Vietnam's 2025 Province Merger: Administrative Reform Overview
A comprehensive overview of Vietnam's 2025 administrative reform merging 63 provinces into 34 units, its impacts and key changes.
Overview of Vietnam's 2025 Administrative Reform
On July 1, 2025, Vietnam completed its most sweeping administrative reform in modern history: merging 63 provinces and cities down to 34 first-level administrative units and completely eliminating the district level. This was the result of Resolution 60-NQ/TW dated April 12, 2025 by the XIII Central Executive Committee.
The reform was implemented under the direction of General Secretary Tô Lâm with the guiding principle of "Sharp, Compact, Strong; High-performance, Effective, Efficient," aiming to streamline the state apparatus, reduce administrative costs, and improve governance efficiency.
Provinces and Cities Kept Unchanged
11 localities were retained without merging: Hà Nội, Huế, Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Sơn La, Cao Bằng, Lạng Sơn, Quảng Ninh, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, and Hà Tĩnh.
These localities were considered for retention due to their distinctive geographic positions, large areas, or special socio-economic conditions that made merging with neighboring units unsuitable.
Three-Phase Merger Process
Phase 1 (February 2025): The Ministry of Home Affairs issued Decision 73/QĐ-BNV, beginning the streamlining of the state organizational apparatus by dissolving or merging inefficient agencies and units.
Phase 2 (February–March 2025): After the Lunar New Year, the Politburo and Central Secretariat announced the plan for administrative unit reorganization. On February 28, the policy of eliminating the district level, merging communes, and merging provinces was officially approved. Localities were required to suspend elections and halt construction of new government buildings.
Phase 3 (from April 2025): Plan 47 was issued to continue implementing Resolution 60-NQ/TW from April 16 to October 31, 2025, with weekly progress reports required.
Impact on Citizens
Administrative addresses: Citizens living in merged provinces need to update their addresses on important documents such as business registration certificates, land use right certificates, and legal documents.
Household registration and ID cards: Citizens do not need to immediately replace their Citizen Identity Card (CCCD), but when issued new or reissued, it will be updated with the new province name. Permanent residence registration is automatically transferred to the corresponding new administrative unit.
Public services: Public administrative services are transferred to the new provincial People's Committee. Cases currently being processed are continuously received and resolved without interruption.
Post-Merger Statistics
• Provinces: reduced from 63 to 34 (46% reduction) • District level: completely eliminated • Communes, wards, and townships: reduced by approximately 50% • Government officials and civil servants affected: tens of thousands • Effective date: July 1, 2025
The reform is expected to save thousands of billions of VND in the state budget annually and significantly improve the efficiency of state governance.