In the proposed restructuring of provincial administrative units, Bắc Kạn and Thái Nguyên provinces are slated for unification.
According to the draft unification plan, currently under public consultation, the newly formed province will be named Thái Nguyên, with the administrative center located in Thái Nguyên city.
Post-merger, the new Thái Nguyên province will encompass over 8,300 square kilometers and house approximately 1.8 million residents, with 92 administrative units at the commune level (consisting of 77 communes and 15 wards).
The plan outlines the integration of existing governmental support agencies at the provincial level for the party, mass organizations, National Assembly deputies, and People’s Councils. Specialized agencies and departments of both provinces’ People’s Committees will also be integrated.
A view of Thái Nguyên city, Thái Nguyên province
The total number of provincial-level officials, civil servants, contract workers will exceed 12,800 after the merger.
Currently, 747 provincial-level officials, civil servants, and contract workers in Bắc Kạn and Thái Nguyên have expressed a desire to retire, utilizing policies under Decrees 178 and 67.
The draft plan outlines a process for officials to register and retire according to regulations, ensuring that the number of officials aligns with established quotas.
The provinces are working to arrange official housing and transportation for transferring officials from the old administrative centers to the new provincial capital to ensure their transition.
More than 2,800 government buildings are currently operational. The new province anticipates utilizing over 2,500 buildings, with 123 currently unused and 258 requiring further review for disposition. It is projected that all unused or unresolved government buildings will be addressed by 2029.
