Implementing Resolution 18-NQ/TW and Decree 150/2025/ND-CP, the arrangement and streamlining of the specialized agencies under the provincial and district People’s Committees will be officially rolled out on a large scale. Below is a detailed list of the new names, functions, and duties of the Departments and Divisions after the mergers and consolidations.
Provincial Level: Consolidation of Departments & New Names (Effective from March 1, 2025)
Under the new regulations, the provincial apparatus will be significantly streamlined. Several familiar Departments will no longer keep their old names, being consolidated into other Departments or renamed.
List of Departments Undergoing Consolidation – Merger
| No. | Departments before the merger | NEW NAME AFTER THE MERGER | Important note |
| 1 | Department of Finance + Department of Planning and Investment | DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE | The name “Department of Planning & Investment” no longer exists |
| 2 | Department of Transport + Department of Construction | DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION | The name “Department of Transport” no longer exists |
| 3 | Department of Information & Communications + Department of Science & Technology | DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | Press and publishing functions transferred to the Department of Culture |
| 4 | Department of Home Affairs + Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA) | DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS | The Department of Home Affairs is the main focal point; DOLISA’s other functions are split up (see section B) |
| 5 | Department of Agriculture & Rural Development + Department of Natural Resources and Environment | DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT |
Transfer of Functions and Duties Between Departments
The merger is not merely a mechanical combination but is also accompanied by the reallocation of duties to bring them into line with the right expertise:
- Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Additionally takes over the state management function for press and publishing (previously under the Department of Information & Communications).
- Department of Health: Additionally takes over the functions of social protection, children, and the prevention of social evils (previously under DOLISA).
- Department of Education and Training: Additionally takes over the function of managing vocational education (previously under DOLISA).
- Department of Home Affairs: In addition to its core function, it will also manage ethnic and religious affairs (if the locality does not establish a separate Department).
Departments Kept Unchanged or Optionally Established
- Kept unchanged: Department of Justice, Department of Industry and Trade, Provincial Inspectorate, Office of the Provincial People’s Committee.
- Specialized Departments (depending on the locality): Department of External Relations, Department of Tourism, Department of Planning and Architecture, Department of Food Safety, Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.
Note: Each province/centrally-run city organizes a maximum of 14 Departments. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are allowed to organize a maximum of 15 Departments.
District/Commune Level: Consolidation of Specialized Divisions
The roadmap for arranging the district and commune levels is divided into 2 phases, tied to the merger of administrative units.
Phase 1: Before July 1, 2025 (Arranging District-Level Divisions)
Effective from March 1, 2025, the Divisions under the district People’s Committees are reorganized as follows (a maximum of 10 divisions per district):
| Old Divisions | NEW NAME (DIVISION) |
| Division of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs + Division of Home Affairs | Division of Home Affairs |
| Division of Social Protection + Division of Child Protection and Care | Division of Child Protection, Care and Social Protection |
| Division of Economy/Infrastructure + Division of Urban Management (construction, transport, industry and trade) | Division of Economy, Infrastructure and Urban Affairs |
| Division of Culture and Information + Division of Economy/Infrastructure (science) | Division of Culture, Science and Information |
| Kept unchanged | Division of Justice, Division of Finance and Planning, District Inspectorate |
Note: The district-level vocational education function is transferred to the Division of Education and Training.
Phase 2: After July 1, 2025 (Streamlined Government Model)
Under Decree 150/2025/ND-CP, when implementing the merger of administrative units (moving toward a model that removes the intermediate level in some places or achieves maximum streamlining), the specialized agencies at the commune/ward/special-zone level will comprise the following main focal points:
- Office of the People’s Council and People’s Committee: Managing office administration, justice, and external relations.
- Division of Economy (or Economy, Infrastructure and Urban Affairs): Managing finance, planning, construction, industry and trade, agriculture, and the environment.
- Division of Culture – Social Affairs: Managing home affairs, education, culture, information, and health.
Transfer of 5 Important Tasks to the Police for Management
This is a change that directly affects citizens when carrying out administrative procedures. After the merger, 05 major areas of work will be handled by the Police force (instead of the Departments as before):
- Driving tests and the issuance of Driving Licenses: Transferred from the Transport sector to the Police.
