What Is the Vietnam Provincial Map Merger 2025? (Facts & Policy)
On June 12, 2025, Vietnam’s National Assembly Standing Committee ratified Resolution 60-NQ/TW and Decision 759/QĐ-TTg. The resolution formalizes the plan to restructure Vietnam’s administrative divisions at the provincial level, effective from July–September 2025.
Vietnam Province Map Before Merger (Source: tracdiaso)
Key facts:
- Original structure: 63 provinces (58 provinces + 5 centrally-governed cities)
- New structure: 34 total units
- 6 centrally-controlled cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Can Tho, and newly-elevated Thua Thien Hue
- 28 provinces, formed by merging 23 province pairs/groups
Timeline:
- Commune-level reorganization completed: By August 15, 2025
- Province-level implementation: From September 15, 2025
Government objectives:
- Streamline governance & cut administrative costs
- Enhance infrastructure development and regional coordination
- Create stronger provinces that can drive tourism, culture, economy more effectively
- Promote destination-based tourism over fragmented provincial travel planning
For travelers, this means:
- More connected routes across previously separated provinces
- Fewer administrative barriers when booking transport or entering heritage zones
- One-stop travel experiences: Beach, mountains, culture, and cuisine – all within a single province!
If you’ve ever imagined combining a Central Highlands trek with a seaside getaway in one seamless itinerary, this is the moment.
Vietnam Province Map Affter Merger (Source: thuvienphapluat)
Full List of Vietnam province map: New Names, Capitals & Highlights
Let’s decode the New Vietnam Province Map 2025 — officially reshaped through Resolution 60-NQ/TW and Decision 759/QĐ-TTg, resulting in 34 administrative units, including:
#
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New Province / City Name
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Merged From
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Administrative Capital
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Top Travel Highlights
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1
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Tuyen Quang
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Ha Giang + Tuyen Quang
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Tuyen Quang City
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Ha Giang Loop, Lung Cu Flag Tower, Tan Trao Relic Area
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2
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Lao Cai
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Lao Cai + Yen Bai
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Yen Bai City
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Sapa, Mu Cang Chai, Fansipan Mountain, Terraced Rice Fields
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3
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Thai Nguyen
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Bac Kan + Thai Nguyen
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Thai Nguyen City
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Ba Be Lake, Nui Coc Lake, Tea Plantations
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4
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Phu Tho
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Phu Tho + Vinh Phuc + Hoa Binh
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Viet Tri City
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Hung Kings Temple, Tam Dao Mountains, Mai Chau Valley
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5
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Bac Ninh
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Bac Ninh + Bac Giang
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Bac Giang City
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Dong Ho Paintings Village, But Thap Pagoda, Kinh Bac Cultural Land
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6
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Hung Yen
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Hung Yen + Thai Binh
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Hung Yen City
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Keo Pagoda, Pho Hien Ancient Town, Red River Rice Lands
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7
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Hai Phong (City)
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Hai Duong + Hai Phong
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Hai Phong City
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Cat Ba Island, Do Son Beach, Bat Trang Ceramics
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8
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Ninh Binh
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Ha Nam + Ninh Binh + Nam Dinh
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Ninh Binh City
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Trang An, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Tam Coc, Phu Day Temple
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9
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Quang Tri
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Quang Binh + Quang Tri
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Dong Hoi City (Quang Binh)
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Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Vinh Moc Tunnels, Parallel 17
|
10
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Da Nang (City)
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Quang Nam + Da Nang
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Da Nang City
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Hoi An Ancient Town, Golden Bridge, My Son Sanctuary, Ba Na Hills
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11
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Quang Ngai
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Kon Tum + Quang Ngai
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Quang Ngai City
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Sa Huynh Beach, My Khe Beach, Central Highlands Culture
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12
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Gia Lai
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Gia Lai + Binh Dinh
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Quy Nhon City
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Quy Nhon Beaches, Bien Ho Lake, Tây Son Historical Sites
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13
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Khanh Hoa
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Khanh Hoa + Ninh Thuan
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Nha Trang City
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Nha Trang Bay, Vinh Hy Bay, Cham Towers, Phan Rang Vineyard Tours
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14
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Lam Dong
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Lam Dong + Dak Nong + Binh Thuan
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Da Lat City
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Da Lat, Sand Dunes of Mui Ne, Pongour Waterfall, Ethnic Villages
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15
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Dak Lak
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Dak Lak + Phu Yen
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Buon Ma Thuot City
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Dray Nur Waterfall, Buon Don, Tuy Hoa Beach, Whale Temples
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16
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Ho Chi Minh City (City)
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HCMC + Binh Duong + Ba Ria – Vung Tau
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Ho Chi Minh City
