General Secretary To Lam talks about the merger of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau

At the meeting with revolutionary veterans, meritorious people, and typical policy families in the South on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), on the morning of April 21, General Secretary To Lam took the time to share about the policy of arranging and reorganizing administrative units at all levels, while building a model of organizing local governments at two levels.

According to General Secretary To Lam, this is an orientation stemming from a strategic vision, with long-term significance for the country's development.

One of the key goals of this policy is to expand development space, creating new room for localities to make a breakthrough.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that this policy has received widespread consensus and support from the people of the whole country, and is considered a revolution.

After the reorganization and merger, the entire Southern region - from Binh Thuan onwards, including Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces - will be reduced from 22 provinces and cities to 9.

This restructuring is expected to create diverse development space, making the most of terrain factors such as seas, forests, mountains, and at the same time creating motivation for some provinces to rise to become centrally-run cities, forming large economic centers that can be on par with the world's leading developed cities.

A notable highlight in this strategic orientation is that Ho Chi Minh City will be merged with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces.

General Secretary To Lam shared imagistically: "Now, if you ask artificial intelligence (AI) about the economic scale of the new Ho Chi Minh City, you will receive the answer: like Shanghai in China. That requires great development efforts to realize that vision".

According to General Secretary To Lam, this merger is not simply a addition of area or population, but a combination to create a "new driving force, new potential, new development space". Not two plus two is equal to four, but two plus two must be greater than four - General Secretary To Lam emphasized.

Along with Ho Chi Minh City, many other localities in the region will also be reorganized. Provinces such as Can Tho, Hau Giang, Ben Tre, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long will form two new provinces according to the solid "three-legged neighborhood" model, capable of even and sustainable development.

In particular, landlocked provinces such as Binh Duong, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho will have more advantages by sea when merged. Plateau areas such as Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong or Dong Nai will also access the sea after the merger. All of these have been carefully calculated to optimize the inter-regional advantage.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that in the new development space, localities will strengthen connections and support each other.

Ho Chi Minh City will expand not only to be associated with Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, but will also closely link with Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, An Giang to redise the regional development strategy, maximize the unique advantages of each locality to create outstanding development.

The new Ho Chi Minh City will play a leading role, being a driving force for the strong development of the entire Southeast, Southwest, Central Highlands and South Central regions.

On the contrary, the addition of resources from localities - with strengths in land, labor, industry, agriculture, tourism and culture - will also increase the resilience and stature of the central urban area.

General Secretary To Lam emphasized that this is not just a development process but a process of "upgrading", creating a mutually complementary relationship, together aiming to form a new growth pole, with global competitiveness, sustainable development and preserving cultural identity.

The mission of the new Ho Chi Minh City is not only to become a leading super urban area but also a comprehensive development linkage center. The city will play a role as a strategic partner in cooperative relations with the southern provinces, not only accompanying but also proactively creating space for common development.

The new Ho Chi Minh City will be a center for finance, trade, logistics, high-tech industry and regional marine tourism.

At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City will become the core for innovation activities, developing on the platform of digital technology, green economy, circular economy, building a harmonious, civilized, identity-rich society, crystallizing the quintessence of Asia and the world.

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