Vietnam's National Assembly has given the green light to plans to merge provinces and cities, resulting in the reduction of nearly 80,000 state jobs. This move is part of significant reforms aimed at restructuring the administrative system of the communist country.

The decision to cut down the number of provincial and city administrations from 63 to 34 is a strategic step by the government to minimize state expenditure. Earlier in February, the government had already reduced the number of ministries and agencies from 30 to 22, leading to 23,000 job losses.

This bold restructuring initiative, approved by a vast majority of 461 votes to one with three abstentions, reflects the country's commitment to achieving rapid, stable, and sustainable development, as emphasized by Vietnam's top leader To Lam.

Interior Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra described the move as the "biggest ever revolution since the country was founded" in 1945, highlighting that 79,339 officials will be affected by the streamlining process, either resigning or opting for early retirement following the merger.

While some individuals expressed shock and sadness over losing their long-held positions, others like Nguyen Thang Loi from Thai Binh province, which is one of the provinces being merged, see the reform as a positive change despite the sentimental loss of their native province's name.

All cities and provinces are expected to announce their new leadership by the end of June and commence full operations at the start of July. Additionally, the National Assembly will soon vote on an amended national constitution that will restructure the administrative levels from three to two, eliminating the middle district level and expanding the commune level.

As Vietnam aims for "middle-income country" status by 2030, these reforms are crucial for sustaining its economic growth, which reached 7.1 per cent in 2024. However, challenges such as export dependency and external threats like Trump's proposed tariffs on Vietnamese goods have prompted the government to push for structural changes and negotiations.

Furthermore, the government's efforts to combat corruption through high-profile campaigns have led to the overhaul of the administrative system, signaling a new era of governance under the leadership of Communist Party general secretary To Lam.