A recent directive from the Politburo and Secretariat of the Communist Party calls for a reassessment of the country's administrative structure, focusing on eliminating intermediary administrative levels and potentially merging certain provinces by 2025.

Under current regulations set by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, a province must meet minimum requirements in area, population, and administrative subdivisions to retain its status:

Mountainous provinces: at least 8,000 km² in area and 900,000 residents
Other provinces: at least 5,000 km² and 1.4 million residents
Centrally administered cities: at least 1,500 km² and 1 million residents
All provinces and cities must have at least nine districts

Currently, ten provinces do not meet these criteria, including Bac Kan (300,000 residents), Dak Nong (680,000), and Tuyen Quang (800,000). Other provinces such as Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Hau Giang, Vinh Long, and Bac Lieu also fall short on multiple metrics.

Public opinion supports mergers

The proposal has sparked debate among citizens and experts. Many believe merging smaller provinces would free up resources for infrastructure and economic development.

Reader Pham Thu Thuy commented: "The administrative budget is too high, leaving limited funds for economic and infrastructure investments. Merging provinces could help streamline governance and redirect spending where it's needed most."

Similarly, Tran Van Chien supported the plan, suggesting that provinces return to their previous configurations to improve efficiency. "With fewer administrative divisions, we could allocate more resources to rural and remote areas," he noted.

Some, like Nguyen Duy Minh, argue that Vietnam should return to a system of 38 provinces, similar to the past. "Compared to major countries like Russia, the US, or China, our administrative structure is too fragmented. Reducing the number of provinces would make governance more effective," he stated.

Digital transformation reduces administrative needs

With advancements in digital governance, some believe fewer administrative units are necessary. Reader Hung Dinh argued that Vietnam should have no more than 20 provinces and suggested eliminating district-level administrations altogether.

"In the era of digital transformation, physical administrative divisions matter less. Most government services can be handled online, and leaders can coordinate via virtual meetings," he said.

Comparing Vietnam to China (34 provinces) and the US (50 states), reader Nguyen Quan pointed out that Vietnam's 63 provinces create inefficiencies and high administrative costs.

A shift toward a more efficient governance model

Supporters of the plan believe that a leaner administrative structure would not only reduce government spending but also enhance policy implementation and economic planning.

"If we move forward with this, the country will have more resources for economic development," noted Giang Le, who also emphasized the importance of accelerating digital administration alongside provincial mergers.

Others, like Duong Quoc Thang, stressed that Vietnam must trim its bureaucratic layers to compete globally.

"Our administrative system is too complex, with too many levels of government. Merging provinces and eliminating redundant administrative levels will make governance more effective and efficient," he said.

The government is expected to finalize plans by 2025, with further studies on the feasibility of merging smaller provinces.

Quang Phong