Last checked: 21 September 2026.
On 1 July 2025, Vietnam redrew its own map. The country went from 63 provinces to 34, and the district level of government was abolished completely. It was one of the biggest administrative changes in decades, and almost every English-language travel guide still uses the old names.
For travellers, nothing you came to see has moved. Ha Long Bay is still Ha Long Bay, and Hoi An is still Hoi An. But addresses, maps, tickets and signs are changing, and it helps to know why “Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang province” is not a mistake.
The short answer
- 63 provinces became 34 on 1 July 2025: 6 centrally run cities and 28 provinces
- Districts no longer exist. Addresses now go straight from ward or commune to province or city
- Destination names are unchanged. Only the province they belong to may be different
- Airports, train stations and landmarks keep their names
Where popular destinations belong now
| Destination | Before 1 July 2025 | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Ha Giang Loop | Ha Giang province | Tuyen Quang province |
| Sapa | Lao Cai | Lao Cai (merged with Yen Bai) |
| Mu Cang Chai | Yen Bai | Lao Cai |
| Ba Be Lake | Bac Kan | Thai Nguyen |
| Mai Chau | Hoa Binh | Phu Tho |
| Ninh Binh, Trang An, Tam Coc | Ninh Binh | Ninh Binh (merged with Nam Dinh and Ha Nam) |
| Ha Long Bay | Quang Ninh | Quang Ninh (unchanged) |
| Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay | Hai Phong | Hai Phong (merged with Hai Duong) |
| Phong Nha caves | Quang Binh | Quang Tri |
| Hue | Hue city | Hue (unchanged) |
| Hoi An, My Son | Quang Nam | Da Nang City |
| Quy Nhon | Binh Dinh | Gia Lai |
| Nha Trang | Khanh Hoa | Khanh Hoa (merged with Ninh Thuan) |
| Da Lat | Lam Dong | Lam Dong (merged with Dak Nong and Binh Thuan) |
| Mui Ne, Phan Thiet | Binh Thuan | Lam Dong |
| Buon Ma Thuot | Dak Lak | Dak Lak (merged with Phu Yen) |
| Vung Tau, Con Dao | Ba Ria–Vung Tau | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Can Tho | Can Tho city | Can Tho City (merged with Soc Trang and Hau Giang) |
| Ben Tre | Ben Tre | Vinh Long |
| My Tho | Tien Giang | Dong Thap |
| Phu Quoc | Kien Giang | An Giang |
| Chau Doc | An Giang | An Giang (merged with Kien Giang) |
| Ba Den Mountain | Tay Ninh | Tay Ninh (merged with Long An) |
The eleven provinces and cities that did not change are Hanoi, Hue, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Cao Bang.
No more districts: what that means for addresses
Before the reform, a Ho Chi Minh City address might end “District 1”. Districts no longer exist, so addresses now name the ward and the city directly. Many wards were also merged and renamed.
- Locals still use old names in conversation. “District 1” or “Quận 1” is still understood by every taxi driver, and will be for years.
- Official documents use the new format. Hotel bookings, e-visa forms and tickets may show the new ward name.
- Maps may lag. Google Maps and booking sites are still catching up, so the same place can appear with two addresses.
Practical tips for your trip
- Navigate by the place name or a map pin, not the full address.
- Save your hotel’s location as a pin and a screenshot, in both English and Vietnamese.
- On your e-visa form, enter the address exactly as your hotel gives it. Either format is generally understood.
- Don’t worry if a guidebook uses old names. The places are exactly where they were.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ha Giang still called Ha Giang?
Yes. The town and the famous loop keep their name; the area now belongs to Tuyen Quang province.
Is Hoi An now part of Da Nang?
Administratively, yes: Quang Nam province merged into Da Nang City. For visitors, Hoi An remains its own distinct old town about 45 minutes from Da Nang’s centre.
Did any airports change names?
No. Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc and the other airports keep their names.
Source checked on 21 September 2026: Vietnam Briefing: Vietnam consolidates from 63 to 34 provinces and cities.
All our destination guides use the new province names.