New Names of Provincial Departments and Sectors After Restructuring and Mergers

On February 28^th, 2025, the Government issued Decree 45/2025/ND-CP on the organization of specialized agencies under the Provincial People’s Committees and the District, Urban District, Town, and City People’s Committees. This decree takes effect from March 1^st, 2025.

According to Article 8 of Decree 45/2025/ND-CP, the names of the Departments after the reorganization and consolidation are as follows:

The Departments organized uniformly in all localities include:

• Department of Home Affairs (Consolidating the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labour, War invalids and Social affairs);
• Department of Justice;
• Department of Finance (Consolidating the Department of Planning and Investment and the Department of Finance);
• Department of Industry and Trade;
• Department of Agriculture and Environment (Consolidating the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development);
• Department of Construction;
• Department of Science and Technology (Consolidating the Department of Information and Communications and the Department of Science and Technology);
• Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism;
• Department of Education and Training;
• Department of Health;
• Provincial Inspectorate;
• Office of the Provincial People’s Committee.

In addition, Decree 45/2025/ND-CP also stipulates the names of specialized departments organized in certain localities, including:

• Department of Foreign Affairs;
• Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs;
• Department of Tourism;
• Department of Planning and Architecture established in Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City. If Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City do not organize a separate Department of Planning and Architecture, the functions and tasks shall be merged and transferred to the Department of Construction.

The organizational structure of a department includes:

• Professional and operational divisions;
• Inspectorate (if any);
• Office (if any);
• Sub-departments and equivalent organizations (if any);
• Public service units (if any).

Framework for the number of departments under the Provincial People’s Committee

• Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City are allowed to organize 15 departments. Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City may decide to establish, reorganize, change the name of, or dissolve departments, ensuring compliance with the local characteristics, the provisions of the Capital Law, and relevant legal normative documents.
• Other provinces and cities are allowed to organize no more than 14 departments.