HCMC – The 13th Party Central Committee has adopted a resolution approving the mergers of 63 provinces and centrally governed cities into 34 whose names are also proposed. But these planned provincial mergers will have to go before the National Assembly for approval.
Resolution 60 was passed at the Party Central Committee’s three-day 11th plenum which concluded on April 12.
Under this plan, 11 provinces and centrally governed cities that would remain unchanged are Hanoi, Hue, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Cao Bang. They are located in the northern and central regions of the country.
Meanwhile, the remaining 52 would be merged into 23 new provinces or cities.
Each merged province or city would be named after one of the current provinces or cities, while its political and administrative center would be placed in a designated location.
In the northern region, several mergers would take place. Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang would be merged and called Tuyen Quang, with the administrative center located in the current Tuyen Quang.
Lao Cai and Yen Bai would be combined into a new Lao Cai Province, with its capital to be situated in the present Yen Bai.
Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen would become a new Thai Nguyen Province, with its center to be retained in Thai Nguyen.
A larger Phu Tho Province will be formed by merging Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Hoa Binh, headquartered in Phu Tho.
Other northern mergers include Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, which would be called Bac Ninh, and the new province’s administrative center would be located in Bac Giang. Hung Yen and Thai Binh would be united under the name Hung Yen, with its capital to remain in Hung Yen.
Hai Duong and Haiphong would be consolidated as Haiphong City, with the administration of the new city continuing in the current Haiphong. Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, and Nam Dinh would be merged into Ninh Binh Province, with the seat of government to be in Ninh Binh.
In the north-central region, Quang Binh and Quang Tri would be combined under the name Quang Tri, though the administrative center will be located in the present-day Quang Binh.
Central Vietnam would also undergo major restructuring. Quang Nam would be merged into Danang to form a new city called Danang, with the political and administrative center to stay in Danang.
Kon Tum would be combined with Quang Ngai to form a new Quang Ngai Province, which would be headquartered in Quang Ngai. Gia Lai and Binh Dinh would be merged to become Gia Lai Province, with its administrative center to be located to Binh Dinh.
Ninh Thuan would be merged into Khanh Hoa, whose political and administrative center to stay in Khanh Hoa. A new Lam Dong Province would encompass Lam Dong, Dak Nong, and Binh Thuan, and Lam Dong would be chosen as the center of the new province. Dak Lak and Phu Yen would be merged to establish Dak Lak Province, whose capital would be in Daklak.
In the south, the most significant reshuffle involves the merger of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and HCMC into an expanded HCMC, whose political and administrative center would be in the current HCMC.
The provinces of Tay Ninh and Long An would be merged to form Tay Ninh, with the administrative center to be in the present-day Long An. Meanwhile, Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc would be combined to become Dong Nai Province, with the local government seat in Dong Nai.
In the Mekong Delta region, Can Tho, Soc Trang, and Hau Giang would be merged to form a new Can Tho City, which would have its political and administrative center to be based in the existing Can Tho.
Ben Tre, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh would be merged to form a new Vinh Long Province, whose political and administrative center would be in Vinh Long.
Tien Giang and Dong Thap would be combined to become a new Dong Thap Province, with its political and administrative center to be in the current Tien Giang.
The name of Bac Lieu would disappear after the province is merged with Ca Mau. A new Ca Mau Province would be headquartered in the current Ca Mau. Lastly, An Giang and Kien Giang would merged into a new An Giang Province, with the center of government to be located in Kien Giang.
