23 new provincial party secretaries appointed after administrative mergers

On 30/6, the politburo and secretariat announced the appointment of 23 new provincial party secretaries for the 2020-2025 term, following the merger of several administrative units.

Nguyen Van Nen, the current party secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, has been reappointed to the same position for the new, expanded Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Nen, 68, is from Tay Ninh province and holds a law degree. He is a member of the 13th politburo and previously served as a member of the secretariat of the 12th central committee. He has also been a member of the central committee for the 11th, 12th, and 13th terms.

His career includes roles as chairman of the People's Committee and party secretary of Tay Ninh province. In July 2011, he was assigned as deputy head of the steering committee for the Central Highlands, later becoming deputy head of the central propaganda department. In November 2013, the National Assembly confirmed him as minister and head of the government office. In January 2016, he was elected to the 12th central committee and subsequently to the secretariat, serving as head of the party's central office. He has been the party secretary of Ho Chi Minh City since October 2020.

The new Ho Chi Minh City encompasses the former Ho Chi Minh City along with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, covering 6,777 km2 with a population of 14 million.

Nguyen Van Nen, Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quynh Tran

Nguyen Van Nen, Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quynh Tran

Nguyen Van Quang, the current party secretary of Da Nang, will continue in this role for the newly expanded city.

Mr. Quang, 56, is from Hai Phong and holds a doctorate in law. A member of the 13th central committee, he has held key positions in the procuracy, including director of the People's Procuracy of Hai Phong City, director of the procuracy's appellate division, director of the High-Level People's Procuracy in Ho Chi Minh City, deputy director of the Supreme People's Procuracy, and party secretary of the Supreme People's Procuracy (2015-2020). He has been the party secretary of Da Nang since October 2020.

The new Da Nang city, directly under the central government, includes the former Da Nang city and Quang Nam province, covering 11,859 km2 with a population of over 3 million.

Nguyen Van Quang. Photo: Giang Huy

Nguyen Van Quang. Photo: Giang Huy

Do Thanh Binh has been appointed as the party secretary of the newly expanded Can Tho city.

Mr. Binh, 58, from Ca Mau province, holds a master's degree in economics and is a member of the 13th central committee. He has held various positions in Kien Giang province, including party secretary of Vinh Thuan district, head of the provincial party committee's organization department, vice chairman, and chairman of the provincial People's Committee. He was elected party secretary of Kien Giang province in October 2020. In January 2025, he was appointed party secretary of Can Tho city.

The new Can Tho city, under the central government, comprises the former Can Tho city, Soc Trang province, and Hau Giang province. It covers 6,360 km2 with a population of 4.2 million.

Do Thanh Binh. Photo: Can Tho City Portal

Do Thanh Binh. Photo: Can Tho City Portal

Vu Hong Van has been appointed as the party secretary for the expanded Dong Nai province.

Mr. Van, 49, from Hung Yen province, has held several positions: deputy political commissar and deputy commander of the Mobile Police Command, director of Dak Lak Provincial Police, director of Dong Nai Provincial Police, and director of the Department of Internal Political Security. He became deputy chairman of the Central Inspection Committee in August 2024 and party secretary of Dong Nai province in January 2025.

The new Dong Nai province combines the former Dong Nai province and Binh Phuoc province, spanning 12,737 km2 with a population of 4.5 million.

Vu Hong Van. Photo: Dong Nai Newspaper

Vu Hong Van. Photo: Dong Nai Newspaper

Le Tien Chau will continue as party secretary for the expanded Hai Phong city.

Mr. Chau, 56, from Tay Ninh province, holds a doctorate in law and is a member of the 13th central committee. He has served as rector of Hanoi Law University, deputy minister of justice concurrently rector of Hanoi Law University, deputy secretary and chairman of the People's Committee, and then party secretary of Hau Giang province. He also served as vice president and general secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front's Central Committee. He has been the party secretary of Hai Phong city since January 2023.

The centrally administered Hai Phong city now incorporates the former Hai Phong city and Hai Duong province.

Le Tien Chau. Photo: Vietnam Fatherland Front

Le Tien Chau. Photo: Vietnam Fatherland Front

Truong Quoc Huy, former party secretary of Ha Nam province, has been appointed party secretary of the new Ninh Binh province.

Mr. Huy, 55, from Nam Dinh province, holds a bachelor's degree in labor economics and a master's degree in economic management. He has served as general director of Vicem Hoang Mai Cement Company, general director of Vicem But Son Cement Joint Stock Company, vice chairman of Ha Nam province, and party secretary of Duy Tien district. He became chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Nam province in September 2020 and party secretary in March 2025.