- Issuance of Criminal Record Cards: Transferred from the Justice sector to the Police.
- Aviation security: Ensuring security at airports/on aircraft.
- Drug rehabilitation: Managing rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation (previously under DOLISA).
- Network information security: (Previously under the Department of Information & Communications).
Q&A (FAQ) on the 2025 Merger of Departments and Agencies
Question 1: Does the Department of Planning and Investment still exist?
→ No. From March 1, 2025, the Department of Planning and Investment merged with the Department of Finance. The new name is the Department of Finance.
Question 2: Which Department did the Department of Industry and Trade merge with?
→ The Department of Industry and Trade belongs to the group kept unchanged; it was not merged and retains its old name and functions (only a few minor tasks at the district level were transferred to the Division of Economy, Infrastructure and Urban Affairs).
Question 3: Where did the Department of Transport go?
→ The Department of Transport merged with the Department of Construction, taking the common name Department of Construction. Note: The task of driving tests and issuing driving licenses has been transferred to the Police.
Question 4: Who manages vocational education (vocational schools/colleges, etc.)?
→ This function was transferred from the Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs sector to the Education and Training sector (the Department of Education and Training and the Division of Education and Training).
Question 5: Why don’t I see the Department of Tourism in the merger list?
→ The Department of Tourism is a specialized Department. Depending on each province’s strengths, the provincial People’s Committee decides whether to establish it. If a separate Department of Tourism is not established, this function sits within the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Question 6: Does a business have to re-issue its Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) now that the Department of Planning and Investment no longer exists?
→ No. Enterprise Registration Certificates and Investment Licenses issued before the time of the merger (before March 2025) remain legally valid. A business is only re-issued a certificate under the new licensing authority’s name (Department of Finance) when it carries out procedures to change its business registration content or requests reissuance due to loss/damage.
Question 7: Where do I submit a company formation dossier after the Department merger?
→ After the merger, the business registration function was transferred to the Department of Finance (since the Department of Planning & Investment was consolidated into it). The business will submit the dossier at the One-Stop Section of the Department of Finance or the province’s Public Administration Service Center, depending on how each locality arranges its offices.
Question 8: How are dossiers submitted before the merger date but not yet resolved handled?
→ Under the transitional principle, the new agency (after the merger) is responsible for receiving and continuing to process dossiers that are still being resolved. Citizens and businesses do not need to withdraw their dossiers to resubmit them. The returned result will bear the name and seal of the new agency.
Question 9: How will the seals and signatures on legal documents change?
→ From the effective date of the merger Decision, the new agency will use a new seal with the new name (for example: the seal of the “Department of Construction” replaces the seal of the “Department of Transport”). Documents issued beforehand remain in effect and are not affected by the change of seal.
Question 10: Do Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have the same merger roadmap as other provinces?
→ In principle, the streamlining is basically the same. However, due to their special urban nature, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are allowed to organize a maximum of 15 Departments (one more than other provinces) and may retain or establish certain specialized Departments (such as the Department of Tourism, the Department of Planning and Architecture, and the Department of Food Safety) to suit their management scale.
Question 11: Will the merger disrupt the online business registration system?
→ Technically, the National Business Registration Information System (dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn) continues to operate normally because it is a centralized system of the Ministry of Planning and Investment. However, in the “Processing Authority” selection, the system will update the name of the receiving unit (from the Business Registration Office – Department of Planning and Investment to the Business Registration Office – Department of Finance) according to the roadmap. MGI recommends that businesses closely follow the notices on the portal to select the correct handling authority.
The above content is updated based on Decree 150/2025/ND-CP and the documents guiding the implementation of Resolution 18-NQ/TW. Localities are urgently consolidating their apparatus to meet the March 2025 schedule.
Thus, MGI Consulting has provided a detailed update on the list of Departments and agencies after the 2025 merger. The change of focal-point agencies (especially the merger of the Department of Planning & Investment) will directly affect the location and process for submitting business dossiers. If you have difficulty identifying the competent authority or are concerned that the new procedures may cause delays, contact MGI now for the fastest support.
Details of MGI’s company formation advisory and support service: 2026 business establishment advisory service