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Cu Chi Tunnels, Ben Thanh Market, Long Hai Beach, Dai Nam Theme Park
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17
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Dong Nai
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Dong Nai + Binh Phuoc
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Bien Hoa City
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Cat Tien National Park, Tri An Lake, Spiritual Tourism
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18
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Tay Ninh
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Tay Ninh + Long An
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Tan An City (Long An)
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Black Virgin Mountain, Cao Dai Temple, Trang Bang Noodles
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19
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Can Tho (City)
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Can Tho + Hau Giang + Soc Trang
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Can Tho City
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Cai Rang Floating Market, Khmer Temples, Southern Waterways
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20
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Vinh Long
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Vinh Long + Ben Tre + Tra Vinh
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Vinh Long City
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An Binh Island, Coconut Gardens, Ao Ba Om Pond
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21
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Dong Thap
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Dong Thap + Tien Giang
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My Tho City
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Sa Dec Flower Village, Gao Giong Eco-site, Floating Villages
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22
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Ca Mau
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Ca Mau + Bac Lieu
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Ca Mau City
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Cape Ca Mau, Bird Gardens, Bac Lieu Prince House
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23
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An Giang
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An Giang + Kien Giang
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Rach Gia City
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Phu Quoc Adventure Tours, Ha Tien, Sam Mountain, Chau Doc
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24
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Ha Noi (City)
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–
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Ha Noi City
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Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, West Lake
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25
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Hue (City)
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–
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Hue City
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Imperial Citadel, Perfume River, Tombs of Emperors
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26
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Lai Chau
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–
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Lai Chau City
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Sin Ho Plateau, Nam Nhun Hydropower, Pu Sam Cap Caves
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27
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Dien Bien
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–
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Dien Bien Phu City
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A1 Hill, Dien Bien Battlefield, Muong Thanh Valley
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28
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Son La
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–
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Son La City
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Moc Chau Plateau, Ngoc Chien Hot Springs, Dai Yem Waterfall
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29
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Lang Son
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–
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Lang Son City
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Mau Son Mountain, Dong Dang Border Gate, Local Markets
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30
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Quang Ninh
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–
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Ha Long City
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Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu Mountain, Co To Island
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31
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Thanh Hoa
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–
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Thanh Hoa City
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Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Lam Kinh, Sam Son Beach
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32
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Nghe An
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–
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Vinh City
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Kim Lien Village (Uncle Ho’s hometown), Cua Lo Beach, Pu Mat National Park
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33
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Ha Tinh
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–
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Ha Tinh City
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Thien Cam Beach, Dong Loc Junction, Ke Go Nature Reserve
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34
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Cao Bang
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–
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Cao Bang City
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Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, Pac Bo Historical Site
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What Tourists Need to Know: Names, Maps, Famous Places & New Itineraries
Booking and Maps: How the New Map Impacts Travel Tools
By mid-2025, major platforms such as Google Maps, Agoda, and Booking.com will begin updating to reflect the newly merged 34 provinces. These updates affect every traveler using the vietnam tourist map, especially those heading to southern Vietnam, north and south Vietnam junctions, or inter-provincial destinations.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Old province names may no longer appear in booking engines or search bars.
- Search using actual city names or landmarks, such as Phu Quoc, Tam Coc, Hue, or Dien Bien, instead of outdated province names.
- Always double-check your destination using an updated map like the official map of vietnam provinces or the dynamic Impress Travel itinerary builder.
- If you’re applying for visas, booking hotels, or reserving buses — make sure place names are accurate under the new province alignment.
Always Confirm With Updated Map (Source: solutions)
Will Famous Destinations Disappear? Absolutely Not!
The Ministry of Culture has formally stated that all iconic destinations, UNESCO sites, and recognized national tourist areas will retain their original names — even if the provincial boundary changes.
