Vietnam Provincial Merger in 2025: What Every Traveler Should Know

Vietnam’s map changed overnight. On July 1, 2025, the Vietnam provincial merger officially took effect: collapsing 63 provinces and cities into 34, eliminating the entire district level of government, and consolidating nearly 10,000 communes and wards into just over 3,000. It is the country’s most comprehensive administrative reform since reunification.

For travelers, this raises two practical questions: which province is your destination now, and if you’re heading to one of the major cities, what happened to the district you used to navigate by? Let’s find out with us clearly!

Why Vietnam Merged Its Provinces

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The reform wasn’t sudden. Vietnam’s efforts to merge certain provinces aimed to reduce overlapping administrative structures, cut unnecessary costs, simplify decision-making, and ease long-term financial pressures.

The financial logic was hard to argue with. Removing district-level administrations is expected to save an estimated $7.3 billion by 2030, streamlining bureaucracy and improving service delivery. The reform is expected to reduce around 250,000 personnel, saving over VND 190,000 billion from 2026 to 2030.

>>> Refer to the Vietnam’s leading reputable newspaper vietnamnet.

Beyond cost-cutting, there was a strategic infrastructure angle. Post-merger, Vietnam has 21 coastal provinces, all equipped with seaports, increasing the proportion of coastal provinces from 44% to 62%. That matters for trade, logistics, and the long-term development of coastal tourism corridors.

The reform also shifts Vietnam’s anti-corruption strategy from reliance on high-profile crackdowns to a proactive, preventative approach, eliminating bureaucratic layers and simplifying administrative procedures to reduce opportunities for corruption.

The New Structure: Two Tiers, No Districts

Understanding the structure helps make sense of the changes you’ll encounter on the ground.

Before July 2025, Vietnam had three tiers: province → district → commune/ward. From July 1, 2025, the operation of district-level administrative units ended. What replaced it is simpler: province at the top, communes and wards at the bottom. Nothing in between, the district has been eliminated.

The commune level comprises communes, wards (in mainland areas), and special zones on islands. This level gained increased autonomy to issue local legal documents and address community-specific issues under oversight of the province.

As a result, 9,907 units: 7,570 communes, 1,720 wards, and 617 towns were consolidated into 3,193, effectively reducing two-thirds of Vietnam’s commune-level units.

Which Province Is Your Destination Now?

The new structure consists of 28 provinces and 6 centrally-run cities, with only 11 of the current 63 provinces and cities remaining unchanged.

Provinces that stayed the same

The 11 localities preserved without changes are Hanoi, Hue, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh. If your itinerary focuses on any of these and many popular itineraries do nothing has changed administratively.

The complete merger map

Map of provinces and cities in Vietnam after merger

Below is a practical reference for travelers. For each new province or city, you can see exactly which former units were merged into it:

Northern Vietnam

Central Vietnam

Southern Vietnam

A few of the travel-relevant mergers are worth calling out specifically. Da Nang and Hoi An have long been treated as a natural travel pair, the 2025 provincial merger in Vietnam simply formalizes what every itinerary already knew. Phu Quoc Island, formerly in Kien Giang, now falls under An Giang Province. The island itself is unchanged; only the administrative address has shifted. And the new Lam Dong Province, combining Da Lat, Mui Ne, and the Dak Nong highlands, is now the largest single province in Vietnam, spanning over 24,000 km².

Districts Are Gone: Finding Your Way Around the Major Cities

This is the change that catches travelers most off guard. In Vietnam’s six centrally governed cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, and Hue, the familiar district system no longer officially exists. Districts have been dissolved and reorganized into wards (phuong) and communes (xa).

Hotels, restaurants, and tour guides may still refer to old district names. Apps and maps are gradually updating. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know for each city.

1. Hanoi

Hanoi’s 30 former districts now give way to 126 wards and communes. Before the restructure, Hanoi’s 30 districts contained 526 smaller administrative communes, wards, and townships. Following the elimination of the district system, there are now only 126 administrative units across Hanoi, comprising 51 new wards and 75 communes.

Map of Hanoi

The core tourist areas map across as follows:

• Hoan Kiem District → Hoan Kiem Ward (Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoa Lo Prison) plus parts merged into Cua Nam Ward and Ba Dinh Ward.
• Ba Dinh District (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature area) → split across Ba Dinh Ward, Ngoc Ha Ward, Giang Vo Ward, and Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam Ward.
• Tay Ho District (West Lake) → Tay Ho Ward, formed from the lake-facing wards including Yen Phu, Quang An, and Tu Lien.
• Dong Da District → divided across Dong Da Ward, Kim Lien Ward, and others.

For international tourists, these changes may cause some confusion at first. Hotel and restaurant addresses might still reference old district names, and digital tools like Grab or Google Maps may display a mix of old and new names. The practical advice: search by landmark or street name rather than district name when navigating.

>>> Check it out! Our best Hanoi city tours which are very popular with foreigner travelers.

2. Ho Chi Minh City

The changes here are the most dramatic of any city. After the implementation of Resolution No. 60, Ho Chi Minh City geographically tripled in size to include both Vung Tau-Ba Ria and Binh Duong Provinces, bringing the city’s population from 9.9 million to more than 14 million.

After merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City now has 168 commune-level administrative units. All new wards and communes in Ho Chi Minh City are named with words instead of numbers.

