In a significant administrative shift, the Hoang Hoa district in Thanh Hoa province is set to rename its new commune-level administrative units following a recent meeting of the District Party Executive Committee held on April 27, 2025. The district has decided to abandon the previously proposed naming convention that utilized ordinal numbers, such as Hoang Hoa 1 to Hoang Hoa 8, in favor of names that reflect historical significance and local heritage.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the new names for eight communes. These are: Hoang Hoa, which includes But Son town and surrounding communes; Hoang Tien, consisting of Hoang Yen, Hoang Tien, Hoang Hai, and Hoang Truong; Hoang Thanh, made up of Hoang Dong, Hoang Thanh, Hoang Ngoc, and Hoang Phu; Hoang Loc, which includes Hoang Thinh, Hoang Thai, Hoang Loc, Hoang Thanh, Hoang Trach, and Hoang Tan; Hoang Chau, comprising Hoang Thang, Hoang Phong, Hoang Luu, and Hoang Chau; Hoang Son, which includes Hoang Trinh, Hoang Son, Hoang Xuyen, and Hoang Cat; Hoang Phu, consisting of Hoang Phu, Hoang Quy, Hoang Kim, and Hoang Trung; and finally, Hoang Giang, which includes Hoang Xuan, Hoang Giang, Hoang Quy, and Hoang Hop.
The decision aligns with a broader trend in Thanh Hoa province, where Nghi Son town also held discussions on April 27 regarding the naming of its new administrative units. Similar to Hoang Hoa, Nghi Son has opted against ordinal naming. Instead, it plans to merge several existing communes and wards into new entities with culturally resonant names.
Nghi Son's proposed changes include the merging of four communes: Hai Chau, Hai Ninh, Thanh Thuy, and Thanh Son into a new ward named Ngoc Son. Other planned mergers will see Hai An, Tan Dan, and Ngoc Linh combined into a ward called Tan Dan, and Hai Linh will be formed from Hai Linh, Ninh Hai, and Dinh Hai. Furthermore, the town will merge Hai Hoa, Hai Nhan, Binh Minh, and Hai Thanh into a ward named Tinh Gia, and Nguyen Binh and Xuan Lam will become Dao Duy Tu. Other significant changes will see the merging of Truc Lam, Tung Lam, Phu Lam, and Phu Son into a ward named Truc Lam.
On April 26, 2025, the Deputy Secretary of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, Lai The Nguyen, emphasized the urgency of finalizing the names for new commune-level administrative units. He called for discussions among local leadership to ensure that the proposed names do not duplicate existing ones and are reflective of the region's history and culture. Reports regarding these changes are expected to be submitted to the Provincial People's Council by April 28, 2025.
In a related development, the Binh Dinh province has also been active in renaming its administrative units. Reports indicate that seven districts, including Phu Cat, Phu My, Tuy Phuoc, Tay Son, Hoai An, Van Canh, Vinh Thanh, and Hoai Nhon town, have submitted requests for adjustments to their naming plans. Many of these proposed names carry significant cultural and historical weight, aiming to evoke local heritage and memories.
For instance, in Tay Son district, proposed new names include Tay Son, Binh Khe, Binh Phu, Binh Hiep, and Binh An. The name Binh Khe is particularly noteworthy, as it recalls the place where Nguyen Sinh Sac, the father of President Ho Chi Minh, served as the district chief. This connection to history is a central theme in the naming process across the province.
In Hoai Nhon town, changes will see the merging of Bong Son and Hoai Duc into a new ward named Bong Son, and the combination of Tam Quan and Hoai Chau into a ward called Tam Quan. Other districts have similarly proposed names that reflect local identity, such as Kim Son, Van Duc, Hoai Hoi, De Gi, and An Luong.
Previously, on April 21, 2025, the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee had submitted a plan that included naming based on ordinal numbers. However, after further review, many districts shifted to names that are more meaningful and culturally rich. Le Kim Toan, the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee, highlighted the importance of these new names, stating that they not only foster community bonds but also resonate with the region's historical narrative.
Meanwhile, Kien Giang province is undergoing its own administrative restructuring. From April 23 to April 25, 2025, officials gathered voters' opinions on the arrangement of administrative units. The province plans to reorganize its 143 commune-level administrative units into 48 grassroots units, including 41 communes, 4 wards, and 3 special zones, which represents a significant reduction of 66.43% in the number of administrative units.
The restructuring will include the establishment of three special zones: Tho Chau, Phu Quoc, and Kien Hai. Additionally, Kien Giang aims to form four new wards by merging existing units. For instance, Rach Gia ward will be created by merging nine current wards, while Vinh Thong ward will combine Phi Thong commune and other existing wards.
As these changes unfold across various provinces, the emphasis on culturally significant and historically resonant names reflects a growing recognition of the importance of local identity in administrative governance. This trend not only honors the past but also aims to foster a sense of community and belonging among residents.
