National Assembly to review and decide by September 30, 2024
In an exchange with the press on the arrangement of district and commune administrative units, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Trao said that this is one of the key tasks of the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as localities in 2024. As of December 31, 2023, all 56/56 localities with district and commune administrative units have sent the overall plan to the Ministry of Home Affairs for review and decision.
Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Trao
Based on the synthesis of opinions from ministries, relevant agencies, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, 56 documents have been issued to gather feedback on the overall plan from localities. The synthesis of the overall plan from 56 provinces and cities shows that the number of district and commune administrative units to be rearranged during the 2023-2025 phase has changed compared to the initial expectation.
According to the plan, in the 2023-2025 phase, the whole country will have 33 district administrative units and 1,327 compulsory commune administrative units to be rearranged. However, after synthesizing the overall plan, the total number of district administrative units to be rearranged is 50. Among them, there are 11 units in the compulsory category, 16 units in the encouraged category, and 23 adjacent units; 19 units will not be rearranged due to special factors. It is estimated that after the rearrangement and merger, the country will reduce 14 district administrative units.
The total number of commune administrative units to be rearranged is 1,243 units. Among them, there are 738 units in the compulsory category, 109 units in the encouraged category, and 396 adjacent units; 515 units will not be rearranged due to special factors. It is estimated that after the rearrangement and merger, the country will reduce 619 commune administrative units.
From these figures, it can be seen that the number of district and commune administrative units in the encouraged category proposed for rearrangement by localities is quite large. There are up to 16 district administrative units and 109 commune administrative units that are not in the compulsory category but have been proposed for rearrangement by the localities themselves.
In addition, although the number of district and commune administrative units falls within the compulsory category, after reviewing and assessing various specific factors such as culture, history, etc., the localities have proposed not to rearrange them.
Overall, the number of district and commune administrative units to be rearranged and merged in 2024 does not have a significant change compared to the initial expectation. Based on the overall plan (after being perfected), the localities are focusing on developing the project, organizing public opinions, through the People’s Councils at all levels to submit to the Government and then for the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to review and decide by September 30, 2024.
No province merger proposed
Recently, there has been information on social media about the preparation for rearranging and merging some provinces. Minister Pham Thi Thanh Trao said that this is a matter that many provinces and cities are interested in and have raised questions to the Ministry of Home Affairs. “However, we affirm that the Ministry of Home Affairs has not calculated or proposed anything regarding the rearrangement or merger of any province or city,” Minister Pham Thi Thanh Trao asserted.
“Recently, a lot of information has been posted on social media claiming that one province will merge with another province. I affirm that this is inaccurate information, without basis, causing some provinces’ residents to worry and affecting social psychology,” the minister emphasized.
According to Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Trao, some provinces like Bac Ninh and Thua Thien – Hue are making great efforts and striving to meet the conditions to become central-affiliated cities in the period of 2026-2030. This is the Party’s policy according to Resolution 06-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the planning, construction, management, and sustainable development of Vietnam’s urban areas until 2030, vision to 2045, which is being focused and directed by the Government. Therefore, if any province or city meets the planning requirements and criteria to become a central-affiliated city, the authorities with jurisdiction will consider and decide on it.
