Nghia, a member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture and Society, talked to VietNamNet about how to effectively implement the Politburo’s conclusions to continue reorganizing and abolishing intermediate administrative levels (district level).

"What do you think we should do to abolish districts and merge provinces, given that we have completed the restructuring and streamlining of the political system apparatus from central to local levels?"

The Politburo’s call to study for abolishing intermediate administrative levels (districts) and merging certain provincial administrative units as outlined in Conclusion No 126 dated February 14, 2025, represents a breakthrough built upon the ongoing revolution to streamline the political system apparatus.

The abolition of districts and the merger of provinces constitute a strategic step. To meet the Central Committee’s directive of being “thorough and cautious yet swift,” we believe several issues need attention.

Firstly, we must adhere to a consistent goal: the abolition of districts and the merger of provinces should not only aim to reduce the number of administrative units but also seek to enhance state management capacity, optimize resources, and create a broader space for socio-economic development. Accordingly, the interests of the people and the nation must be put on top priority.

The merger of provinces must be based on clear criteria such as natural location, population, and socio-economic factors, while also considering specific elements such as history, culture, traditions, and beliefs of the populace.

Provinces to be merged should complement each other economically (in industry, agriculture, and services) to drive regional development. Given that Vietnam is divided into six socio-economic regions, each with its own Politburo resolution, a criterion for merging could be that the provinces involved must belong to the same socio-economic region.

Particular attention should be paid to preparing plans and resources to address emerging issues, such as personnel management (since abolishing districts and merging provinces will require reorganizing a significant number of cadres and civil servants); the management and utilization of public assets no longer in use (especially office buildings); the provision of public services and stabilization of residents’ livelihoods; and the assurance of national defense, security, and social order.

Additionally, it is necessary to consider refining the legal system and enhancing the use of information technology to support effective management in a two-tier model, reducing the need for an intermediate level.

Lastly, we should leverage the experience gained from the reorganization of district- and commune-level administrative units in recent times, while also referring to relevant international experiences.

Currently, there are many opinions regarding which provinces should merge with which, what the names should be, and how many provinces and cities are appropriate. what would you suggest based on the historical stages of reorganizing provincial administrative units?

The reorganization and adjustment of provincial administrative units is a significant matter that requires careful consideration based on multiple clear criteria and conditions. Under current legal provisions, the classification of administrative units is implemented based on criteria such as population size, natural area, socio-economic development levels, and specific factors.

In my opinion, determining which provinces merge with which and what their names will be should consider the following factors:

Firstly, the geo-economic factor: The merger of provinces must help optimize resources and promote development. Provinces with similar geographical features or complementary economies could be considered for merging.

Secondly, the cultural and social conditions: The merger of provinces must ensure that the unique cultural identity of each locality is preserved and that it receives the consensus and support of the populace.

Thirdly, the administrative management factor: The merger of provinces must streamline the administrative apparatus while ensuring that public services remain seamless, effective, and do not cause difficulties for the people.

Fourthly, the infrastructure factor: The merger of provinces must ensure that it does not create challenges in transportation and connectivity between regions.

Fifthly, the historical and traditional factor: The merger of provinces must respect the history and cherished traditions of each locality.

Finally, the process of establishing these criteria and factors requires the participation of experts, scientists, and, most importantly, opinions from local communities.

Do you think it is necessary to amend the Constitution to pave the way for the restructuring?

The Constitution clearly defines a three-tier local government model: province (or centrally governed city), district (or urban district, town, city under province), and commune (or ward, township).

Therefore, if the district level is abolished, leaving only a two-tier local government model (province-commune), an amendment to Article 110 of the current Constitution would be required.

Thu Hang