Ninh Binh dissolves Department of Foreign Affairs, establishes two new departments

Under Resolution No. 73/NQ-HDND dated October 29, 2026, adopted at the sixth session of the 16th-term Ninh Binh Provincial People’s Council, the province will establish the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, merge the Department of Culture and Sports with the Department of Tourism to form the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and dissolve the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The resolution took effect on October 29, 2026.

Under the restructuring plan, the Department of Foreign Affairs will cease to operate as an independent agency, with its functions and duties transferred to the Office of the Provincial People’s Committee. Its staff and civil servants will be reassigned to the Office of the Provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs in accordance with the approved plan.

The Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs will be established by taking over the functions, duties, staffing and civil servants of the Division of Ethnic and Religious Affairs under the Department of Home Affairs, along with suitable personnel from relevant agencies.

The new Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will be formed through the merger of the Department of Culture and Sports and the Department of Tourism. Its functions, duties and powers will be carried out in accordance with Circular No. 10/2025/TT-BVHTTDL dated June 19, 2025, issued by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The new department will comprise 17 subordinate units, including 10 specialised divisions and seven public non-business units.

Following the restructuring, the number of specialised agencies under the provincial People’s Committee is expected to fall from 14 to 13, while the number of public non-business units under departments and sectors will decrease from 220 to 199.

The province will have 15 specialised agencies and other administrative organisations under the Provincial People’s Committee, comprising 13 specialised agencies and two other administrative organisations./.