Statistics from the Ministry of Home Affairs show that by the end of 2024, the number of district-level units nationwide has decreased from 705 units to 696 units after restructuring and merging (a reduction of 9 units).
The localities with the most and the fewest district levels in the country
As of the beginning of this year, Vietnam has two cities under the central government: Thu Duc city (HCMC) and Thuy Nguyen city (established from January 1, 2025, under Hai Phong city).
Along with that, Vietnam currently has 84 provincial cities; 53 towns, 49 districts and 508 counties.
Of which, Hanoi has the most district-level administrative units in the country with 30 units, including: 12 districts (Ba Dinh, Cau Giay, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem, Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai, Long Bien, Ha Dong, Tay Ho, Nam Tu Liem, Bac Tu Liem); 17 districts (Thanh Tri, Ba Vi, Dan Phuong, Gia Lam, Dong Anh, Thuong Tin, Thanh Oai, Chuong My, Hoai Duc, My Duc, Phuc Tho, Thach That, Quoc Oai, Phu Xuyen, Ung Hoa, Me Linh, Soc Son) and Son Tay town.
Thanh Hoa province ranked second with 26 district-level administrative units, including Thanh Hoa city, Sam Son city, Nghi Son town, Bim Son town, along with 22 districts.
Ho Chi Minh City ranked third in this list, with 22 district-level administrative units, including Thu Duc city, 16 districts (District 1, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 10, District 11, District 12, Binh Tan, Tan Binh, Go Vap, Phu Nhuan, Tan Phu, Binh Thanh); 5 districts (Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Can Gio, Nha Be and Binh Chanh).
Next is Nghe An province with 20 district-level administrative units (Vinh city; Hoang Mai town, Thai Hoa town; 17 districts). Nghe An is also the province with the largest natural area in the country, with 16,486.5 km2.
With 17 district-level administrative units, Quang Nam province (Tam Ky city, Hoi An city, Dien Ban town and 14 districts), Gia Lai (Pleiku city, An Khe town, Ayun Pa town and 14 districts) are in 5th place.
Statistics also show that 4 localities have 15 district-level administrative units including Kien Giang, Long An, Dak Lak provinces and Hai Phong city.
3 provinces have 13 district-level administrative units including Phu Tho, Quang Ngai and Quang Ninh.
4 provinces have 12 district-level units including Son La, Hai Duong, Dong Thap and Ha Tinh.
8 provinces have 11 district-level units including An Giang, Binh Dinh, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Ha Giang, Lang Son, Soc Trang and Tien Giang.
9 provinces have 10 district-level units including Quang Tri, Kon Tum, Hung Yen, Hoa Binh, Dien Bien, Cao Bang, Binh Thuan, Bac Giang and Lam Dong.
14 provinces and cities have 9 district-level administrative units including Nam Dinh, Ben Tre, Binh Duong, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Khanh Hoa, Lao Cai, Phu Yen, Tay Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Hue City, Tra Vinh, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai.
9 provinces and cities have 8 district-level administrative units including Vinh Long, Thai Binh, Quang Binh, Lai Chau, Hau Giang, Dak Nong, Da Nang City, Bac Ninh, Bac Kan.
5 provinces have 7 district-level administrative units including Bac Lieu, Ninh Thuan, Tuyen Quang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ninh Binh.
Ha Nam is the locality with the fewest district-level administrative units in the country with 6 units including: Phu Ly city, Duy Tien town, Ly Nhan district, Binh Luc district, Kim Bang district, Thanh Liem district.
Phu Tho Town, Phu Tho Province (Photo: Phu Tho Provincial Portal).
A report by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the end of 2024 showed that the total number of cadres, civil servants and public employees currently in district-level administrative units subject to arrangement and merger is nearly 13,500 people.
The number of redundant staff is about 960 people. There are a total of 721 public offices in district-level administrative units that need to be rearranged.
According to the assessment of the Ministry of Home Affairs, some localities have developed a master plan but then left a large number of district-level administrative units that have not been rearranged in the 2023-2025 period (Thanh Hoa proposed not to rearrange one district; Ha Tinh proposed not to rearrange one district level; Lai Chau proposed not to rearrange 3 district levels).
There are 2/28 new district-level administrative units formed after the arrangement but have not met the prescribed standards.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed that the Government direct the review and preparation of necessary conditions for the development of a master plan for the arrangement of district and commune-level administrative units in the 2026-2030 period (regarding population size data, natural area, research and development of a plan to ensure that the administrative units expected to be formed after the arrangement fully meet the prescribed standards and conditions).
In particular, the Ministry of Home Affairs noted that the number of district- and commune-level administrative units subject to rearrangement in the 2023-2025 period but not yet proposed by localities should be reviewed to ensure maximum rearrangement in the 2026-2030 period.
Ha Nam is the province with the lowest number of district-level administrative units in the country (Photo: VN Map).
Need a suitable roadmap to ensure stability and efficiency
Speaking with Dan Tri reporter, Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Son - a full-time National Assembly delegate at the National Assembly's Culture and Social Affairs Committee - said that studying the elimination of the intermediate level - the district level - is an important step, but needs to be carefully considered, especially when this may be related to amending the Constitution.
According to Mr. Son, the current Constitution stipulates that local government consists of three levels: province, district, and commune. If we remove the district level, we will not only change the administrative management model but also have to adjust the legal system in a synchronous manner.
"If we simultaneously conduct research on merging provinces and abolishing the district level, the workload will be huge, affecting many areas and possibly causing certain disruptions. Therefore, this should not be done hastily, but needs to have a suitable roadmap to ensure stability and efficiency," Mr. Son stated his opinion.
National Assembly Delegate Bui Hoai Son (Photo: Pham Thang).
In the immediate future, according to the National Assembly delegate, we can focus on studying and assessing the impact of abolishing the district level in practice. This includes considering the management model, operating mechanism, coordination between government levels, impact on people and businesses, as well as the issue of budget and resource allocation.
If the assessment results show that this is indeed feasible and brings greater benefits than the current model, then a roadmap for amending the Constitution can be set out in a careful and methodical manner.
In addition, Mr. Son commented that the study of merging provinces and abolishing the district level can be carried out in two separate but related phases.
"First, we can implement the provincial merger first, because this is within the current legal framework and can be done without amending the Constitution. At the same time, we can summarize, evaluate and prepare necessary plans for the abolition of the district level. When there is a sufficient practical basis and high consensus, then we can raise the issue of amending the Constitution and implementing the next step. The important thing is to have careful preparation, a clear roadmap and not to rush, especially when it comes to the Constitution and the government's organizational structure," Mr. Son analyzed.
Sharing the same view, Dr. Nguyen Tien Dinh, former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, commented that eliminating the district level is also in line with the trend of developed countries in the world when the national government applies a three-level model: Central government; provincial government (state, region) and local government (grassroots level).
However, according to Mr. Dinh, eliminating the district level will significantly increase the workload for provincial authorities and require commune authorities to have the capacity to take on more tasks.
Therefore, Mr. Dinh said that it is necessary to carefully prepare a number of conditions from funding, apparatus to capacity and qualifications of commune-level officials and civil servants when implementing that policy.
Urge 51 localities to rearrange district-level administrative units
This year, the Ministry of Home Affairs will guide and urge 51 localities to implement the arrangement of district and commune-level administrative units for the 2023-2025 period approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee.
At the same time, continue to review and propose plans to merge district and commune-level administrative units for administrative units that do not meet the criteria on area and population according to Resolution No. 35/2023 of the National Assembly Standing Committee to proactively plan arrangements in the period 2023-2030.
Dantri.com.vn
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