In a Resolution issued following the Government’s regular meeting for March 2025 and its online conference with local authorities, relevant ministries, agencies, and localities are required to review and propose amendments to regulations on organisational structure within the legal system. 

The aim is to ensure smooth, uninterrupted, and efficient state operations after administrative mergers, in accordance with directives from the Politburo and the Party Secretariat, reads the Resolution.  

A key focus is to clearly define the authority between different levels of government as the current three-tier local governance model transitions to a two-tier system, with a strong emphasis on decentralizing power from central to local levels. 

In April, ministries and ministerial-level agencies must complete and issue guidance documents to ensure a smooth transition during the merger process, particularly in areas where the district level is eliminated and commune-level units are further consolidated, without disrupting local sectoral management. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs is tasked with leading and coordinating with relevant agencies and localities to urgently finalise a report on the reorganisation of administrative units, ensuring sufficient political, legal, and practical grounds.  

This proposal will be submitted to the Party Central Committee for approval, then to the Government and the National Assembly for the issuance of a relevant resolution. 

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for promptly appraising draft laws and resolutions to be submitted for feedback and approval at the coming session of the National Assembly, which opens on May 5. It is also required to monitor and urge the prompt issuance of guiding documents, aiming to eliminate delays in legal documentation by the end of April. 

At the recent 11th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, General Secretary To Lam emphasised that the proposal on reorganizing administrative units and establishing a two-tier local government model is a crucial and historic task. It involves not only restructuring the apparatus and personnel, but also redefining authority levels, redistributing administrative units and resources, and creating new development spaces. 

Under the current plan, the country will be reorganised into 34 provinces and centrally-run cities, eliminating the district level, reducing about 50% of commune-level units, and establishing a two-tier local government model. Special attention will be paid to ensuring the new commune-level units remain close to and effectively serve the people. 

Starting from May 1, all 63 provinces and cities will submit their reorganisation proposals to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The target is to complete the commune-level restructuring by June 30, and provincial-level restructuring by August 30, so that the new administrative units can officially operate from July 1 and September 1, respectively. 

Vietnam to reduce provincial-level administrative units by half post restructuring

VOV.VN - Vietnam is expected to reduce the number of provincial-level administrative units by half and the number of grassroots-level administrative units (communes and wards) by 60-70% under a two-tier local government model, the Government Party Committee agreed at a meeting on March 11.