The new Ninh Binh province merges the former Ninh Binh province with Ha Nam and Nam Dinh provinces, covering 3,942 km2 with a population of 4.4 million.

Truong Quoc Huy. Photo: Ha Nam Portal

Truong Quoc Huy. Photo: Ha Nam Portal

Nguyen Huu Nghia has been reappointed as party secretary of the newly expanded Hung Yen province.

Mr. Nghia, 53, holds a master's degree in economics and is from Van Ha commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi. He is a member of the 13th central committee.

He has held various positions at the State Bank of Vietnam, including deputy head of the International Debt Payment Division, head of the Banking Development Strategy Division, deputy chief inspector, director of the Monetary Forecasting and Statistics Department, and chief inspector. From May 2018, he served as director of the General Economic Department of the Central Economic Commission. In January 2019, he was appointed deputy head of the Central Economic Commission. He has been party secretary of Hung Yen province since July 2021.

The new Hung Yen province combines the former Hung Yen and Thai Binh provinces, spanning 2,514 km2 with a population of 3.56 million.

Nguyen Huu Nghia. Photo: Hung Yen Newspaper

Nguyen Huu Nghia. Photo: Hung Yen Newspaper

Hau A Lenh, party secretary of Ha Giang province, has been appointed party secretary of the new Tuyen Quang province.

Mr. Lenh, 52, of Hmong ethnicity, is from Ta Van commune, Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province. He is a member of the 12th and 13th central committees and was an alternate member for the 10th and 11th terms. He has worked for General Department 2 (Ministry of Defense), served as secretary of the Sa Pa district youth union, vice secretary and chairman of the Sa Pa district People's Committee, secretary of the Sa Pa district party committee, deputy secretary of the Lao Cai provincial party committee, and deputy head of the Northwest Steering Committee.

In 2018, he became vice president and general secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front's Central Committee. He served as minister and chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities from April 2021 and became party secretary of Ha Giang province in January 2025.

The new Tuyen Quang province merges the former Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang provinces, covering 13,800 km2 with a population of 1.86 million.

Hau A Lenh. Photo: Giang Huy

Hau A Lenh. Photo: Giang Huy

Trinh Viet Hung has been reappointed as the party secretary of the newly expanded Thai Nguyen province.

Mr. Hung, 48, from Hai Duong province, is an alternate member of the 13th central committee. He has spent many years working in Thai Nguyen, holding positions such as head of the provincial People's Committee office, secretary of Dong Hy district party committee, and standing vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee. He became chairman of the provincial People's Committee in December 2020 and party secretary in July 2024.

The new Thai Nguyen province merges the former Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces, spanning 8,375 km2 with a population of 1.8 million.

Trinh Viet Hung. Photo: Thai Nguyen Department of Foreign Affairs

Trinh Viet Hung. Photo: Thai Nguyen Department of Foreign Affairs

Trinh Xuan Truong has been reappointed as the party secretary of the expanded Lao Cai province.

Mr. Truong, 48, from Nam Dinh province, holds a bachelor's degree in civil and industrial construction and a master's degree in urban management and construction. He has held various positions in Lao Cai, including deputy director and then director of the Center for Architectural Planning and Construction Inspection, deputy director of the Department of Construction, vice chairman and then chairman of Sa Pa district People's Committee, director of the Department of Transport and Construction, and vice chairman of the Lao Cai provincial People's Committee. He became chairman of the provincial People's Committee in November 2020 and party secretary in February 2025.

The new Lao Cai province, formed by merging the former Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces, covers 13,256 km2 with a population of approximately 1.78 million.

Trinh Xuan Truong. Photo: Lao Cai Portal

Trinh Xuan Truong. Photo: Lao Cai Portal

Dang Xuan Phong, former party secretary of Lao Cai and Vinh Phuc provinces, has been appointed party secretary of the new Phu Tho province.

Mr. Phong, 53, from Lap Thach district, Vinh Phuc province, holds a doctorate in economics and is a member of the 13th central committee. Starting his career at the Lao Cai Department of Planning and Investment in 1994, he held several positions there, including deputy director and director of the department, vice chairman of the city People's Committee, party secretary of Bac Ha district, vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee, and deputy secretary and chairman of the provincial People's Committee. He served as party secretary of Lao Cai from October 2020 and party secretary of Vinh Phuc from January 2025.

The new Phu Tho province comprises the former Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, and Vinh Phuc provinces, spanning 9,361 km2 with a population of 4.02 million.

