A new megacity has been established as a transformative step to reshape Vietnam’s economic landscape. This historic consolidation combines Ho Chi Minh City and two neighboring provinces, Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau, to create a new administrative unit called Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) which is poised to become the nation’s largest urban and economic hub. The move, announced during a ceremony on June 30, marks one of the biggest changes to Vietnam’s local government structure in decades. Starting July 1, the expanded HCMC will operate under a simplified two-level governance model, eliminating district-level administrations to improve efficiency and coordination. Speaking at the ceremony, Party General Secretary To Lam described the merger as a strategic move rather than a simple redrawing of boundaries. The goal, he said, is to establish a leading regional hub for finance, logistics, manufacturing, and innovation. “This is not just a combination of space, but the convergence of intelligence and a shared development vision,” he noted. Streamlined leadership and governance As part of the consolidation, the new city has a revised leadership structure. Nguyen Van Nen and Nguyen Van Duoc will continue in their respective roles as Party secretary of the new HCMC Party Committee […]