In Conclusion No. 126-KL/TW, the Politburo and the Secretariat requested to study the orientation of continuing to arrange the removal of intermediate administrative levels (district level); orientation to merge a number of provincial administrative units.
Information about the orientation of merging and arranging a number of provincial-level administrative units is attracting public attention.
On the morning of February 21, speaking with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Tien Dinh assessed that the merger of provinces was inevitable, and that what had been done had to be done by the entire political system. The Central Government, ministries and branches are merging and consolidating.
Looking back in history, we can see that in 1976, the whole country had only 38 provinces and cities. However, 15 years later (1991), this number increased to 53 and by 2004 there were 64 provinces and cities.
After expanding the administrative boundaries of Hanoi city (merging Ha Tay and some areas of Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh into Hanoi) from 2008 to present, our country has 63 provinces and cities.
The separation of the province at that time was necessary due to difficult travel conditions and lack of facilities. Separate to create development space for localities. And reality shows that many localities have had remarkable development.
But up to now, with the strong development of information technology, convenient transportation and at this time many localities have developed to the limit, mineral resources, especially land, are gradually depleted, so the merger of provinces will promote advantages, at the same time, create more space and space to attract potential and resources for socio-economic development.
Former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Tien Dinh said that returning the number of 38 provinces and cities as before is appropriate, but he also noted that it is not necessary for any province to return to that province as before but to arrange in accordance with the characteristics of the provinces.
To determine which province to merge with which province, it is necessary to base on the criteria of population size and natural area, other specific factors of culture, history, ... according to Resolution 35 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the arrangement of district and commune-level administrative units in the period of 2023 - 2030.
Mr. Dinh said that a province with only over 300,000 people like Bac Kan province is too small.
Through monitoring the merger and streamlining of the apparatus at the central level, within just 2 months of implementation, Mr. Dinh commented that this "speedy" spirit will be continued in implementing the policy of merging provinces and removing district levels. Especially in the context that we are preparing for Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Party Congress in January 2026, it is necessary to do it drastically to soon stabilize the organizational apparatus.
According to Lao Dong reporter's research, Resolution No. 1211/2016/UBTVQH13 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on standards for administrative units and classification of administrative units, amended and supplemented by Resolution 27/2022 of the National Assembly Standing Committee clearly states the standards of the province.
Based on statistics from the General Statistics Office as of 2024, for mountainous provinces, it is estimated that 21 provinces do not simultaneously meet both the criteria of area and population according to the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee.
Some localities such as Bac Kan (0.3 million people, 4,859.96 km2), Tuyen Quang (0.8 million people, 5,867.90 km2), Lao Cai (0.8 million people, 6,364.00 km2), Dak Nong (0.7 million people, 6,509.30 km2), Cao Bang (0.5 million people, 6,700.30 km2), Yen Bai (0.7 million people, 6,887.70 km2), Ha Giang (nearly 0.9 million people, 7,929.50 km2), Hoa Binh (nearly 0.9 million people, 4,591.00 km2).
