Emphasising that in the implementation of this model, the contingent of officials and civil servants will be the key factor determining its success, Tra noted that restructuring and improving the quality of officials, civil servants, and public employees is no longer a choice, but an urgent requirement to transition from administrative management to governance in service of the people.

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra at the 15th National Assembly’s ongoing 9th session on June 17.

At the same time, with the two-tier local administration model, the workload is enormous and the task requirements are very high, demanding officials, especially those at the commune level, be versatile, multi-tasking, professional, and capable of uniting and mobilising the public.

She advised localities to strictly implement the guidelines of the Politburo, the Party Central Committee, the Government, the Prime Minister, and relevant ministries regarding the reorganisation of the administrative apparatus; restructure and improve the quality of officials and civil servants in a practical and effective manner, in order to best meet current demands.

In addition, localities must urgently and fully implement existing policies regarding the arrangement and support of those affected by the restructuring process, Tra said.

The minister highlighted the importance of retaining competent personnel, while also focusing on building a strong contingent of officials, civil servants, and public employees, including implementing special policies to attract talented individuals into the public sector.

She also stressed the need for targeted training and capacity-building programmes, especially for commune-level staff and officials working in remote, ethnic minority, and disadvantaged areas, as well as for women.

To meet the operational demands of the two-level local administration system, Tra affirmed that its core objective is to reform national and local governance, thereby building a government that is closer to the people, more responsive, and better able to serve them.

National Assembly’s resolution on reorganisation of provincial-level administrative units: A historic decision

On the morning of June 12, the National Assembly voted to approve a resolution on the reorganisation of provincial-level administrative units, reducing the number of provinces and cities nationwide from 63 to 34. The resolution took effect immediately upon approval.

 

Vietnam now has 34 provincial-level administrative units

The 15th National Assembly (NA) on June 12 passed a Resolution on the reorganisation of provincial-level administrative units in 2025, under which Vietnam now has 34 provincial-level administrative units, including 28 provinces and six centrally-run cities.

 

Vietnam’s digital map updates 34 provincial-level administrative units

An 1:1,000,000-scale administrative map of Vietnam online and in digital *.pdf format will be released once the National Assembly’s Resolution on the reorganisation of provincial-level administrative units in 2025 takes effect in oder to promptly support the Prime Minister’s direction and administration, support state management by ministries, sectors, and localities; and meet requirements of organisations and individuals.

 

Key milestones in administrative and organisational restructuring

On May 25, 2025, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 157-KL/TW on implementing Party resolutions regarding the restructuring of the organisational apparatus and administrative units. New commune-level units are to come into operation from 1 July, with completion targeted by July 15; provincial-level restructuring is to be finalised by August 15.

 

PM urges simplification of administrative procedures

Key targets for 2025 include a minimum 30% reduction in administrative processing time, compliance costs, and business conditions.