HCMC – Vietnam’s top leadership has approved a sweeping administrative restructuring that merges multiple provinces, cities, communes, and wards, with the new local government system set to take effect from July 1.
The decision was outlined in Conclusion No. 167, signed by Politburo member and Permanent Secretary of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu. The directive follows a June 13 meeting where the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party agreed to implement simultaneous mergers at both the provincial and communal levels, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
The newly formed administrative units—including all reorganized agencies and departments—will begin operating from early July. In preparation, authorities at all levels have been instructed to suspend international travel until the end of July and focus on reviewing legal documents, staffing, and facilities to ensure a smooth transition.
The Politburo and Secretariat have tasked the Party Committee of the Government with guiding localities in interpreting new government decrees, identifying regulatory bottlenecks, and assigning ministries to prepare guiding materials for implementation workshops scheduled for June 14–15.
Government bodies are also directed to efficiently repurpose redundant offices and assets, with priority given to projects in healthcare, education, and culture. Provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons must be appointed and announced by June 30.
Ministries are required to issue circulars implementing the new decrees no later than June 20, review all relevant legal documents by June 25, and allocate budgets to support personnel affected by the restructuring.
The National Assembly’s Party delegation has been assigned to appoint leadership for the new People’s Councils and National Assembly delegations in the merged provinces and cities, with official announcements expected by June 30.
The Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Party unit will complete appointments for the new provincial and communal personnel structures by the same date.
Meanwhile, the Party Central Organization Commission will finalize provincial-level personnel plans by June 20 and submit appointment decisions by June 25. It will also issue guidance on reorganizing the Party’s structure at all levels.
The Party Central Committee’s Office is scheduled to host an official ceremony on June 30 to announce the resolution and deliver personnel appointments.
The Politburo and Secretariat have instructed provincial and city party committees to refrain from organizing the announcement of commune-level leadership decisions before June 30 to ensure full readiness by July 1.
All party units are to complete reassignments, staffing, office arrangements, and severance payments for retired officials by June 15.
Localities involved in the mergers are expected to address implementation challenges proactively and launch their new administrative structures by July 1, 2025.
Oversight will be reinforced by the Party’s Inspection Commission. Meanwhile, the Party’s Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally announce the new two-tier administrative model effective from July 1.
