The Prime Minister has signed decisions to appoint 23 new chairmen of provincial and municipal People’s Committees following administrative mergers.

These appointments reflect a leadership cohort predominantly born in the 1970s, with many holding doctoral degrees or previous high-ranking roles.

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Tran Duy Dong, the youngest among Vietnam’s 23 new provincial chairmen. Photo: Ministry of Planning and Investment.

All 23 appointees are male, aged between 46 and 57. The youngest is Tran Duy Dong (46), Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee.

Three others - Tran Tri Quang (Dong Thap), Ho Van Mung (An Giang), and Vuong Quoc Tuan (Bac Ninh) - are each 48 years old. Pham Hoang Son (Thai Nguyen) and Luong Nguyen Minh Triet (Da Nang) are 49.

At the other end of the spectrum, the oldest appointees are Nguyen Van Duoc (Ho Chi Minh City), Nguyen Van Ut (Tay Ninh), and Ta Anh Tuan (Dak Lak), each 56 years old and born in the 1960s.

Several among the 23 chairmen hold doctoral degrees, including: Phan Huy Ngoc (Tuyen Quang), Tran Duy Dong (Phu Tho), Vuong Quoc Tuan (Bac Ninh), Le Ngoc Chau (Hai Phong), Pham Ngoc Quang (Ninh Binh), Nguyen Hoang Giang (Quang Ngai), Pham Anh Tuan (Gia Lai), Tran Quoc Nam (Khanh Hoa), and Lu Quang Ngoi (Vinh Long).

Notably, Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, is a member of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party. Alternate Central Committee members include Ho Van Mung, Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, and Vuong Quoc Tuan.

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Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, is a member of the 13th Party Central Committee.

Some chairmen previously served as provincial party secretaries. For example, Tran Huy Tuan, now Chairman of Lao Cai, was formerly Party Secretary of Yen Bai. Nguyen Khac Than (Hung Yen) was Party Secretary of Thai Binh, while Luong Nguyen Minh Triet (Da Nang) held the top party post in Quang Nam.

Others have held vice-ministerial posts before becoming chairmen, including Tran Duy Dong, Nguyen Hoang Giang, Pham Anh Tuan, and Ta Anh Tuan.

Pham Hoang Son transitioned from legislative to executive leadership, having served as Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Council in Thai Nguyen.

A notable number of new chairmen have served in the armed forces: Le Ngoc Chau (Hai Phong) and Phan Huy Ngoc (Tuyen Quang) are police colonels, Ho Van Muoi (Lam Dong) is also a police colonel, and Tran Van Lau (Can Tho) is an army colonel.

These appointments reflect a blend of academic achievement, political leadership, and military discipline - an approach designed to strengthen provincial governance amid Vietnam’s administrative restructuring.

Hoai Thanh