On April 28, 2025, the Lam Dong Provincial People's Council convened a specialized session where they unanimously approved a significant project to merge the provinces of Lam Dong, Binh Thuan, and Dak Nong. This landmark decision will result in the formation of a new province, which will boast a natural area exceeding 24,200 square kilometers, making it the largest province in Vietnam.
The merger combines the entire natural area of Dak Nong, which spans over 6,509 square kilometers and has a population of more than 746,000, with Binh Thuan's 7,942 square kilometers and over 1.5 million residents, and Lam Dong's 9,781 square kilometers and nearly 1.6 million people. The new Lam Dong province will retain its name and will encompass a total population of over 3.87 million across 124 commune-level administrative units.
During the session, the council discussed and approved two crucial resolutions: one regarding the rearrangement of commune-level administrative units across the province and the other concerning the merger of the three provinces. The administrative and political center of the new province is expected to be located in Da Lat City.
In terms of administrative restructuring, Lam Dong province plans to consolidate 137 communes, wards, and towns into 51 grassroots administrative units, which will consist of nine wards and 42 communes. Meanwhile, Dak Nong is expected to reduce its commune-level units from 71 to 28, while Binh Thuan will cut down from 121 to 45.
Phạm Thị Phúc, the Deputy Secretary of the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee and Chair of the Provincial People's Council, emphasized the urgency and importance of this initiative. She stated, "The Provincial Party Committee and local authorities have worked diligently to implement the proposal for rearranging administrative units with the highest political determination. This step aims to expand development space, streamline the administrative apparatus, and enhance the efficiency of government operations to better serve the people and businesses."
In a related development, on the same day, the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Council held its 23rd session and also discussed administrative restructuring. Binh Dinh province has selected 12 communes and wards to serve as developmental drivers. The Standing Committee of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee considered three key conditions before arranging the communes and wards: proximity to the people, stability in historical and cultural contexts, and the creation of new developmental spaces.
Following the restructuring, Binh Dinh will have 58 administrative units, which includes 41 communes and 17 wards, marking a decrease of 97 units compared to the present. The province is also moving forward with plans to establish Gia Lai province under the Central Government by merging the entire natural area of 15,510 square kilometers and a population of 1,770,592 from Gia Lai with 6,066 square kilometers and 1,813,101 inhabitants from Binh Dinh.
The newly formed Gia Lai province will encompass a total area of 21,576 square kilometers and a population of 3.58 million, comprising 135 commune-level administrative units. The political and administrative center will be situated in Quy Nhon City.
Furthermore, the Quang Ngai Provincial People's Council convened its 33rd session, where it approved the merger of Quang Ngai and Kon Tum provinces. The new province will be named Quang Ngai, covering an area of 14,832.548 square kilometers and housing over 2.16 million residents, with 96 administrative units (95 communes and one special zone).
Prior to this decision, localities in Quang Ngai had solicited public opinion regarding the merger, which resulted in 99.65% of household representatives supporting the initiative. The political center of the newly formed Quang Ngai province will be located in Quang Ngai City.
In another significant development, the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Council held a specialized session on April 28, approving 16 resolutions, including the merger of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces. Following this merger, the new province will retain the name Khanh Hoa, with its political and administrative center situated in the current Khanh Hoa province.
After the restructuring, Khanh Hoa will cover a natural area of 8,555.86 square kilometers, with a population of 2.23 million and 65 administrative units (comprising 48 communes, 16 wards, and one special zone). This merger is anticipated to meet the standards for both natural area and population size as prescribed.
As part of the restructuring plan for commune-level administrative units in Khanh Hoa province, delegates agreed to reduce the number of administrative units from 132 to 41. The council also discussed various resolutions related to urban architecture management, land recovery for socio-economic development, and land use changes.
Meanwhile, the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Council held its 25th session, where it also approved significant resolutions regarding socio-economic issues, including the arrangement of commune-level administrative units. Ninh Thuan will reduce its administrative units from 62 to 24, including five wards and 19 communes. Post-restructuring, Ninh Thuan will have a surplus of 30 public offices, which it plans to address between 2026 and 2029.
In light of these developments, the Ministry of Home Affairs held a press conference on April 28, addressing the nationwide policy of abolishing district-level administrative units. Currently, Vietnam has 696 district-level administrative units, including 87 cities under provinces and cities governed directly by the central government, which will no longer exist. The Ministry's initial proposal includes maintaining city and town models as grassroots units, but the final decision emphasizes the elimination of district levels entirely.
Phan Trung Tuấn, Director of the Local Government Department, explained that the decision to abolish the district level aims to streamline governance and improve service delivery to the public. He stated, "After careful consideration, the Central Government has agreed to organize local governance at two levels: provincial and grassroots, eliminating any remnants of the district level."
As Vietnam continues to evolve its administrative structure, these mergers and reconfigurations aim to enhance efficiency, foster economic development, and better serve the needs of its citizens.
