Vietnam is structured into a dynamic multi-tier urban administrative framework comprising 6 centrally-governed municipalities, 1 municipal city, and 82 provincial cities spread across 8 distinct economic regions. Whether you are navigating regional logistics, commercial trade, manufacturing supply chains, or international travel, this definitive guide provides the complete, classified directory of all cities in Vietnam.
Understanding Vietnam’s Urban Administrative Hierarchy
Urban governance in Vietnam is organized under specific administrative tiers:
- Centrally-Governed Municipalities (Thành phố trực thuộc trung ương): First-tier administrative divisions possessing province-level governance, representing Vietnam’s political, economic, cultural, and industrial epicenters.
- Municipal City (Thành phố thuộc thành phố trực thuộc trung ương): A unique sub-city administrative model (currently Thu Duc City within Ho Chi Minh City) established as an innovation and high-tech growth pole.
- Provincial Cities (Thành phố thuộc tỉnh): Second-tier administrative cities functioning as provincial capitals or secondary economic powerhouses within their respective provinces.
- City Urban Grading System: Classified from Special Class (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) down through Class I, Class II, and Class III based on population density, infrastructure development, and economic output.
The 6 Centrally-Governed Municipalities of Vietnam
These 6 metropolitan regions operate directly under the central government of Vietnam:
| Municipality | Vietnamese Name | Urban Classification | Key Economic Role & Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Hà Nội | Special Class | National Capital, political headquarters, Northern industrial and educational powerhouse |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh | Special Class | Largest metropolis, financial center, major international commercial and manufacturing gateway |
| Hai Phong | Hải Phòng | Class I | Northern maritime port hub, heavy manufacturing, deep-water logistics center |
| Da Nang | Đà Nẵng | Class I | Central Vietnam economic capital, tourism leader, high-tech and maritime hub (learn more in our Da Nang marathon profile) |
| Can Tho | Cần Thơ | Class I | Mekong Delta regional hub, agricultural processing, river logistics and commerce |
| Hue | Huế | Class I | Imperial cultural capital, heritage tourism, central educational and medical center (explore the Hue cultural festival) |
Municipal City (Sub-Metropolitan Level)
Vietnam currently has one officially recognized municipal city operating inside a centrally-governed municipality:
- Thu Duc City (Thành phố Thủ Đức): Established under Ho Chi Minh City, merging District 2, District 9, and Thu Duc District into an eastern smart innovation and financial district.
Complete Directory of 82 Provincial Cities by Region
Below is the complete catalog of all 82 provincial cities in Vietnam, organized across the nation’s 8 geographic and economic regions.
1. Red River Delta (Đồng bằng sông Hồng)
The historical and manufacturing heartland of Northern Vietnam, hosting major electronics, automotive, and textile industrial parks:
| City Name | Province | Urban Class | Key Economic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bac Ninh | Bac Ninh | Class I | Semiconductors, global electronics manufacturing |
| Tu Son | Bac Ninh | Class III | Light industry, handicraft villages, trade |
| Hai Duong | Hai Duong | Class I | Automotive assembly, industrial manufacturing |
| Chi Linh | Hai Duong | Class III | Eco-tourism, historical heritage, industry |
| Hung Yen | Hung Yen | Class III | Agro-processing, light industry, commerce |
| Nam Dinh | Nam Dinh | Class I | Textiles, garment production, education |
| Ninh Binh | Ninh Binh | Class II | Karst tourism, automotive manufacturing |
| Tam Diep | Ninh Binh | Class III | Building materials, mechanical engineering |
| Thai Binh | Thai Binh | Class II | Textiles, food processing, manufacturing |
| Phu Ly | Ha Nam | Class III | Industrial parks, logistics, medical care |
| Vinh Yen | Vinh Phuc | Class II | Automotive, electronics, urban development |
| Phuc Yen | Vinh Phuc | Class III | Vehicle assembly plants, resort tourism |
| Ha Long | Quang Ninh | Class I | UNESCO World Heritage tourism, maritime trade |
| Cam Pha | Quang Ninh | Class II | Coal extraction, thermal energy, seaport trade |
| Mong Cai | Quang Ninh | Class II | Cross-border international trade with China |
| Uong Bi | Quang Ninh | Class II | Spiritual tourism (Yen Tu), energy production |
| Dong Trieu | Quang Ninh | Class III | Ceramics, coal mining, agro-tourism |
