Provincial merger: Need to prioritize common interests over emotions

Prioritize the common good.

Currently, the policy of merging and streamlining the administrative apparatus, especially the merger of provinces and cities, is becoming a topic of great interest to many people. According to regulations, the list of new provinces and cities after the merger will be subject to public consultation before being officially issued.

The process of soliciting public opinion on the reorganization and merger of administrative units is in accordance with the Constitution. According to Article 110 of the Constitution concerning local government administrative units: The establishment, dissolution, merger, division, and adjustment of administrative boundaries must involve consultation with the local people and follow the procedures prescribed by law.

Merging provinces is a major decision with far-reaching impacts on the economic , social, and cultural lives of the people. (Illustrative image)

Speaking to a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper about the merger of provinces and cities, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh (a retired official in Phuong Mai ward, Hanoi ) said: "The State's policy of merging provinces is a very large and historic reform for Vietnam. I strongly support it; it is a very correct course of action at this time. The merger helps streamline the administrative apparatus, creates opportunities for capable people to demonstrate their abilities, and eliminates ineffective individuals."

" Up until now, we've been accustomed to the subsidized system, working very dependently and not fully utilizing our potential. This merger will reduce stagnation and the waste of time and state resources, " said Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh.

While many worry that the merger of provinces will lead to the loss of homeland and identity, Ms. Hanh believes that history, culture, and homeland will still exist, not disappear, but only change in name or presentation. Local specialties and historical relics will still exist and cannot be lost, because they are history.

" The merger of provinces may lead to the loss of familiar names for many provinces, causing public concern. However, the common good should be prioritized over personal feelings ," Ms. Hanh expressed.

Cultural identity is still preserved.

Sharing the same view as Ms. Hanh, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoan (a retired official in Phuong Mai ward, Hanoi) said that merging provinces is a correct step to streamline the administrative apparatus, reduce cumbersome procedures, and improve the efficiency of government operations. This not only helps reduce the number of unnecessary officials but also creates conditions for truly capable individuals to fulfill their roles.

In addition, according to Mr. Hoan, the merger also helps save state budget by reducing intermediate administrative units, thereby allowing resources to be invested in essential areas such as education , healthcare, and infrastructure.

Mr. Hoan stated that many retired officials have expressed concerns that the merger of provinces could affect the cultural identity and historical heritage of each locality. Some regions have unique specialties and ancient historical sites, and the merger could cause the loss of the distinctive characteristics of each locality.

“ Each province has its own unique cultural values; if combined, many distinctive features might fade away. But I believe history cannot be erased, and cultural identity will still be preserved and promoted in an appropriate way ,” Mr. Hoan shared.

Therefore, Mr. Hoan suggested that specific policies are needed to preserve local culture and continue promoting traditional values even after administrative units are merged.

Regarding the issue of provincial names after mergers, Mr. Hoan stated that when a province loses its old name, many people may feel a sense of loss as they lose a part of their connection to their homeland. However, one must look at the bigger picture, for the overall development of the country.

“ I think most people agree that long-term benefits are more important than personal feelings. When the merger brings about better management, people will gradually get used to these changes ,” Mr. Hoan stated.

On February 28, the Politburo and the Secretariat issued Conclusion 127-KL/TW, assigning the Party Committee of the Government to coordinate with the Central Organization Committee, the Party Committee of the National Assembly, the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, central mass organizations and relevant agencies to direct research and develop a plan and submission to the Politburo on merging some provincial-level administrative units, eliminating district-level organizations; and continuing the merger of commune-level administrative units.

On March 11th, the Party Committee of the Government unanimously agreed to submit to the competent authorities a plan to merge and reduce provincial-level administrative units by 50% and grassroots-level units by 60-70% compared to the current situation.

According to Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the core principle when restructuring the administrative apparatus is not simply to streamline the number of departments, but to aim for a larger goal: expanding the development space, creating a foundation and momentum for the country in the new era, while ensuring the long-term stability of the system and organization. This is not a short-term change of a few decades, but requires a strategic vision for a hundred years, or even several hundred years.

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