Dang Xuan Phong. Photo: Lao Cai Television

Dang Xuan Phong. Photo: Lao Cai Television

Nguyen Van Gau, party secretary of Bac Giang province, has been appointed party secretary of the new Bac Ninh province.

Lieutenant General Gau, 58, from Ba Tri district, Ben Tre province, is a member of the 13th central committee. Prior to 2019, he served as deputy political commissar and political commissar of the 8th Infantry Division, chief of political affairs and political commissar of Military Region 9. In January 2022, he became deputy director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army. A year later, he was promoted to lieutenant general. He became party secretary of Bac Giang province in June 2024.

The new Bac Ninh province combines the former Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces, covering 4,718 km2 with a population of 3.6 million.

Le Ngoc Quang, party secretary of Quang Binh province, has been appointed party secretary of the new Quang Tri province.

Mr. Quang, 51, from Thanh Hoa province, holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and is a member of the 13th central committee. He held positions at Vietnam Television (VTV), including deputy head and head of current affairs and deputy general director. In March 2021, he was appointed general director of VTV. He became party secretary of Quang Binh province in October 2024.

The new Quang Tri province merges the former Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces, spanning 12,700 km2 with a population of 1.86 million.

Le Ngoc Quang. Photo: Nguyen Chien

Le Ngoc Quang. Photo: Nguyen Chien

Bui Thi Quynh Van has been reappointed as party secretary of the expanded Quang Ngai province.

Ms. Van, 51, from Quang Ngai province, holds a bachelor's degree in literature, a master's degree in literary theory, and a high-level degree in political theory. She is a member of the 13th central committee and was an alternate member for the 12th term. She has held positions as secretary of the Quang Ngai provincial youth union, party secretary of Tu Nghia district, head of the provincial party committee's mass mobilization department, party secretary of Ly Son district, chairwoman of the provincial People's Council, and standing deputy secretary of the provincial party committee. She became party secretary of Quang Ngai province in August 2020.

The new Quang Ngai province merges the former Quang Ngai and Kon Tum provinces, covering 14,832 km2 with a population of 2.1 million.

Bui Thi Quynh Van. Photo: Ngoc Duc

Bui Thi Quynh Van. Photo: Ngoc Duc

Ho Quoc Dung, party secretary of Binh Dinh province, has been appointed party secretary of the new Gia Lai province.

Mr. Dung, 59, is from Cat Tai commune, Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh province. He holds a master's degree in law and is a member of the 13th central committee. He has served as deputy head of the provincial People's Committee office, vice chairman of Phu Cat district, deputy head and head of the provincial party committee office, deputy to the National Assembly from Binh Dinh province, vice chairman and standing vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee. He became deputy secretary and chairman of the Binh Dinh provincial People's Committee in November 2014 and party secretary in October 2020.

The new Gia Lai province merges the former Binh Dinh and Gia Lai provinces, covering 21,576 km2 with a population of 3.58 million.

Ho Quoc Dung. Photo: Nguyen Dung

Ho Quoc Dung. Photo: Nguyen Dung

Nghiem Xuan Thanh has been reappointed as party secretary of the expanded Khanh Hoa province.

Mr. Thanh, 56, from Vinh Phuc province, holds a doctorate in economics and is a member of the 13th central committee. He has served as head of the State Bank of Vietnam's office, general director and chairman of the board of directors of Vietcombank, and member of the standing board of the Party Committee of Central Enterprises. In June 2021, he became party secretary of Hau Giang province and then party secretary of Khanh Hoa province in November 2024.

The new Khanh Hoa province merges the former Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces, covering 8,555 km2 with a population of 2.2 million.

Nghiem Xuan Thanh. Photo: Bui Toan

Nghiem Xuan Thanh. Photo: Bui Toan

Y Thanh Ha Nie K'dam has been appointed as party secretary of the newly expanded Lam Dong province.

Mr. K'dam, 52, from Dak Lak province, holds a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in foreign economic relations. He is a member of the 13th central committee and was an alternate member for the 12th term. He began his career in the customs sector before moving to the Dak Lak provincial party committee's organization department. He has held positions as party secretary of Cu M'gar district, party secretary of Buon Ma Thuot city, and party secretary of the Central Enterprises Bloc. In July 2021, he was elected chairman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council. He became party secretary of Lam Dong province in April 2025.

The new Lam Dong province combines the former Lam Dong, Dak Nong, and Binh Thuan provinces, with its administrative center in Da Lat city. It is now the largest province in the country, covering over 24,233 km2 with a diverse population of over 3.8 million.

