By Mei Lin Zhao, South East Asia Correspondent
Vietnam’s Constitutional Overhaul Targets Leaner Governance by 2025
Hanoi, 8 May 2025 – Vietnam has embarked on a sweeping constitutional amendment to reshape its administrative framework, slashing the number of provinces from 63 to 34, abolishing district-level governments, and redefining the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), a pivotal political coalition. Set to take effect on 1 July, the reforms aim to streamline bureaucracy, reduce costs, and enhance economic efficiency for a nation of 100 million. Supporters view the changes as a modernizing leap, but critics warn of potential disruptions and local identity disputes. As public consultation progresses, the overhaul underscores Vietnam’s drive to redefine governance under the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). 
The National Assembly (NA) launched the process on 5 May, targeting eight of the 2013 Constitution’s 120 articles. Spearheaded by NA Vice Chairman Nguyễn Khắc Định, the reforms address a “cumbersome” three-tier system of provinces, districts, and communes that officials say hinders digital progress. “The model generates excessive procedures and fails to leverage technology for public services,” Định said. By merging provinces and eliminating districts, Vietnam seeks a two-tier structure, with provinces directly managing communes. The VFF, a constitutional body uniting social groups, will see its role clarified to strengthen grassroots engagement, amid concerns it overlaps with member organizations.
Sweeping Administrative Reforms
The provincial mergers, reducing units to 34, aim to consolidate resources and eliminate duplicated functions. Larger provinces could attract investment and streamline infrastructure, officials argue, citing the planned Greater Ho Chi Minh City, merging HCMC, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau into a port hub with 99 seaports. Coastal provinces will rise to 62% of the total, enhancing logistics competitiveness. Guided by Resolution No.60-NQ/TW, this process requires NA resolutions by August 2025 but no constitutional change, as Article 110 does not specify province numbers.
Abolishing districts, however, conflicts with Article 110, which lists districts as official units, necessitating amendments. By 1 July, provinces will directly oversee communes, cutting 37 districts and 60-70% of over 10,000 communes. “This two-tier system will enhance efficiency and local autonomy,” said NA Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn, leading the 15-member Constitutional Drafting Committee (Vietnam News, 6 May 2025). Communes will gain authority to issue local policies under provincial oversight, aligning with Vietnam’s digital transformation goals. If successful, the reform may reduce administrative costs, though savings estimates remain unconfirmed.
The VFF’s restructuring, revising Articles 9 and 84, addresses its “overlapping” functions with groups like the Trade Union. “In some areas, the Front struggles to reflect grassroots sentiment,” Định noted. Proposals may limit member organizations’ rights to propose legislation, centralizing this in the VFF’s Central Committee to streamline policy feedback. The VFF, representing workers, farmers, and youth, remains a constitutional “base of people’s power,” but its redefined role aims to enhance supervision and unity under CPV leadership.
Why Now?
The reforms echo Vietnam’s 1986 Đổi Mới shift to a market economy, driven by economic pressures and global integration. With 19,000 legal documents, including the Law on Local Governments, needing revision, the government seeks efficiency to sustain 6.5% GDP growth in 2024. The timing, under General Secretary Tô Lâm, capitalizes on political momentum before the 2026 Party Congress. If executed effectively, the changes could solidify Lâm’s legacy, though resistance from local elites or public unease over province names—like Nghe An versus Ha Tinh—may complicate mergers.
Public consultation, running 6 May to 5 June, invites input from citizens and experts. The NA requires a two-thirds majority to pass amendments by 30 June, with no referendum planned. Past constitutions (1946, 1992, 2013) drove major shifts, and this overhaul, impacting 100,000 public employees, is equally ambitious. A VND 17,000 billion support package offers up to VND 2.7 billion per displaced worker, easing transition concerns.
Opportunities and Challenges
The reforms promise economic benefits. Larger provinces may attract foreign investment, with FDI surging 34.7% in Q1 2025 (VnExpress, 12 Apr 2025). Streamlined governance could reduce red tape, a persistent investor grievance. In the Mekong Delta, Greater Can Tho’s coastal access may boost trade. Japan’s 1999-2006 mergers, halving municipalities, improved efficiency and serve as a model. If reforms curb corruption, as pledged by the Central Committee, public trust could strengthen.
Challenges persist, however. Selecting provincial capitals risks political friction, as cities compete for economic advantages. Renaming provinces—Nghe An, tied to Ho Chi Minh, versus Ha Tinh—stirs local pride. Businesses face short-term licensing delays, with 52,800 firms suspending operations in January 2025. “If mergers lack strategy, they risk superficiality,” warned a Ministry of Home Affairs official. Public support exists—X posts praise efficiency—but concerns linger, like retiree Nguyen Van Hung’s worry about accessing distant offices.
Regional and Political Context
Vietnam’s reforms align with ASEAN’s 2025 efficiency goals, led by Malaysia, but contrast with regional trends. Thailand’s border security measures and Cambodia’s China-funded Ream Naval Base modernization highlight external priorities, unlike Vietnam’s internal focus. Within Vietnam, the CPV’s “build while running” approach, reducing the Central Committee to 148 members, ensures party control amid streamlining.
If successful, Vietnam could set a governance model for ASEAN. Failure risks eroding trust, particularly if job losses mount or services falter. The VFF’s role, balancing CPV oversight with public feedback, will be pivotal. “Unity is our strength,” said Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, urging public support. As global attention focuses on Vietnam’s rise, the amendments test its ability to modernize while maintaining stability.
