Lawmakers in Vietnam vote to consolidate multiple provinces, resulting in the elimination of approximately 80,000 jobs.

From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Simplifies: A Seismic Administrative Shift

Vietnam's National Assembly shook things up on June 12, giving Vietnam a new look by merging provinces and cities as part of sweeping reforms. This move slashed nearly 80,000 state jobs to streamline the communist nation's administrative structure.

Lawmakers voted to reduce the country's 63 provincial and city administrations to just 34, with 79,339 officials feeling the impact through job losses or early retirement. The government aims to radically cut state expenditure, with 23,000 jobs already gone following the reduction in ministries and agencies from 30 to 22.

Top leader To Lam believes this drastic restructuring is crucial for Vietnam's rapid, stable, and sustainable development. In the June 12 vote, the assembly, acting in a one-party system, supported the government plans overwhelmingly, with only three abstentions.

Only 11 provinces and cities remain untouched by the reform, with the rest all merging together. The interior minister, Pham Thi Thanh Tra, described it as the "biggest revolution" since Vietnam was founded in 1945.

Though residents of affected provinces may feel the loss of their native provinces, some see the benefits. Nguyen Thang Loi, a resident of the northern Thai Binh province, supports the merge, even though his province is being merged and its name will vanish.

The new provincial and city administrative bodies will focus on active service to the people. The eliminate-and-expand strategy eliminates the district-level administration and expands the commune-level, which will be reduced from 10,035 to 3,321. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, after official leadership is announced on June 30.

In the coming days, the National Assembly will vote on an amended constitution, laying the groundwork for Vietnam's new two-tier administrative structure.

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In the wake of the significant administrative shift, the focus of provincial and city administration in Vietnam will transition towards active service to the people. The amended constitution, set to be voted on by the National Assembly, will pave the way for Vietnam's new streamlined two-tier administrative structure, marking a fresh start and paradigm shift in the country's governance.

The "eliminate-and-expand" strategy will result in the reduction of district-level administration and an expansion of the commune-level, which will be reduced from 10,035 to 3,321, signifying a seismic change in the landscape of Vietnam's governance. This transformation, from the general-news perspective, will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the political climate of the communist nation.

Lawmakers in Vietnam vote to consolidate multiple provinces, resulting in the elimination of approximately 80,000 jobs.