National Assembly deputies have voiced support for merging small provinces with low populations, suggesting that reducing Vietnam’s 63 provinces to around 40 is a practical and necessary step.

However, they emphasize that the reform must go beyond a simple administrative map adjustment and lead to real structural efficiency.

Merging provinces: From 63 to around 40

Pham Van Hoa, a National Assembly deputy from Dong Thap Province, noted that discussions on merging provincial administrative units had been raised five to six years ago.

"At the 14th National Assembly, I expressed concerns about provinces with small populations and areas that remain administratively separate. Some provinces have populations of just 300,000 people, which is disproportionately small compared to major cities with millions of residents," Hoa told VietNamNet.

He believes now is the right time to implement the abolition of district-level administration and provincial mergers.

"Simplifying administrative structures and reducing bureaucracy is a critical reform for national development. We have already streamlined central ministries and local agencies, and most officials and the public support this initiative," Hoa added.

According to him, Vietnam, with a population of approximately 100 million, does not need 63 provinces.

"We have split and merged provinces multiple times, but the changes have not been comprehensive. It’s time for a more decisive restructuring," he said.

Why merging provinces is necessary

Hoa argues that merging provinces will create a more unified administrative system from central to local levels. This would ensure that governance responsibilities are clearly delegated while maintaining transparency and efficiency in state management.

However, he emphasized that the merger process must be carefully planned and executed.

"The government should finalize a plan by the end of this year to implement these changes effectively. The current four-tier administrative structure (central, provincial, district, and commune levels) should be streamlined, removing the district level and consolidating small communes," Hoa suggested.

Many communes remain fragmented despite previous consolidations. Some have as few as 2,000 to 3,000 residents, which no longer makes sense in the digital era with better infrastructure and modernized local governance.

Hoa stressed that merging provinces is about improving governance, not just reducing numbers on a map.

Challenges of too many provinces

Having too many provinces creates an overly complex administrative structure, leading to inefficient resource distribution. Hoa pointed out that small provinces still maintain large bureaucracies, causing unnecessary expenditures while failing to deliver proportional benefits.

On the other hand, larger and more economically viable provinces may lack investment due to administrative fragmentation. Consolidating smaller provinces could enhance resource allocation and policy coordination between local governments.

"I believe reducing from 63 to around 40 provinces is a reasonable target," Hoa said.

To achieve this, he suggested establishing clear criteria, including:

Population size and land area
Cultural and historical factors
National security and geopolitical considerations
Regional and national economic development planning

He also proposed classifying provinces based on economic sectors, such as:

Industrial provinces
Agricultural provinces
Coastal economic zones
Urban service hubs

This economic-oriented approach would maximize development potential while ensuring efficient governance.

Merging must bring real efficiency, not just map changes

Dao Chi Nghia, Deputy Head of the Can Tho National Assembly delegation, emphasized that administrative streamlining is a major national policy and must be implemented consistently from central to local levels.

"This reform is not just about making governance leaner - it’s about making it stronger, faster, and more efficient," Nghia stated.

However, he warned that merging provinces must follow a clear roadmap to avoid disruptions in local governance and public services.

With 63 separate provinces, resource allocation is often inefficient, leading to wasted budgets and weaker regional economic development.

Each province currently maintains a full administrative apparatus, which results in overlapping responsibilities, redundant functions, and excessive spending.

Nghia believes reducing the number of provinces would streamline governance and cut administrative costs, enabling the government to reallocate funds to education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare.

"If we consolidate small, fragmented districts into larger urban hubs, we can build stronger economic regions, reduce bureaucracy, and improve nationwide economic competitiveness," he explained.

Nghia emphasized that this reform is not just a geographical restructuring - it is a strategic shift in governance philosophy.

"The goal is to build a streamlined, agile, and efficient administrative system that can meet the demands of Vietnam’s next stage of development," he concluded.

Hoai Thanh - Tran Tuyen