starting from 2026).
"If administrative units are large in number and divided into provinces and cities as they are now, it will limit resources, hinder development... All these conditions and practical requirements leading to the merger of provinces are very appropriate," the former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs emphasized.
Mr. Dinh stated that in the past, when separating, many provinces had developed. For example, Vinh Phu province existed from 1968 until 1996 and separated into two provinces, Vinh Phuc and Phu Tho.
Or Ha Bac province was established in 1962 on the basis of merging the two provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, then in 1996 it divided into Ha Bac province to re-establish Bac Giang province and Bac Ninh province.
"When we separated, we saw development, but at some point the provinces will no longer have room for development. Vinh Phuc has room for development. Before breaking up, Bac Ninh developed first, then to Bac Giang, but now Bac Ninh has stagnated, and at some point Bac Giang will no longer have room," said Mr. Dinh.
Therefore, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dinh said that it is necessary to study the conflict between the requirements for socio-economic development and existing infrastructure and resources.
"It is necessary to arrange provinces to increase resources between provinces. In the past, Bac Thai province was separated, Thai Nguyen developed, while Bac Kan was still a poor province with a population of more than 300,000 people, although land and resources were very large, and the strengths of forestry and tourism had not been promoted. Thai Nguyen was not careful and ran out of room, so they merged to develop together. Based on the resources that Thai Nguyen has, combined with the available reserve of Bac Kan", Mr. Dinh continued to give an example.
Mr. Dinh also mentioned the three provinces of Ha Nam, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh that were separated from Ha Nam Ninh province in 1991. If merged, it will create a community, promoting the strength of the whole region in spiritual tourism.
