Although the merger of provinces and cities has been carefully researched and considered by competent authorities and agreed upon by the majority of the people, there are still concerns...
Merging provinces, abolishing district levels, and streamlining commune levels is a major policy that has attracted public attention. Looking back at history, from the Minh Mang era to the present, over the past two centuries, our country has gone through 10 times of province separation and merger. That shows that this is not a new thing but an objective law, always moving according to the development needs of each period.
Removing barriers to development
Vietnam currently has an area of 331,212 km2 , a population of over 100 million people, but maintains an administrative apparatus consisting of 63 provinces and cities; 705 districts; and 10,595 communes and wards. Compared to countries of similar size, this apparatus is too massive, consumes a large budget, limits resources for development and lacks cohesion, which is a major barrier to future breakthroughs.
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| In 2008, Hanoi expanded its boundaries and merged with Ha Tay, which helped the capital not only increase its population to 8 million people but also make a breakthrough in attracting investment and growth rate (Photo: Quang Dung) |
Without reform, Vietnam risks being stuck in the middle-income trap and falling behind in the globalization flow. Therefore, the Party and Government's policy of merging provinces and streamlining the administrative apparatus is considered an inevitable step, receiving the highest consensus from the people because of its great, long-term and promising benefits.
In addition to reducing budget costs and easing administrative burdens, provincial mergers also open up opportunities for regional economies to develop synchronously, avoiding overlapping planning. An opinion on social media hypothesized that if we were to merge several northeastern provinces, a northeastern economic "super province" could emerge, creating a strong driving force for seaports, tourism, and industry to develop in a linked direction, overcoming the situation where each locality plans differently and "does it their own way".
Lessons from the past show that this model is not unfamiliar and is very effective. For example, in 2008, Hanoi expanded its boundaries and merged with Ha Tay, thereby helping the capital not only increase its population to 8 million people but also make a breakthrough in attracting investment and growth rate. This is clear evidence that when administrative barriers are removed, resources will be allocated more reasonably, creating momentum for sustainable development.
On the other hand, it is to create more synchronization and tightness in planning and policy. Currently, many small provinces often have difficulty competing with large provinces, but there is a close economic connection between them. This leads to many shortcomings in development, especially in infrastructure.
Take the example of the highway story: one province has a budget to build a road, but the neighboring province does not have enough resources, causing traffic disruption, slowing down the development process. If these localities were merged, the planning would become more systematic and unified, making it easier for the central government to implement inter-regional projects, such as the North-South Expressway, without being hindered or interrupted by administrative boundaries.
Grow together!
Of course, merging provinces is not a simple matter but a big step that requires careful consideration. However, it must be emphasized that there is no more suitable time than now, when the country is converging all the conditions to carry out a radical reform, a complete and breakthrough administrative revolution. If we miss the opportunity, the future will certainly face more obstacles.
Previously, one of the major barriers to provincial mergers was regional prejudice and local mentality. However, times have changed, modern culture has shifted towards integration and openness. Instead of local thinking, people gradually accept unity in diversity, maintaining their own identity but not being closed. Provincial mergers thus both erase geographical boundaries, narrow the gap between localities, and strengthen solidarity and create a foundation for a more sustainable, common development future.
In addition, the competent authorities also do not ignore an important factor in criteria and standards when studying provincial mergers. That is the similarity in culture, society and regional connectivity. The six socio-economic regions of Vietnam have been clearly defined, so adjustments in the direction of merger to better suit reality are inevitable. This not only resolves people's concerns but also creates the highest consensus in society and the political apparatus.
Secondly, administrative and life disruptions are no longer a big concern when merging provinces. Previously, some opinions expressed concern that after the merger, people in remote areas would have to travel hundreds of kilometers to the new provincial center to complete procedures, which was especially difficult for people in mountainous areas with rugged terrain.
However, in the context of strong digital transformation, the Government is accelerating administrative reform towards online, minimizing people's travel needs. Therefore, the main challenge is not geographical distance, but popularizing knowledge and guiding people to access digital processes. However, with support from the grassroots level, people will gradually get used to the new method, making administrative procedures faster and more convenient.
In addition, the current time is considered a ripe opportunity, as the 14th Party Congress is approaching. Normally, after each Congress, the leadership apparatus will be consolidated. If we wait until later to reorganize, the apparatus will be unstable again, leading to personnel and staff issues that need to be further addressed. Therefore, the provincial merger being implemented before the Party Congress will help the process go smoothly, ensuring stability and achieving the highest efficiency.
However, in addition to the above advantages, there are still some issues that need to be carefully studied, such as the plan to name the new province after the merger or the choice of the administrative-political center to ensure both inheritance and suitability for the new development stage. In particular, historical, cultural, traditional factors... need to be carefully considered so that the final decision is not only reasonable in terms of administration but also receives consensus from the people.
However, no matter how it is implemented, it will be difficult to find a solution that pleases everyone, and people's psychology will certainly be affected to some extent. However, each of us needs to adapt, put the common interest above personal and temporary feelings. Let's look beyond the immediate changes to see the prospect of the country operating effectively, developing strongly and growing more and more sustainably.
Administrative reform has never been an easy path; only when the whole society is united can all difficulties and barriers be removed. For example, for the sake of the big picture, when two provinces merge, priority should be given to choosing an existing development center with modern infrastructure to serve as the "capital", instead of spreading resources on new construction, which is costly, wasteful and prolongs the transition period. The important thing is not the name or the location of the administrative center but the innovation of thinking, streamlining the apparatus and improving the efficiency of national governance. Merging provinces and cities does not mean losing but growing together! |
Source: https://congthuong.vn/sap-nhap-tinh-thanh-khong-mat-di-ma-cung-lon-manh-378331.html
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