Vietnam is on the brink of significant administrative reforms as officials propose reducing the number of provinces from 63 to 40. This initiative aims to streamline governance and improve the efficiency of the administrative apparatus across the country.
Phạm Văn Hòa, the National Assembly representative from Đồng Tháp, has long advocated for the merger and consolidation of provinces. "Five to six years ago, I raised concerns about merging some administrative units, particularly those with small populations and areas. Some provinces have populations of only over 300,000, which is minimal compared to others with millions," he stated. According to Hòa, the time is ripe to eliminate the district level and merge several provincial administrative units.
Hòa emphasized the importance of reducing administrative complexity: "Streamlining the system and cutting down on staff numbers is revolutionary for our country's development. There is widespread support from officials and the public for this initiative," he explained. He noted Vietnam's population of approximately 100 million is currently served by 63 provinces and cities, which appears excessive. "While our country has seen numerous mergers and splits historically, it has not been thorough enough," he argued.
Hòa proposed creating viable plans for implementation before the end of the year, eliminating the district level. He suggested consolidations might also include combining smaller communes, many of which remain fragmented, with some having as few as 2,000 or 3,000 residents. "With advancements of the 4.0 era, even distant areas are now more accessible. Merging these small communes is appropriate," he mentioned.
He reiterated the purpose of this consolidation: to effectively manage local governance. A multitude of provinces means not only inefficiency but also resource allocation issues, leading to some provinces operating large bureaucracies without proportional returns. Hòa stated, "Consolidation will reduce resource fragmentation and improve coordination between regions to implement policies." He strongly believes merging to approximately 40 provinces aligns with practical governance needs.
To facilitate this process, specific criteria must be established, considering not just population and land area but also cultural, historical, and geopolitical factors. This framework will help maintain stability and drive socio-economic development as Vietnam transitions to new eras, he noted.
The State's decision to merge provinces fits within broader governmental strategies. The Politburo and the Secretariat recently published Conclusion 126, which outlines tasks to continue optimizing the national political structure by 2025. This includes urging the central government to work with the Central Organization Commission and National Assembly to explore potential provincial mergers.
Vietnam currently has 10 provinces not meeting all three national criteria for administrative units, with additional provinces similarly lacking on other measures. Former Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dieu classified these actions as reflecting the people's wishes and the social development trend. "No country can maintain excessively small administrative units today," he remarked.
Dieu urged for accompanying reforms to streamline governance by eliminating the district tier. He pointed out, "Vietnam operates a unitary state, and globally, 80% of these maintain only three tiers of government. Dropping the district level makes logical sense." He stressed the need for well-structured power decentralization.
Echoing these sentiments, fellow National Assembly member Vu Trong Kim acknowledged the necessity of this restructuring amid growth stagnation. "Many provinces have exhausted their potential and shown limited progress; others lag behind, unable to break through several years with various support mechanisms," he noted. Kim suggested this reorganization aims not only for efficiency but also to encourage balanced development across all regions.
Local governance inefficiencies arise from numerous overlapping duties caused by having too many small provinces. Kim added, "How can we envision strong national development with such fragmented administrative structures? It's time to shift our strategies to optimize resources for a more competitive nation on the world stage."
Former Deputy Minister Nguyen Tien Dinh reiterated the need to cut administrative delays and inefficiencies, emphasizing the importance of the district level's role—or lack thereof—in decision-making. “Districts can sometimes hinder progress if they're not functioning effectively,” Dinh warned.
The discussions surrounding criteria for merging provinces suggest avoiding mechanical criteria based solely on population and area metrics. Instead, Dinh encouraged identifying regions with shared economic potentials and advantages to justify state investment. He proposed aligning consolidation strategies to economic zones: industrial, agricultural, marine economies, and service-oriented cities should dictate administrative formats.
“We must not feel obliged to amalgamate small provinces merely for the sake of meeting set targets,” he advised. If a locality ensures socio-economic conditions, it need not merge, only those lagging behind should unite for optimal governance.
It is evident the Vietnamese government is at a crossroads, aiming to surpass traditional administrative structures through careful planning and coordination. Dinh emphasized this as urgent, aiming to eliminate barriers within the administrative palette and promote effective governance.