Provincial merger: Where should the new administrative center be located?

At the meeting of the Government Party Standing Committee on March 11, a two-level local government model was agreed upon, namely the provincial level (including provinces and centrally-run cities) and the grassroots level.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Secretary of the Government Party Committee, noted that naming provincial-level administrative units must have continuity; the selection The administrative-political center must consider historical, geographical, infrastructure connectivity, development space, defense, security and integration factors. This is also an issue that people are very concerned about.

Expressing his opinion, National Assembly delegate Bui Hoai Son, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, said that the administrative-political center is not only the headquarters of the government apparatus but also the heart of an entire province, where the cultural, economic and human flows of that land converge.

“This decision needs to be carefully considered, not only based on reason but also in harmony with the emotions and desires of the community,” Mr. Son emphasized.

According to Mr. Son, the new administrative center must be a convenient connection point, where traffic is not only smooth but also has the potential to expand in the future. An administrative center cannot be an isolated land, but must be a place where people can easily come and go, a place where businesses, investors, and people all feel comfortable working and living.

The urban infrastructure there needs to be strong enough to not disrupt state management activities, while having space for continued development, avoiding congestion or obsolescence after a few years.

However, a city can only develop sustainably when it has a solid economic foundation. The new administrative center should be located in an area with strong economic vitality, where it can create development momentum for the entire province instead of simply being a dry administrative headquarters. Economy and administration must go hand in hand, supporting each other to form an attractive land, not only for businesses but also for those who want to find a place to settle down and build their future.

However, we cannot ignore the historical and cultural depth. An administrative center is not only a place for government work but also a symbol of an entire land. Its history, the cultural values ​​formed over many generations, all contribute to creating its own identity.

“We cannot take this lightly, because a land with a soul and memories can become a place where people feel attached and proud. If the decision is made without consideration, without listening to history and people, the new administrative center can become a strange place even for the people living there,” Mr. Son said, suggesting that the choice of a new provincial center also needs the consensus of the community because an “administrative center” is only truly meaningful when it is approved by the people, feels close, and is easy to access.