As of July 1, the 6 new Mekong Delta provinces and cities officially operate under a two-tier local government model after the merger. The new western provinces include Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho, An Giang, and Ca Mau.

The Politburo and the Central Secretariat announced decisions on appointing party secretaries for these provinces and cities for the 2020-2025 term after the administrative merger.

The PM signed decisions appointing chairs of the people's committees of the new provinces and cities for the 2021-2026 term.

All party secretaries and people's committee chairs of the six provinces and cities are male. The oldest party secretary is An Giang’s Nguyen Tien Hai, 60. The youngest is Dong Thap’s Le Quoc Phong, 47, who is also the youngest provincial party secretary in the country.

Phong holds a PhD in Applied Biology, specializing in Biotechnology. He is an alternate member of the 12th Central Committee, a full member of the 13th Central Committee, an NA deputy for the 14th and 15th terms, and head of the Dong Thap Province delegation.

Le Quoc Phong rose through the ranks of the Communist Youth Union, serving as Deputy Secretary of the HCMC Youth Union, Chairman of the HCMC Student Association, Vice Chairman of the Central Vietnam Student Association, Secretary of the HCMC Youth Union, Secretary of the 10th Central Youth Union, and First Secretary of the Central Youth Union, as well as Chairman of the 9th Vietnam Student Association.

In October 2020, he was appointed by the Politburo to serve as Secretary of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

At the time of his appointment as Dong Thap Party Secretary, Le Quoc Phong, aged 42, was the youngest provincial party secretary in the country. He was also deeply committed to the “Bringing the cranes back” initiative under the 2022-2032 conservation and development plan for red-crowned cranes at Tram Chim National Park.

Among the party secretaries of the six Mekong Delta localities, four are Central Committee members: Vinh Long’s Ngo Chi Cuong, HCMC Can Tho’s Do Thanh Binh, Dong Thap’s Le Quoc Phong, and An Giang’s Nguyen Tien Hai.

Regarding qualifications, most party secretaries hold master’s or doctoral degrees. For example, Dong Thap’s Le Quoc Phong has a PhD in Applied Biology, specializing in Biotechnology. Tay Ninh’s Nguyen Van Quyet holds a master’s in Party Building and State Governance, and HCMC Can Tho’s Do Thanh Binh has a master’s in Economics.

7X generation provincial chairmen

Of the chairmen of the six provinces and cities, five belong to the 7X generation. The exception is Tay Ninh’s Nguyen Van Ut, born in 1969, making him the oldest among the chairmen.

The youngest chairmen are Dong Thap’s Tran Tri Quang and An Giang’s Ho Van Mung, both aged 48. Ho Van Mung is an alternate member of the 13th Central Committee.

Most chairmen hold doctoral or master’s degrees. For instance, Vinh Long’s Lu Quang Ngoi has a PhD in Political Science; An Giang’s Ho Van Mung has a master’s in Economic Management; Dong Thap’s Tran Tri Quang holds a master’s in Transportation Engineering; Tay Ninh’s Nguyen Van Ut has a master’s in Economics; and Ca Mau’s Pham Thanh Ngai holds a master’s in Economic Law.

Among the party secretaries and chairmen, only one comes from the armed forces: Can Tho’s Chair Tran Van Lau, a military colonel.

After the merger, several secretaries and chairmen “switched positions.” Specifically:

Nguyen Manh Hung, former Tay Ninh (old) Party Secretary, now serves as Permanent Deputy Secretary and Chair of the People’s Council of the new Tay Ninh Province.

Ho Thi Hoang Yen, former Ben Tre Party Secretary and People’s Council Chair, now serves as Permanent Deputy Secretary of the new Vinh Long Province.

Dong Van Thanh, former Hau Giang Party Secretary and People’s Council Chair, now serves as Permanent Deputy Secretary and People’s Council Chairman of Can Tho City.

Tran Van Huyen, former Hau Giang People’s Committee Chairman, now serves as Deputy Secretary of the new Can Tho CIty Party Committee.

Truong Canh Tuyen, former Can Tho People’s Committee Chair, now serves as Deputy Secretary of the new Can Tho Party Committee.

Le Van Han, former Tra Vinh People’s Committee Chairman, now serves as Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the new Vinh Long Province.

Nguyen Thanh Nhan, former Kien Giang People’s Committee Chair, now serves as Deputy Secretary and People’s Council Chairman of the new An Giang Province.

Pham Van Thieu, former Bac Lieu People’s Committee Chairman, now serves as Deputy Secretary and People’s Council Chair of the new Ca Mau Province.

Hoai Thanh