Urgently gather public opinion on the merger of administrative units.

Just a few days after the conclusion of the 11th Plenum of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in the middle of last week - April 16th, the Politburo and the Secretariat organized a national conference to disseminate and implement the Resolution of the 11th Central Committee Plenum.

At the conference, delegates heard presentations on three topics, including the topic of continuing to streamline the organizational structure for greater efficiency and effectiveness; and Directive No. 45-CT/TW of the Politburo on party congresses at all levels leading up to the 14th National Congress of the Party. Two days earlier – on April 14th – on behalf of the Politburo, Politburo member and Standing Committee Secretary Tran Cam Tu also signed and issued Conclusion 150-KL/TW guiding the development of personnel plans for provincial-level Party committees subject to mergers and consolidations, and for newly established commune-level Party committees.

On April 14th, the Central Steering Committee for the review of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW issued Plan No. 47 on the implementation of the rearrangement and merger of provincial and commune-level administrative units and the organization of a two-tiered local government system. Attached to this Plan is an appendix outlining the content and tasks for the rearrangement and merger of provincial and commune-level administrative units and the establishment of a two-tiered local government system. The appendix clearly states the specific tasks that relevant agencies, provinces, and cities must complete by specific timeframes in 2025 and 2026.

Also on April 14th, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh signed Decision No. 758/QD-TTg promulgating the Plan for the implementation of administrative unit restructuring and the construction of a two-level local government organizational model; and Decision No. 759/QD-TTg approving the Project on restructuring and reorganizing administrative units at all levels and building a two-level local government organizational model. The Project clearly outlines specific restructuring plans for 52 provincial-level administrative units; the Plan specifies the amendment and supplementation of many laws and resolutions to serve the restructuring of the organizational apparatus…

Based on the close and timely guidance from the Central Government, clearly outlining each task and completion time, several localities have held meetings to agree on the establishment of joint working groups to implement the tasks assigned by the Central Government regarding mergers, such as Yen Bai and Lao Cai; Quang Ngai and Kon Tum; Hung Yen and Thai Binh… Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh directly held a working session on the afternoon of April 19th with the Standing Committees of the Provincial Party Committees of three provinces, namely Binh Thuan, Lam Dong, and Dak Nong, on the implementation of the Resolution of the 11th Conference of the Central Committee of the 13th Party Congress. The Deputy Prime Minister commended the three provinces for their cooperation, solidarity, unity, and proactive implementation of tasks as directed.

Some localities have made early decisions on reorganizing administrative units and building a two-tiered local government organizational model. For example, on April 18th, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council approved a plan to reorganize 273 commune-level administrative units into 102 new units, comprising 78 wards and 24 communes, ensuring the central government's target of a 60-70% reduction and meeting the criteria for commune and ward area.

On April 20th, despite it being a Sunday, the Soc Trang Provincial People's Council, 10th term (2021-2026), held a meeting to consider and unanimously approve a Resolution on the reorganization of provincial and commune-level administrative units. Accordingly, the total number of grassroots-level administrative units in the province after the merger will be 43 communes and wards (including 35 communes and 8 wards), a reduction of 60.19% compared to the current number. The delegates also discussed and agreed on a plan to reorganize provincial-level administrative units, establishing Can Tho City directly under the Central Government by merging Soc Trang Province, Hau Giang Province, and Can Tho City. The administrative and political center of the newly established provincial-level administrative unit will be located in Ninh Kieu District (Can Tho City).

Other localities are organizing public consultations on the plan for rearranging and merging provincial and commune-level administrative units. Notably, on April 20th, the Hanoi People's Committee issued a document announcing the plan for rearranging commune-level administrative units. Accordingly, Hanoi, with a total area of nearly 3,360 km2, 30 district-level administrative units, and a population of over 8.5 million people, will reduce the number of communes and wards from 526 to 126. On the morning of April 20th, Bac Ninh also launched a campaign to gather public opinions on the draft plan for rearranging Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces and the draft plan for rearranging commune-level administrative units in Bac Ninh province…

The proactive and diligent implementation of tasks by localities in accordance with directives from the Central Government, along with the synchronized, harmonious, and close coordination among localities, clearly demonstrates a spirit of solidarity and consensus, free from any sense of power or favoritism, all for the common good of the country and the people. This is the opportunity and foundation for our country to develop and prosper in the new era, as expected and desired by General Secretary To Lam.

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