This morning, the 7th meeting of full-time National Assembly deputies for the 15th term convened to discuss several issues to be presented at the 9th session of the National Assembly.

In his opening speech, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man stated that the delegates would discuss and provide opinions on eight draft laws that had been initially reviewed during the 8th session, as well as one draft law proposed for consideration and approval in a single session.

The Chairman emphasized that the meeting takes place amid the political system's urgency to continue restructuring and organizing the apparatus.

According to Mr. Man, the first phase of restructuring has involved ministries, agencies of the National Assembly, Party bodies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, political and social organizations, and local administrations.

In preparation for the second phase, the Chairman stated that plans would include constitutional amendments, revisions to some laws, and the reorganization of provincial and commune-level administrative units, with district-level units being abolished.

Currently, Vietnam has 63 provinces and cities, but there is a policy to merge some of them. As announced, about 50% of the provincial administrative units will be reorganized.

Regarding district-level units, if the constitutional amendment is approved, there will no longer be any district-level administrative units. Presently, Vietnam has 696 district-level units. As for communes, the current number of around 10,035 will be reduced by 60-70%, although the exact number is not yet determined, Mr. Man stated.

Public consultation on constitutional amendments

Mr. Man mentioned that the upcoming 9th session is expected to last nearly two months, with a break of 2-3 weeks during which public consultations on constitutional amendments will be conducted.

By late April and early May, the National Assembly Standing Committee will hold several meetings to plan the reorganization of commune-level administrative units.

The draft laws discussed at this session cover various areas, including significant regulations affecting business and production activities and the corporate community.

These include the amended Law on Special Consumption Tax, the amended Law on Corporate Income Tax, the revised Law on Product and Goods Quality, and the Digital Technology Industry Law (aiming to promote the development of the information technology and digital technology industries domestically).

The National Assembly Chairman called on delegates to thoroughly discuss and analyze new issues with an updated perspective that reflects the latest directives from the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat.

He stressed that laws should only include provisions under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly while promoting decentralization, delegation of powers, and the fight against corruption and negative practices.

“It is essential to continue to deeply grasp and effectively implement the new thinking in lawmaking to swiftly translate the Party’s policies into practical reality. Laws should be concise, clear, efficient, and effective, with a strong focus on decentralization and delegation,” he said.

The 9th session of the 15th National Assembly is expected to pass 11 laws, provide opinions on 16 new laws, and include amendments to the Constitution and numerous related laws.

Quang Phong