Planned reorganization of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces: An inevitable requirement from development practice and the Party's major policies

Leaders of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces and delegates took souvenir photos at the Conference on work exchange between the Standing Committee of Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Committee and the Standing Committee of Bac Kan Provincial Party Committee held on the afternoon of March 27, 2025.

Streamlining the apparatus - The Party's major policy needs to be realized

Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, the 6th Central Conference of the 12th tenure clearly identified the requirement: “Continue to innovate and reorganize the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently”. In that spirit, merging administrative units is one of the important solutions to reduce intermediate levels, streamline staff, save administrative costs, and at the same time create favorable conditions for improving the quality of service to the people.

Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan are two provinces with close connections in terms of geography, culture, history and socio-economics. The study of the rearrangement of the two provinces is not only consistent with the general orientation, meeting the practical requirements of the current state management apparatus innovation, but also contributes to the formation of a more streamlined and effective government apparatus; reduces overlap in functions and tasks; limits duplication in state management; saves regular budget expenditures, thereby reinvesting in essential areas such as education, health, infrastructure and human development.

The Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and leaders of the Fatherland Front Committee of Thai Nguyen province presented a symbolic plaque supporting 3 billion VND for Bac Kan province to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses. This shows the affection and hope that the precious traditional relationship between the two provinces will become increasingly stronger, towards the common goal of improving the material and spiritual life of the people of the two localities.

Historical Bonds - The Foundation for Future Unity

It is no coincidence that Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces were chosen for reorganization. Going back in history, from 1965 to 1996, Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan were once a unified entity under the name of Bac Thai province. This is a clear demonstration of the historical connection between the two localities. The merger at that time was to serve the requirements of resistance and nation building, and the separation later was to suit the new development stage. Now, as the country enters a period of strong industrialization, modernization and digital transformation, the reorganization becomes necessary and reasonable.

Along with that, the adjacent geographical location, close natural conditions, similar culture and society, and intertwined economic and social relationships are favorable premises for arrangement, not causing great disruption to people's psychology, and at the same time, making it easy to organize, implement, and transfer the administrative apparatus.

With many potentials and advantages, Thai Nguyen has attracted many large corporations and enterprises to invest, including Samsung Group. (In the photo: Phone production at Samsung Thai Nguyen Factory - Yen Binh Industrial Park, Thai Nguyen)

Promoting complementary strengths - Driving force for regional development

Thai Nguyen is the industrial and educational center of the midland and mountainous region of the North, with clear strengths in processing industry, high-tech industry, training high-quality human resources, and a strongly developed urban and infrastructure system. Meanwhile, Bac Kan possesses many untapped potentials in terms of forest resources, minerals, hydropower, ecotourism, and culture. The combination of the two localities will create a unified, harmonious, and complementary development space in all fields.

New technology cast iron casting of the Iron Smelting Plant, Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Joint Stock Company. (Photo: Dong Dang)

Production activities at the Lead Smelting Factory of Asia - Europe Company Limited, Bac Kan Branch. (Photo: Quoc Khanh)

Industry - Minerals: Bac Kan has many mineral mines such as iron, lead, zinc, limestone... when combined with the developed metallurgical - mechanical industry of Thai Nguyen, it will form a continuous production chain, reduce transportation costs and increase resource value.

Con Minh Commune, Na Ri District, Bac Kan Province is one of the localities with the largest forest plantation area with over 300 hectares located in the buffer zone and core zone of the special-use forest. (Photo: Thu Trang)

Forestry - Processing: With the highest forest coverage rate in the country, Bac Kan can become an abundant raw material area for wood, medicinal and agricultural product processing factories in Thai Nguyen.

Famous tourist destination of Thai Nguyen - Nui Coc Lake tourist area

Ba Be Lake, Bac Kan province. (Photo: Quoc Khanh)

Tourism - Culture: Thai Nguyen has prominent destinations such as Nui Coc Lake, Tan Cuong Tea Cultural Space, Museum of Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures... Meanwhile, Bac Kan is famous for Ba Be Lake, Kim Hy Conservation Area, Nang Tien Cave... Connecting tourist destinations will create an attractive eco-historical tourism route, rich in traditional educational values ​​and cultural preservation.

With a modern, synchronous system of machinery and a team of experienced doctors and experts, it will be an opportunity for people to enjoy the highest technical services of modern medicine at Thai Nguyen Central Hospital.

Education - Health - Quality of life: Thai Nguyen University, Thai Nguyen Central Hospital and vocational training centers will be the "locomotives" leading to human resource development, helping Bac Kan people easily access higher quality services, shortening the development gap between lowland and highland areas.

The Ring Road V passing through Thai Nguyen province (section from Phu Binh district connecting to Bac Giang province) when completed and put into use will contribute to promoting the socio-economic development of Thai Nguyen province and neighboring provinces.

Infrastructure Support - Synchronized Connection

Thai Nguyen currently owns a fairly synchronous traffic infrastructure system, including: Hanoi - Thai Nguyen Expressway; Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi Expressway; National Highway 3; Ho Chi Minh Road; Ring Road V; regional connecting roads of Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc; Thai Nguyen - Lang Son Expressway... Meanwhile, traffic conditions in the mountainous province of Bac Kan still face many difficulties. Therefore, the merger will help expand regional infrastructure planning, increase inter-provincial connectivity, promote trade of goods, and attract investment.

Along with that, industrial development in Thai Nguyen can completely “pull” the labor force from Bac Kan, creating jobs and increasing income for people in mountainous areas; at the same time, industrial zones such as Yen Binh, Diem Thuy, Song Cong… will be supplemented with abundant human resources from neighboring areas.

Art program "Continuing peace stories" in the Military-Civilian Cultural Festival at ATK Dinh Hoa, Thai Nguyen

Strengthen national defense and security

In the context of complicated developments in the world and the region, the arrangement of the two provinces also has important significance in terms of national defense and security. Thai Nguyen is currently a major military center of the country, where the Military Region 1 Command is located; meanwhile, Bac Kan has a strategic location with dangerous terrain, being the Central Safe Zone during the resistance war.

The connection between the two localities will contribute to building a national defense posture and a unified people's security posture, creating a solid "shield" to protect the midland and mountainous regions of the North, while ensuring political security and social order and safety.

Thai Nguyen - Bac Kan, where nature blends with culture and people with strong identity. (Photo: Do ​​Tuan - Quoc Khanh)

Cultural Consensus - Power from the People

One of the important factors ensuring the success of administrative arrangements is consensus among the people. Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan have many similarities in ethnic culture. The Tay and Nung communities account for a large proportion, and together preserve traditional customs such as the Long Tong festival, Thanh Minh festival, Then singing... this creates a unified cultural foundation, easy to integrate and unite.

Both localities are revolutionary bases with many historical relics associated with the resistance movements against French colonialism and American imperialism. Connecting culture and history will contribute to educating patriotic traditions and strengthening national unity in the cause of national construction and defense.

Center of Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province

In line with modern management trends

In the era of digital transformation and strong administrative reform, streamlining administrative units will facilitate the implementation of digital government, digital administration, application of technology in state management, provision of online public services, and improvement of service efficiency for people and businesses. International experience and practices in Vietnam in recent years have shown the success and effectiveness of governance.

Center of Bac Kan City, Bac Kan Province. (Photo: Viet Bac)

The proposed merger of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces can be said to have fully converged historical, cultural, legal and practical foundations. The consensus will be the door to open a new horizon, a new space, a new future for the two localities to develop together and prosper under one common roof.

New Spring
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