General Secretary Tô Lâm Attends Ceremony Announcing Formation of Newly Merged HCM City
HCM City, The Gulf Observer: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, Tô Lâm, on Monday morning attended a landmark ceremony in Hồ Chí Minh City to officially announce the formation of the newly expanded HCM City, following its historic merger with Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu and Bình Dương provinces.
The event, hosted by the HCM City Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Fatherland Front Committee, marks a significant milestone in Việt Nam’s ongoing national effort to streamline administrative structures and enhance governance capacity.
In his address, General Secretary Tô Lâm underscored the profound significance of the merger, describing it as both a formidable challenge and a historic opportunity for transformative growth.
“This is both a challenge and a historic opportunity,” he stated. “Success must come not just from resolutions, but from public consensus, strong leadership, and committed action.”
He called on all leaders and citizens of the newly formed metropolis to uphold unity, discipline, and innovation, and to pursue development goals with determination and integrity. Emphasizing the need for responsive governance, he urged the newly appointed leadership to prioritise national interests, remain close to the people, and lead with a strong sense of accountability.
“As we enter a new phase of development, we carry not only pride but a deep responsibility to the nation and future generations,” he said.
At the ceremony, Nguyễn Quang Dương, Deputy Head of the Party Central Organisation Commission, formally announced the Politburo’s decision on the new composition of the HCM City Party Committee for the 2020–2025 term. The committee comprises 107 members, including 36 from Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, 32 from Bình Dương, and 39 from HCM City. The Standing Committee includes 27 members.
Nguyễn Văn Nên was reappointed as Secretary of the Party Committee. Other key appointments include Nguyễn Thanh Nghị as Standing Deputy Secretary, Nguyễn Văn Được as Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Committee, Võ Văn Minh as Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Council, and Nguyễn Phước Lộc as Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee.
With a total area of over 6,722 square kilometres and a population exceeding 14 million, the new HCM City is now Việt Nam’s largest administrative unit by population. It includes 168 commune-level administrative units, consisting of 113 wards, 54 communes, and one special zone — Côn Đảo.
Among the largest communes by area are Phú Giáo (192.83 sq.km), Dầu Tiếng (182.68 sq.km), and Long Hòa (166.76 sq.km). The most densely populated wards include Dĩ An (227,817 residents), Hiệp Bình (215,638), and Tăng Nhơn Phú (208,233).
Ceremonies commemorating similar administrative restructurings were simultaneously held across various provinces and cities nationwide, in a coordinated move to modernise state management and improve public service delivery.
