Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra has announced that Vietnam will complete the restructuring of commune-level administrative units by June 30, with provincial mergers finalized before August 30.

Speaking at the first session of the Government Steering Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Project 06 on March 18, Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra provided updates on administrative reform efforts in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.

Regarding government restructuring, Minister Tra emphasized that this initiative represents a transformative shift across Vietnam’s political system. Recent efforts have significantly streamlined the administrative apparatus, laying a solid foundation for future development.

At the national level, Vietnam has reduced its ministries and equivalent agencies to just 17, eliminating five ministries and three government agencies. Internal structures have also been optimized, with a reduction of 13 general departments, 519 departments, 219 offices, and 3,303 sub-departments.

The administrative restructuring has led to a 20% reduction in personnel across ministries and sectors, cutting approximately 22,300 positions. Most agencies have adhered to the allocated staffing quotas.

At the provincial level, all 63 provinces and cities have implemented restructuring measures, resulting in the reduction of 343 specialized agencies within provincial People’s Committees—a 29% decrease. Additionally, 1,454 district-level agencies have been cut, marking a 17.5% reduction.

During the session, Minister Tra outlined eight key administrative reform priorities for 2025, with a strong focus on restructuring administrative units at both the provincial and commune levels. She emphasized the importance of a cautious yet swift approach to ensure smooth implementation.

"We plan to complete the restructuring of commune-level administrative units by June 30 so that they can officially operate under the new structure starting July 1.

Similarly, we aim to finalize provincial mergers by August 30, allowing the newly merged provinces to begin operations on September 1," Minister Tra stated.

She highlighted that the transition to a two-tier local government system is being implemented at an accelerated pace, following a "building while operating" approach.

Recognizing the complexity and urgency of the task, the Ministry of Home Affairs has called for close cooperation between all relevant ministries and agencies to provide timely guidance to local authorities.

Minister Tra also stressed the need for stronger law enforcement, administrative discipline, and the effective implementation of new policies governing civil servants and public employees.

"In the near future, the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants will be amended to improve management and facilitate the mobility of commune-level officials to provincial and higher-level positions," she added.

Quang Phong