Decree 300/2025, issued on 17/11, outlines the number of vice chairpersons for People's Committees in provinces and cities formed after administrative unit rearrangements. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City, which will be formed by merging with Binh Duong province and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, will be allocated a maximum of 8 vice chairpersons, an increase of 3 compared to the regulation from 2016.

A city formed from three provincial-level administrative units will be allocated a maximum of 7 vice chairpersons, while a city formed from two units will have a maximum of 6 vice chairpersons. Two new centrally-governed cities formed from the merger of two units are Hai Phong (with Hai Duong) and Da Nang (with Quang Nam). Can Tho, formed from the merger of Hau Giang and Soc Trang, is the only case formed from three units.

For a province formed from two units, including one Type I province before merger, or a province formed from three units, the maximum number of vice chairpersons is 6. A province formed from two Type II or Type III provinces will be allocated a maximum of 5 vice chairpersons; this number represents an increase of one to two people compared to previous regulations.

Among the non-merged group, Ha Noi will be allocated a maximum of 5 vice chairpersons of the People's Committee, maintaining the previous regulation; Hue City will have a maximum of 4 vice chairpersons. According to earlier regulations, centrally-governed cities (excluding Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City) were only allowed a maximum of 4 vice chairpersons. Therefore, merged cities will see an increase of two to three vice chairpersons, while non-merged cities will retain their existing numbers.

Headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. Photo: Quynh Tran

Non-merged provinces will continue to apply the old framework: Type I provinces will have a maximum of 4 vice chairpersons of the People's Committee; Type II and III provinces will have a maximum of 3. After reclassification, if a Type II or III province is upgraded to a Type I province, it will be allocated a maximum of 4 vice chairpersons.

The government also stipulates that if there is a resolution from the National Assembly or a document from a competent authority that differs from this decree, the higher legal document will take precedence. In cases where the Politburo or the Secretariat assigns cadres to serve as provincial-level vice chairpersons of the People's Committee, these individuals will not be counted towards the number of vice chairpersons stipulated by the government.

If provinces and cities formed after rearrangements have a number of vice chairpersons exceeding the new framework at the end of the 2021-2026 term, they will be allowed to maintain that number until the end of the 2026-2031 term. However, they must adjust to the stipulated level before 7/2030.

Following the mergers, the entire country will reduce from 63 to 34 provinces and cities, including 6 centrally-governed cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Hue, Da Nang, and Can Tho.

Vu Tuan