The Politburo is set to review a groundbreaking proposal that could reshape Vietnam’s administrative structure.

The plan includes merging several provinces, eliminating district-level governance, and significantly reducing the number of communes nationwide.

If implemented, this reform would mark one of the most extensive reorganizations of Vietnam’s local government system in decades.

Restructuring Vietnam’s administrative system

On March 13, the Politburo reviewed the government’s proposal to restructure administrative units by merging provinces and eliminating the district level.

This follows the conclusions outlined in Decision 126, issued on February 14, which emphasized the need for administrative streamlining and governance efficiency.

During a recent meeting, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that Vietnam currently has 10,035 communes, but under the proposed reforms, this number would be reduced to approximately 2,000. “Each commune will function almost like a small district,” she explained.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh elaborated on the changes, stating that “one-third of district-level responsibilities will be transferred to provincial authorities, while the remaining two-thirds will be delegated to commune-level administrations.”

The plan aims to reduce the number of provinces from the current 63 to around 30, effectively halving the number of administrative divisions at this level.

It also proposes reducing the number of communes by 60-70%, creating a streamlined and more efficient governance model.

A month of swift decision-making

The past month has seen rapid progress in shaping this proposal. On February 28, the Politburo and Secretariat issued Decision 127, which reinforced the need for administrative restructuring.

This decision formally introduced the idea of eliminating district-level governance and consolidating provincial and communal authorities into a two-tier system.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, during a meeting on March 11, confirmed that the proposal had reached its final stages, with the government expecting approval from the Politburo.

“We are committed to reducing administrative redundancies while ensuring local governance remains effective and accessible,” he stated.

A bold reform in the making

Vietnam’s plan to restructure its administrative system is not new. The country has undergone two phases of commune and district consolidation since 2017, reducing the number of districts from 713 to 696 and communes from 11,162 to 10,035. However, the number of provinces has remained unchanged at 63.

Historically, Vietnam has undergone several rounds of administrative reorganization. In 1975, the country had 72 provinces, but following the Fourth Party Congress in 1976, many were merged, reducing the number to 38. Over time, provinces were split again, bringing the current total to 63.

Ass.Prof, Dr. Nguyen Viet Thong, former Secretary General of the Central Theoretical Council, supports the government’s bold move.

“This reform is entirely feasible. Vietnam once had only 31 provinces during the feudal era. Eliminating district-level governance and merging provinces will modernize and optimize our administrative structure,” he explained.

According to Thong, this reform aligns with global governance trends, where many countries, such as Japan, operate efficiently with only two levels of local administration.

“This is our golden opportunity to reshape governance before the 14th Party Congress and position Vietnam for future development,” he emphasized.

A historic decision for Vietnam’s future

With strong political backing and a structured implementation plan, the proposed administrative reform could significantly transform Vietnam’s governance landscape.

If approved, the country will witness a historic restructuring effort aimed at improving government efficiency, reducing bureaucratic overhead, and creating a more responsive administration.

The Politburo’s final decision on this proposal will shape the trajectory of Vietnam’s governance model for years to come.

Thu Hang - Tran Thuong