So yes:
- Ha Long Bay still sparkles in Quang Ninh.
- Hue continues to echo imperial grandeur.
- Hoi An remains Vietnam’s most beloved ancient town.
- And of course, Phu Quoc is alive and thriving — ready for your next phu quoc adventure tours!
For instance:
- “Ha Giang Loop” remains a hot topic for backpackers and nature lovers — though technically now under the larger Tuyen Quang administrative unit.
- Sapa, while now managed under the new Lao Cai Province, keeps its name and charm intact.
Names on the north vietnam map or south vietnam map might shift a bit, but your experience? As breathtaking as ever.
Famous Ha Long Stays Untouched (Source: xanhsm)
New Era of Itineraries: Regional Routes to Get Excited About
Get ready to explore north and south Vietnam in a single, seamless route. Here are a few exciting new journeys waiting to be discovered:
- Central Highlands & Coastline Expedition: Combine the cool pine forests of Gia Lai with the coastal breezes of Quy Nhon for an itinerary that fuses culture, coffee, and coastline.
- Northwest Heritage Trail: Begin in Yen Bai, loop through Sapa’s misty terraces, and descend into Ha Giang’s winding passes — a journey through Vietnam’s heartland of natural beauty and ethnic diversity.
- East–West Cultural Route: From the colonial charm of Da Lat, through the sandy shores of Nha Trang, and on to Buon Ma Thuot’s coffee plantations — this cross-region trip is a traveler’s dream.
And of course, for island seekers, phu quoc adventure tours continue to lead the way in southern Vietnam, seamlessly linking with river deltas, floating markets, and ancient Khmer sites.
How to Travel Smart in the New Vietnam: Tips, Tools & Cautions
With provinces realigned and city designations reshuffled, navigating your vietnam tour requires sharper tools and sharper instincts. Let’s make sure you’re fully equipped.
Smart Travel Tools You Should Be Using
- Google Maps Layer 2025: Once updated, this layer will reflect all 34 post-merger administrative zones, from Hai Phong to Cao Bang.
- Official Vietnam Tourist Map 2025: Issued by the Ministry of Culture and provided via Impress Travel, this essential resource helps you visually plan across regions.
Essential Tips to Avoid Confusion with Vietnam province map
- Always verify your destination by its landmark or town name — not by the old province it used to belong to.
- Ask for the updated administrative label when booking tours or lodging. This is especially crucial in areas like Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, or south Vietnam’s Mekong regions.
- Visit Tourist Information Centers in your arrival city — especially in the newly-merged 28 provinces — for the latest brochures, maps, and local insights.
Common Pitfalls with Vietnam province map (And How to Steer Clear of Them)
Some common booking hiccups we’ve already encountered from early travelers:
- Confused pick-up points: Tourists book airport transfers to “Nam Dinh” but find themselves arriving in what is now administratively “Ninh Binh Province.”
- Outdated visa information: Your visa might list an old province that no longer officially exists under that name.
- Unmatched bookings: Hotel platforms still running on the old map of vietnam provinces cause mismatches in check-in confirmations.
Solutions:
- Always cross-check place names from two sources: Your travel provider and a live map (like Google Maps or our planner).
- Choose agencies like Impress Travel that have fully updated systems — whether you’re joining group journeys or seeking tailor-made phu quoc adventure tours.
The New Philosophy of Travel: From Provinces to Experiences
Forget borders. Vietnam’s new administrative layout is redefining how we think about travel.
- No more province boxes — now you travel by experience, culture, and region.
- Cross-regional adventures are easier than ever: rivers to mountains, coastlines to highlands, all within a well-connected Vietnam tourist network.
- Digital storytelling, local hosts, and immersive experiences now form the fabric of modern tourism — from north vietnam on map to the farthest corner of southern Vietnam.
In other words, Vietnam is evolving — and so is how you experience it.
Conclusion
With administrative lines redrawn and vietnam province map restructured, your next trip across north and south Vietnam promises to be more exciting than ever. The map of vietnam provinces may look different — but your favorite places remain full of wonder. And your new opportunities? Endless. At Impress Travel, we’re already planning the next wave of smarter itineraries, thrilling cross-regional experiences, and unforgettable private tours to Vietnam. So let’s stop thinking in provinces. Let’s start thinking in experiences.