Y Thanh Ha Nie K'dam. Photo: VGP

Y Thanh Ha Nie K'dam. Photo: VGP

Nguyen Dinh Trung has been appointed party secretary of the expanded Dak Lak province.

Mr. Trung, 52, from Nghe An province, holds a bachelor's degree in law and a master's degree in public administration. He is a member of the 13th central committee. He worked for many years at the Dak Nong Department of Justice and held positions such as standing deputy secretary of the Krong No district party committee, head of the Dak Nong provincial People's Committee office, chairman of the Dak Nong provincial party committee's inspection commission, head of the legal affairs committee of the Dak Nong provincial People's Council, and deputy secretary and chairman of the inspection commission of the Dak Nong provincial party committee. He was elected chairman of the Dak Nong provincial People's Committee in November 2020 and became party secretary of Dak Lak province in May 2021.

The new Dak Lak province, formed by merging the former Dak Lak and Phu Yen provinces, covers 18,096 km2 with a population of 3.34 million.

Nguyen Dinh Trung. Photo: Ngoc Oanh

Nguyen Dinh Trung. Photo: Ngoc Oanh

Nguyen Van Quyet, party secretary of Long An province, has been appointed party secretary of the new Tay Ninh province.

Mr. Quyet, 53, from Ninh Binh province, holds a bachelor's degree in law and a master's degree in party building and state administration. He has worked at the Ninh Binh People's Court, Department of Justice, Notary Public Office, and Inspection Committee of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee. In September 2007, he joined the Central Inspection Committee, serving as director of Area 5 Department. At the third plenum of the Central Committee in July 2021, he was elected as a member of the Central Inspection Committee and subsequently became deputy chairman. He has been party secretary of Long An province since February 2025.

The new Tay Ninh province combines the former Long An and Tay Ninh provinces, covering 8,536 km2 with a population of 3.25 million.

Nguyen Van Quyet. Photo: Long An Newspaper

Nguyen Van Quyet. Photo: Long An Newspaper

Ngo Chi Cuong, party secretary of Tra Vinh province, has been appointed party secretary of the new Vinh Long province.

Mr. Cuong, 58, from Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh province, holds degrees in political economics and public administration, and has completed high-level political training. He has held key positions such as head of the provincial party committee's organization department and party secretary of Tra Vinh city.

The new Vinh Long province merges the former Vinh Long, Ben Tre, and Tra Vinh provinces, covering 6,296 km2 with a population of 4.26 million.

Le Quoc Phong has been reappointed as party secretary of the expanded Dong Thap province.

Mr. Phong, 47, from Hanoi, holds a master's degree in biology. He is a member of the 13th central committee and was an alternate member for the 12th term. He rose through the ranks of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, becoming secretary of the 10th Central Committee of the Youth Union and president of the 9th Vietnam Student Association in December 2013.

In April 2016, he was elected first secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union, and re-elected in late 2017. He has been party secretary of Dong Thap province since October 2020.

The new Dong Thap province combines the former Dong Thap and Tien Giang provinces, spanning 5,938 km2 with a population of 4.37 million.

Le Quoc Phong. Photo: Hong Ngu

Le Quoc Phong. Photo: Hong Ngu

Nguyen Tien Hai, party secretary of Kien Giang province, has been appointed party secretary of the new An Giang province.

Mr. Hai, 60, from Ca Mau province, is a member of the 13th central committee. He has held various positions in Ca Mau, including deputy secretary of the provincial youth union, head of the provincial party committee office, party secretary of Cai Nuoc district, director of the Department of Justice, vice chairman and chairman of the provincial People's Committee, and party secretary. He has been party secretary of Kien Giang province since January 2025.

The new An Giang province merges the former An Giang and Kien Giang provinces, covering 9,888 km2 with a population of 4.95 million.

Nguyen Ho Hai, party secretary of Ca Mau province has been appointed party secretary of the expanded Ca Mau province.

Mr. Hai, 48, from Phuoc Vinh An commune, Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City, holds a master’s degree in urban management, and is a construction engineer and economist. He has held positions such as vice chairman of District 8 People’s Committee, deputy secretary and secretary of District 8 Party Committee, and secretary of District 3 Party Committee. In April 2019, he was appointed head of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee’s Organization Department. In October 2020, he was elected deputy secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and head of the Organization Department. He became party secretary of Ca Mau province in January 2025.

The new Ca Mau province merges the former Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces, covering 7,942 km2 with a population of 2.6 million.