Vietnam’s Administrative Divisions: A Comprehensive Guide

“How many provinces and cities does Vietnam have?” This seemingly simple question often leaves people scratching their heads. Even the seasoned motorbike taxi driver down the street, who’s ferried countless passengers, could only vaguely answer, “Something like 60 provinces, I think.” So, let’s delve into this topic with XE TẢI HÀ NỘI and discover the number of administrative units in Vietnam and how they are divided.

Types of Administrative Units

According to the Law on Local Government Organization of 2015, Vietnam currently has 63 provinces and cities, divided into three main administrative levels:

1. Provinces/Cities Directly Under Central Government

This is the highest administrative level, encompassing:

• 63 provinces and cities: An Giang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Noi (capital), Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien Hue, Tien Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai.

2. Districts/Wards/Towns/Provincial Cities

• District (Huyện): A rural administrative unit, often comprising several communes. Examples: Thanh Tri District (Hanoi), Cu Chi District (Ho Chi Minh City).
• Ward (Quận): An urban administrative unit, often comprising several sub-wards. Examples: Hoan Kiem Ward (Hanoi), District 1 (Ho Chi Minh City).
• Town (Thị xã): An intermediate administrative unit between a district and a city, which can include both sub-wards and communes. Examples: Son Tay Town (Hanoi), Phu My Town (Ba Ria – Vung Tau).
• Provincial City (Thành phố thuộc tỉnh): An urban administrative unit belonging to a province, often comprising several sub-wards and may include communes. Examples: My Tho City (Tien Giang), Vung Tau City (Ba Ria – Vung Tau).

3. Communes/Sub-wards/Townships

• Commune (Xã): The basic administrative unit in rural areas. Example: Tan Trieu Commune (Hanoi), Phu My Hung Commune (Ho Chi Minh City).
• Sub-ward (Phường): The basic administrative unit in urban areas. Example: Hang Trong Sub-ward (Hanoi), Ben Nghe Sub-ward (Ho Chi Minh City).
• Township (Thị trấn): A basic administrative unit, often serving as the economic, political, and cultural center of a district. Example: Dong Anh Township (Hanoi), Can Thanh Township (Ho Chi Minh City).

Why Know Vietnam’s Administrative Divisions?

Understanding Vietnam’s administrative divisions is beneficial in many ways:

• Travel and Tourism: Planning trips and exploring famous destinations.
• Administrative Transactions: Paying taxes, obtaining personal documents at the correct address.
• Expanding Knowledge: Gaining a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s geography and culture.
• Business and Transportation: Identifying operational areas and efficient transportation routes. For instance, sales policies for shophouses in the Mediterranean will attract investors in central districts of Ho Chi Minh City.

Important Notes

• Administrative divisions can change over time.
• Each administrative unit possesses unique cultural, economic, and social characteristics.
• Consult official sources for accurate and up-to-date information.

We hope this article has provided valuable insights into Vietnam’s administrative divisions. Join XE TẢI HÀ NỘI in exploring more fascinating aspects of Vietnam’s land and people!

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