Vietnam is undergoing a significant transformation in its administrative and political landscape, with provinces like Tiền Giang and Nam Định at the forefront of reforms designed to streamline government operations and enhance public service delivery. This wave of change is underpinned by a powerful call for unity, articulated by General Secretary Tô Lâm, who underscores the indispensable role of national solidarity in achieving these ambitious goals.
Tiền Giang province has recently embarked on implementing a series of measures aimed at rearranging and merging administrative units across all levels. Guided by Plan No. 205-KH/TU, issued by the Provincial Party Committee’s Standing Committee on June 25, 2025, and further reinforced by the Committee’s meeting on June 27, 2025, the province is mobilizing various agencies to execute these reforms meticulously.
Among the immediate tasks, the Provincial People's Committee has called for the display of the national flag and propaganda slogans from the evening of June 29 until the end of July 1, 2025, across government offices and public spaces. Additionally, on June 30, 2025, all agencies and localities are tasked with installing new nameplates reflecting the updated administrative structures, ensuring this is done without disrupting ongoing operations.
To mark these changes, the Standing Board of the Organizing Committee for major provincial holidays, alongside the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Provincial People’s Committee Office, the Provincial Police, and related departments, will coordinate a formal ceremony announcing the resolutions and decisions regarding the mergers. This event will also include the establishment of new Party organizations, People's Councils, and Fatherland Fronts at provincial, district, and communal levels, following the guidelines set out in Plan No. 205-KH/TU.
Meanwhile, Nam Định province offers a compelling example of comprehensive administrative reform. Since 2018, the Provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board has led a rigorous process of reviewing, consolidating, and streamlining the internal structures of the political system. This effort has seen the reduction of over 40 department-level units and the merger of two provincial-level Party Committees, among other significant reorganizations.
Nam Định has also merged the Office of the National Assembly Delegation with the Provincial People's Council Office and implemented a one-stop-shop mechanism across all 19 provincial departments. The province reduced its provincial agencies by one, cut 13 department-level divisions, and trimmed 28 sub-department units. Furthermore, 216 public non-business units spanning education, health, agriculture, culture, sports, science and technology, and information and communication sectors were consolidated.
In a landmark move effective September 1, 2024, Nam Định became the first locality nationwide to implement the rearrangement of district and commune-level administrative units under Resolution No. 1104/NQ-UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee. This reform reduced the number of district-level units from 10 to 9 and commune-level units from 226 to 175, comprising 146 communes, 14 wards, and 15 towns.
Nam Định also undertook a bold merger of grassroots administrative units during 2021-2022, consolidating 1,513 hamlets, villages, and residential groups, which reduced the total from 3,673 to 2,160. This process also saw a reduction of 1,263 Party cells and a significant decrease in both specialized and non-specialized personnel at the local level, reflecting a determined effort to streamline governance while maintaining public service quality.
According to Nguyễn Văn Va, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, the province has continued to push these reforms, concluding the operations of several Party delegations and committees and realigning the Party structure to better fit the new administrative reality. Notably, the merger of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Departments into a single entity took effect on March 1, 2025, enhancing coordination and efficiency.
At the government level, Nam Định merged 10 departments into five and maintained seven specialized agencies with adjusted mandates. District-level Party Committees reorganized their internal structures accordingly, establishing new Party cells aligned with the merged agencies, which have been operational since March 1, 2025.
The transition to a two-level local government model, officially set to commence on July 1, 2025, has garnered remarkable public support, with 95% of residents endorsing the reforms. This model aims to simplify administrative layers, improve government proximity to citizens, and foster more dynamic local governance.
Amid these sweeping reforms, General Secretary Tô Lâm has articulated the critical importance of unity in his article titled “The Strength of Unity.” He reminds the nation of the enduring wisdom of Hồ Chí Minh’s famous words: “Unity, unity, great unity – Success, success, great success.” This spirit of solidarity, he argues, is not only a historical lesson but the very foundation for the country’s future progress.
General Secretary Tô Lâm emphasizes that the ongoing reforms—streamlining the political system, merging administrative units, and reorganizing local government—are designed to create a leaner, more effective apparatus that brings governance closer to the people and supports sustainable development. The reforms also seek to decentralize power, granting local authorities greater autonomy to innovate and respond to their unique contexts.
However, he acknowledges the challenges these changes pose, particularly for cadres, Party members, and civil servants who may face job reassignments or losses. Addressing these challenges requires a high degree of political will, fairness, transparency, and above all, unity across all levels of government and society.
To ensure the success of these reforms, General Secretary Tô Lâm outlines five key strategies: strengthening unified leadership from central to local levels; promoting exemplary conduct among cadres and Party members, especially leaders; perfecting policies and legislation to ensure fairness and social cohesion; intensifying ideological work and public communication to secure widespread understanding and support; and fostering a strong Party character and political acumen within Party organizations and members.
He warns that a lack of unity could lead to internal conflicts, regionalism, and resistance to change, which adversaries might exploit to undermine the reform process. Hence, maintaining solidarity is paramount to overcoming obstacles and achieving the country’s development goals.
As Vietnam stands on the cusp of this transformative era, the combined efforts of provinces like Tiền Giang and Nam Định, coupled with the guiding vision of national leaders, signal a determined push towards a more efficient, responsive government. This journey, while complex and challenging, is fundamentally anchored in the timeless power of unity—a force that has shaped Vietnam’s past victories and will undoubtedly propel its future successes.
