Vietnam's radical 2025 administrative overhaul has fundamentally redefined what constitutes a city.
In short: For decades, Vietnam categorized cities into multiple tiers, from provincial hubs to major municipalities. However, a sweeping constitutional amendment in June 2025 dissolved the category of provincial cities entirely. Today, only centrally-governed cities remain, marking a significant shift in how the nation manages its urban landscape and local government structure.
Before the constitutional amendment on June 16, 2025, Vietnam’s urban hierarchy was complex. Cities were split into two primary administrative types: centrally-governed cities, which reported directly to the central government, and provincial cities, which functioned under the administration of a province. Additionally, municipal cities existed as district-level units within larger municipalities. This structure allowed for a nuanced, multi-layered approach to urban governance, where city status was often tied to specific administrative tiers.
The 2025 reforms fundamentally altered this landscape. By centralizing the definition of a city, the government effectively dissolved the provincial city category. This change rendered the previous urban area classification resolution—which had categorized cities into six distinct classes ranging from Special to Class V—largely obsolete. Previously, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City held the unique 'Special' classification, while other municipalities and provincial cities were assigned classes based on specific criteria. The current legal framework now recognizes only centrally-governed cities as official cities, requiring a formal resolution from the National Assembly for designation.
The transition has created a period of administrative adjustment. Because the previous classification system no longer aligns with the new constitutional reality, the Ministry of Construction has been tasked with creating a new framework. On August 23, 2025, the Ministry released a draft resolution for public consultation to address these gaps. As the country moves forward, the focus remains on how these centrally-governed entities will manage their internal divisions, which include urban wards, rural communes, and island special zones, ensuring that the new administrative model effectively supports the nation's ongoing urban development goals.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: List of cities in Vietnam
- Also: Wikidata — list of cities in Vietnam · CC0
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