On July 1, 2025, all 34 new provincial-level administrative units officially began operating, a reduction of 29 units from before. This momentous “reorganization of the country” has gained support from all sections of society—a favorable foundation for success. As General Secretary To Lam reiterated in his June 29, 2025 article, “The Power of Unity”: “Without the people, even the easiest task cannot be accomplished; with the people, even the hardest task can be accomplished.” When the people agree and all levels are united, no force can subdue our nation.

Recent communications efforts by Party committees and authorities at all levels have made clear that the policy of reorganizing administrative units and establishing a two-tier local government model is a major revolution of strategic significance initiated by the central leadership.

On this issue, “the Party’s will” and “the people’s aspirations” are closely aligned.

The core objective of this policy is to expand development space for provinces and cities and promote the leading role of growth-driving regions, economic corridors, and growth poles. It prioritizes reorganizing mountainous and lowland administrative units together with coastal areas, harmoniously and rationally combining adjacent localities in line with development requirements and orientations so that they can support one another and jointly advance socioeconomic development, while meeting the requirements and orientations for the country’s rapid, sustainable development in the new period.

General Secretary To Lam speaks at the ceremony announcing central and local Resolutions and Decisions on merging provincial- and commune-level administrative units, ending the operations of district-level administrative units, establishing Party organizations, and appointing Party committees, People’s Councils, People’s Committees, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees for Ho Chi Minh City and its communes, wards, and special zones.

In practice, after nearly 40 years of renewal, limitations in the organization of the country’s development space have begun to emerge. Development space is fragmented along administrative boundaries; regional linkages remain inadequate in many respects; development investment remains spread too thinly, without concentrating resources to clearly establish growth-driving regions that pioneer and lead national economic growth; and a coordinated, modern national infrastructure framework has yet to take shape…

The main causes of this situation are a development mindset that spreads resources too thinly and lacks focus and priorities; a lack of comprehensive national planning to clearly define a spatial development model across the country; a lack of mechanisms and policies to promote cross-sectoral and interregional economic development; and persistent local parochialism.

“Reorganizing the country” is by no means easy or simple, given its nature and scale. Success requires, first and foremost, unity and consensus among all the people.

The people will support this effort if they clearly understand that it is an urgent and inevitable requirement to reconfigure natural and economic development space and bring together historical, cultural, and geographical ties to form an administrative-economic entity of sufficient scale. This will broaden development horizons alongside innovation and stronger governance capacity, creating the competitiveness needed to integrate into national and global value chains.

We have achieved initial success as people have come to understand that reorganizing administrative units enables localities and the country to save funds and develop more evenly, and creates new economic centers. It works toward digital government, digital governance, smart city development, integrated economic regions, and flexible administration, allowing administrative transactions to be processed quickly and transparently, saving time and costs for people and businesses, in keeping with the principle that businesses and the people must receive better service.

“Reorganizing the country” is a step toward effectively organizing national development space, establishing intraregional and interregional linkages, and harnessing each region’s comparative advantages. First, investment will be concentrated in selected areas with favorable geographical locations, economic and social infrastructure, high-quality human resources, and other development potential and advantages to establish growth-driving regions and economic corridors. These growth poles will then generate spillover effects that promote rapid, effective, and sustainable economic development nationwide. At the same time, mechanisms, policies, and resources suited to the economy’s conditions will ensure social security in disadvantaged areas and gradually narrow gaps between regions.

Merging provincial-level administrative units is also a way to use the country’s resources efficiently and economically, especially land, water, forests, and mineral resources.

Recent communications and education efforts have also reached deep into people’s thoughts and feelings, helping them feel understood and voluntarily place their affection for their hometowns behind their love for the country as a whole. The vast majority of people understand that decisions on merging or consolidating one province with another and on where to locate provincial capitals are carefully examined and weighed by the central leadership and relevant agencies, taking many factors into account to achieve sustainable, long-term development.

People also understand that the naming of new administrative units results from thorough research and careful consideration of traditional, historical, and cultural factors. Priority is given to using one of the names of the provinces before their merger or consolidation to name the new province, minimizing the impact on people and businesses of having to change documents, geographical indications, and other items…

Emphasizing the importance of unity at this time, General Secretary To Lam urged: At this stage, as the entire country implements the policy of reorganizing and streamlining the political system’s organizational structure, merging administrative units, “reorganizing the country,” and organizing space for the country’s sustainable development, the spirit of unity must be fostered more strongly than ever. With the Party’s strategic vision and leadership resolve, we are determined to preserve and strengthen the power of great national unity, regarding it as the “wellspring” and the “guiding thread” running through all our efforts, ensuring that all Party and State guidelines and policies are implemented thoroughly, consistently, and effectively to best meet all the people’s legitimate aspirations.

Article and photos: Department of Communications

Vietnam News Agency, Ky Anh Nguyen

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.