Vietnam merged 63 provinces into 34 in July 2025. Learn how this administrative restructuring affects your travel plans, transport bookings, and destination addresses for Vietnam trips.
Something’s changed in Vietnam that’ll affect your travel plans, and it’s not another bridge closure or visa requirement. The country has just reorganised itself in the most dramatic way since the 1980s, and if you’re heading there anytime soon, you’ll want to know what’s what.
As of July 1st, 2025, Vietnam officially chopped its provincial count from 63 down to 34. It’s not just a map redraw – they’ve eliminated an entire layer of government and merged provinces left, right, and centre. Your guidebook might suddenly look very out of date.
Vietnam’s National Assembly signed off on this restructuring back in June, creating 34 larger administrative units where there used to be 63 smaller ones. They’ve scrapped the district level completely, moving to a simpler two-tier system of provinces and communes. The numbers tell the story: 250,000 government workers will lose their jobs, and the country expects to save over USD 7.3 billion by 2030. It’s all part of Vietnam’s modernisation drive to compete more effectively on the global stage.
What This Means for Travellers
If you’ve been planning that famous Ha Giang Loop motorbike adventure, the province you thought you were visiting technically doesn’t exist anymore. Ha Giang merged with Tuyen Quang Province, so you’re now touring northern Tuyen Quang. The roads are the same, the mountains haven’t moved, and the ethnic villages are exactly where they always were – just under a different administrative umbrella.
Da Nang and Quang Nam are now one unit under Da Nang City. This actually makes travel easier since you can hop from Da Nang’s beaches to Hoi An’s ancient quarter without any bureaucratic nonsense. Previously separate provinces now work together instead of competing for tourist dollars.
Ho Chi Minh City has grown by swallowing up chunks of Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Getting from central Saigon to Vung Tau’s beaches is now an internal city journey rather than an inter-provincial trip. Vietnam now has 21 coastal provinces instead of the previous mix, which should improve ferry services and coastal transport.
Bus companies are still updating their systems, and some routes have been reorganised. So, for now, when booking transport, use landmarks or GPS coordinates rather than just provincial names. That overnight bus to “Ha Giang Province” might get you some blank stares from ticket agents still getting used to the changes.
Hotels are updating their official addresses to reflect new provincial boundaries. Double-check locations when booking, especially for places in merged provinces. Your booking confirmation might show an address that doesn’t match what’s on Google Maps yet.
The positive side is fewer administrative boundaries to cross. Previously, moving between certain provinces meant different local regulations and occasionally different fees. That’s simplified now, though it’ll take time for everyone to adjust. None of this affects crossing into Vietnam from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, or China – those border processes remain exactly the same.
The Practical Reality
Sapa remains in what’s now called Lao Cai Province (merged with Yen Bai), while Hoi An and My Son are officially part of Da Nang City. Phong Nha caves are in Quang Tri Province, and Hue remains unchanged. Down south, Mekong Delta tours now operate from an expanded Can Tho that includes former Soc Trang and Hau Giang provinces. Phu Quoc Island falls under An Giang Province, and the Cu Chi Tunnels are within expanded Ho Chi Minh City.
For those who like their history, this restructuring represents Vietnam’s most significant administrative change since the economic reforms of 1986. It’s designed to cut bureaucracy and make the country more competitive, which could benefit tourism in the long term as the government can coordinate infrastructure projects more efficiently across larger areas.
Remember to check transport schedules carefully and allow extra time for planning as bus companies and booking systems update their information. When researching destinations, cross-check sources and verify information by checking with fellow travellers, especially on Facebook groups dedicated to Vietnam Travel, as some online resources still reference the old provincial system.
The reality is that Vietnam’s incredible diversity – from bustling cities to remote mountain villages – hasn’t changed one bit. The same incredible food, friendly people, and stunning landscapes that draw millions of visitors each year are all exactly where they’ve always been. You might need to learn some new province names, and your transport booking might take an extra few minutes to sort out, but the essential Vietnam experience remains untouched.
The country has simply reorganised itself to work more efficiently – and in the long run, that should make travelling there even better. Keep your plans flexible, double-check your bookings, and remember that sometimes the best part of travel is adapting to the unexpected. Even if that unexpected thing is an entire country deciding to redraw its internal map.
Heading to Vietnam post-restructuring? The changes might cause temporary confusion, but they won’t diminish what makes Vietnam one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling destinations. Pack an open mind along with your updated map.
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