NA Standing Committee approves sweeping administrative overhaul for 2025
The National Assembly Standing Committee voted unanimously to approve in principle a resolution reorganising commune-level administrative units during its ongoing 46th session in Hanoi on June 5.
At the 46th session of the NA Standing Committee (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) 🍸- The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee has voted unanimously to approve in principle a resolution reorganising commune-level administrative units, paving the way for a major restructuring set to take effect in 2025.
During its ongoing 46th session in Hanoi on June 5, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra presented proposal on behalf of the Government, outlining a plan to consolidate 52 provincial-level administrative units into 23 newly formed entities. This will result in a leaner structure of 34 units, including six centrally-run cities and 28 provinces. The overhaul will also slash the number of commune-level administrative units by 66.91%, bringing the total to 3,321.
Once the provincial-level authorities are operational post-reorganisation, the Ministry of Home Affairs will work with the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, Party Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, and other relevant agencies to develop detailed staffing plans that will be submitted to competent authorities. They will factor in population size, geographic area, and the specific roles and tasks of each provincial unit, ensuring a tailored allocation of officials, civil servants and public employees.
The NA’s Committee on Legal and Judicial Affairs raised questions about a proposed resolution for Van Don special economic zone in Quang Ninh province, urging clarity on how it fits into the broader administrative changes. The committee stressed the need to assess the policy’s impact to avoid conflicts with the reorganisation.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed that the resolution must be concise, legally sound, and aligned with Party and State regulations. He also called for robust public engagement to build consensus before and after the changes roll out, ensuring transparency in the process./.
PM Chinh underscored that as part of efforts to implement the ongoing "revolution" in restructuring the political system’s organisational apparatus, ministries, agencies, and organisations at the central level have largely completed the reorganisation of their structures.
Based on the reports from the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission and Party Committees of localities, the Politburo and Secretariat acknowledged the positive progress and notable outcomes achieved, with all Party organisations across the country and mass agencies issuing guiding documents to clarify responsibilities, coordinate efforts, and align restructuring plans with central policies and timelines.
Also on April 14, the PM approved the Government’s restructuring plan. He urged ministries and agencies to proactively address emerging challenges, proposing solutions to higher authorities when needed.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