Key changes travelers will notice in the former inner-city districts:

• District 1 (Ben Thanh Market, the city center) → now divided into Sai Gon Ward, Ben Thanh Ward, Tan Dinh Ward, and Cau Ong Lanh Ward.
• District 3 (War Remnants Museum area) → split into Ban Co Ward, Xuan Hoa Ward, and Nhieu Loc Ward.
• District 2 / Thu Duc (Thao Dien, Thu Thiem) → now An Khanh Ward and surrounding units.
• District 4 (seafood and street food district) → divided into Vinh Hoi, Khanh Hoi, and Xom Chieu Wards.

When booking accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City, you will likely still see properties listed under old district names, especially on international booking platforms. This is normal during the transition period. The physical addresses and GPS locations are unchanged.

>>> See our Ho Chi Minh City tours here.

3. Hai Phong City

The new Hai Phong, which now includes former Hai Duong Province, reorganized 374 units into 114 new ones, comprising 67 communes, 45 wards, and 2 special zones. For most visitors coming to Hai Phong as a gateway to Ha Long Bay or Cat Ba Island, the practical impact is minimal.

4. Da Nang City

The new Da Nang, now incorporating Quang Nam Province, reorganized 278 units into 92 new ones: 23 wards, 68 communes, and 1 special zone. This means Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary, and Quang Nam’s beach towns are now officially part of the expanded Da Nang administrative area. For travelers, this integration makes planning Central Vietnam tours even more intuitive: Da Nang airport, Da Nang city, and Hoi An Ancient Town all sit within a single provincial structure now.

>>> We also have the best of Da Nang & Hoi An tours for daily trip if you’re interested in this beautiful city.

5. Hue City

Hue reorganized 132 units into 39 new ones: 19 communes and 20 wards. Hue was one of the 11 units that did not merge with another province at the provincial level, so the city’s identity and administrative boundaries at the top level are unchanged. The internal restructuring from districts to wards follows the same national pattern.

6. Can Tho City

The new Can Tho, now including Soc Trang and Hau Giang, reorganized 374 units into 114 new ones. Can Tho remains the main urban hub for Mekong Delta exploration, and the merger brings a larger stretch of the delta under one administration. If you’re planning a river journey through the region, Vietnam discovery tours with local guides remain the most practical way to navigate the delta’s waterways and rural roads.

What This Means for Vietnam Travel

For the vast majority of travelers, the Vietnam provincial merger 2025 changes very little on the ground. The destinations are the same. The roads, airports, and river routes are the same. Ha Long Bay is still Ha Long Bay. Sapa is still Sapa. The Cu Chi Tunnels are still in the place where people call Ho Chi Minh City. The main adjustment is navigational, learning which ward replaces the district you used to search by, and checking that your maps and booking apps reflect updated boundaries.

Over 3,300 communes and wards are now fully digital, handling all local services. For travelers, this actually simplifies certain interactions with local government, administrative procedures that once required a district office visit can now be handled at a single commune-level service center.

The merger also creates larger, better-resourced provinces that should, over time, accelerate infrastructure investment. Enhanced highways and transport links facilitate travel within Vietnam and to neighboring countries like Laos and Cambodia, which is particularly relevant for travelers doing multi-country Indochina itineraries.

Tips for Navigating the New Administrative Map in Vietnam

Vietnam offers endless things to see and do for every traveler.

Before you book

Double-check that hotel listings are referencing locations accurately, not just using old district names as shorthand. Landmark-based searches (near Ben Thanh Market, near Hoan Kiem Lake) are more reliable than district-based ones right now.

If you’re booking domestic flights, airport codes and routes haven’t changed. Da Nang Airport (DAD), Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Noi Bai (HAN) all the same.

On the ground

Locals and older signage will still use district names for some time. This is completely normal and won’t cause practical problems, just know that “District 1” means what is now Sai Gon Ward and Ben Thanh Ward when a local gives you directions.

GPS apps are a mixed picture. Google Maps has largely updated, but some ride-hailing apps may still show old administrative boundaries. Searching by street name or landmark is safer than searching by ward name. Some attractions have had their official addresses changed.

For example:

• The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, previously in Ba Dinh District, is now located in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam Ward.
• Hoa Lo Prison, formerly in Tran Hung Dao Ward, now belongs to Cua Nam Ward.

For major attractions, these address changes don’t affect how you get there but be aware if you’re checking addresses against official documents.

For documents and paperwork

• Visa and entry requirements are entirely unchanged by the merger.
• If you need to register at a local government office for any reason (long-stay visitors, business travelers), use the new ward or commune name rather than the old district. Staff will recognize both, but official forms now require the new designations.
• Business travelers and investors working across provinces should note that the single-window administrative center is now at the provincial level, not the district level.

Plan Your Vietnam Trip with the New Map in Mind

Whether you’re doing a quick city break or a full north-to-south journey, the best Vietnam tours are built around how the country actually flows, not administrative lines. That’s been true before the merger, and it remains true now.

If you’re drawn to the central coast, the expanded Da Nang Province gives you Hoi An, My Son, and the Da Nang beaches under one regional umbrella. For the south, the new Lam Dong Province (Da Lat, Mui Ne, and the highlands) makes a highland-to-coast loop more coherent than ever. And for travelers considering the Mekong Delta, the enlarged Can Tho covers a wider stretch of delta territory, making it an even better base.

For travelers who want a fully planned, expertly guided experience across the new map, Vietnam luxury tours take care of all logistics, including any adjustments needed for updated provincial routes and administrative changes. If you still have some question about Vietnam provincial merger in 2025, don’t hesitate to contact us! We wouldn’t hesitate to help you to have a great journey in this beautiful country.

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