In recent days, social media has seen widespread circulation of claims that the Vietnamese government plans to consolidate its current 34 provincial-level administrative units into just 16 provinces and cities.

Speaking to VietNamNet, Mr. Tuan emphasized that these claims are inaccurate and entirely false.

He clarified that neither the Party, the National Assembly, nor the Government has issued any policy or directive to continue merging provinces or local-level administrative units.

According to Mr. Tuan, the recent restructuring of administrative units carries strategic significance. It is aimed at building a streamlined, unified, and efficient public administration system - one that is modern, citizen-centered, and responsive.

The reform seeks not only to reduce bureaucracy, optimize staffing, and save budgetary resources, but also to create long-term development space for localities.

As of July 1, Vietnam has fully implemented a two-tier local governance model nationwide, consisting of provincial and commune/ward/special zone levels.

There are currently 34 provinces and cities, along with 3,321 commune-level administrative units across the country. These figures reflect the structure established after the National Assembly approved the 2025 Resolution on Provincial-Level Administrative Reorganization.

Mr. Tuan also noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs is drafting a new decree that will guide public consultation processes for establishing, dissolving, merging, splitting, adjusting boundaries, and renaming administrative units.

Importantly, this draft decree does not contain any list or proposal regarding the rumored plan to reduce the number of provinces from 34 to 16, as is being widely circulated online.

He further explained that the issuance of this new decree is necessary, as the 2025 Law on the Organization of Local Government has introduced the new two-tier administrative model and added the concept of “special zones.”

Existing decrees - specifically Decree 54/2018 and Decree 66/2023 - were based on the outdated three-tier governance system (province, district, commune) and are now outdated.

“In the draft decree’s documentation, there is absolutely no appendix or item suggesting a merger of provinces from 34 down to 16, contrary to the rumors being spread on social media,” Mr. Tuan affirmed.

Vu Diep