2. Northeast Region (Đông Bắc Bộ)
Mountainous and border territories known for mineral mining, metallurgy, tea production, and strategic trade corridors:
| City Name | Province | Urban Class | Key Economic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bac Giang | Bac Giang | Class II | High-tech electronics supply chain, fruit export |
| Bac Kan | Bac Kan | Class III | Forestry, mineral mining, eco-tourism |
| Cao Bang | Cao Bang | Class III | Geopark tourism, border gate commerce |
| Ha Giang | Ha Giang | Class III | Dong Van Karst Plateau tourism, agriculture |
| Lang Son | Lang Son | Class II | International cross-border logistics gateway |
| Thai Nguyen | Thai Nguyen | Class I | Metallurgy, global smartphone assembly, education |
| Song Cong | Thai Nguyen | Class II | Mechanical manufacturing, heavy metallurgy |
| Pho Yen | Thai Nguyen | Class III | Samsung electronics campus, industrial parks |
| Tuyen Quang | Tuyen Quang | Class II | Hydropower, timber processing, cultural tourism |
| Yen Bai | Yen Bai | Class III | Cinnamon production, mineral stone processing |
| Viet Tri | Phu Tho | Class I | Ancestral heritage tourism (Hung Kings), chemicals |
3. Northwest Region (Tây Bắc Bộ)
High-altitude border provinces home to major hydroelectric reservoirs, ethnic heritage, and alpine agricultural trade:
| City Name | Province | Urban Class | Key Economic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dien Bien Phu | Dien Bien | Class III | Historical military tourism, regional services |
| Hoa Binh | Hoa Binh | Class III | Hydropower generation, ecotourism |
| Lai Chau | Lai Chau | Class III | Hydropower, specialty tea, border commerce |
| Son La | Son La | Class II | Son La Hydropower, specialty coffee and fruits |
| Lao Cai | Lao Cai | Class II | Hekou border trade, Sa Pa alpine tourism hub |
4. North Central Coast (Bắc Trung Bộ)
Coastal and logistics transit belt connecting Northern Vietnam to Central seaports and neighboring Laos:
| City Name | Province | Urban Class | Key Economic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanh Hoa | Thanh Hoa | Class I | Nghi Son economic zone, heavy industry, textiles |
| Sam Son | Thanh Hoa | Class II | Coastal resort tourism, leisure hospitality |
| Vinh | Nghe An | Class I | Education center, commercial hub, food processing |
| Ha Tinh | Ha Tinh | Class II | Vung Ang deep-water steel and port complex |
| Dong Hoi | Quang Binh | Class II | Phong Nha cave tourism, fisheries, services |
| Dong Ha | Quang Tri | Class III | East-West economic corridor cross-border trade |
5. South Central Coast (Duyên hải Nam Trung Bộ)
Vietnam’s primary marine tourism and maritime corridor with deep natural bays, renewable energy, and export manufacturing:
| City Name | Province | Urban Class | Key Economic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tam Ky | Quang Nam | Class II | Chu Lai open economic zone, auto manufacturing |
| Hoi An | Quang Nam | Class III | UNESCO ancient town, international cultural tourism |
| Quang Ngai | Quang Ngai | Class II | Dung Quat oil refinery, heavy shipbuilding |
| Quy Nhon | Binh Dinh | Class I | Artificial intelligence hub, seaport, beach tourism |
| Tuy Hoa | Phu Yen | Class II | Fisheries, tuna export, coastal ecotourism |
| Nha Trang | Khanh Hoa | Class I | Major international beach resort, marine research |
| Cam Ranh | Khanh Hoa | Class II | Cam Ranh International Airport, naval shipyard |
| Phan Rang-Thap Cham | Ninh Thuan | Class II | Solar and wind energy, Cham culture, vineyards |
| Phan Thiet | Binh Thuan | Class II | Mui Ne resort tourism, dragon fruit, fish sauce |
6. Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên)
Fertile volcanic plateau powering Vietnam’s coffee, rubber, pepper, bauxite, and temperate agricultural exports:
| City Name | Province | Urban Class | Key Economic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buon Ma Thuot | Dak Lak | Class I | Coffee capital of Vietnam, regional commercial hub |
| Pleiku | Gia Lai | Class I | Rubber, hydropower, agricultural processing |
| Da Lat | Lam Dong | Class I | Cool highland climate tourism, flowers, vegetables |
| Bao Loc | Lam Dong | Class III | Bao Loc silk industry, Oolong tea plantations |
| Kon Tum | Kon Tum | Class III | Ngoc Linh ginseng, medicinal herbs, timber |
| Gia Nghia | Dak Nong | Class III | Bauxite aluminum mining, pepper farming |
7. Southeast Region (Đông Nam Bộ)
Vietnam’s most industrial and high-output economic engine, generating the majority of foreign direct investment (FDI):
| City Name | Province | Urban Class | Key Economic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Dau Mot | Binh Duong | Class I | Smart city urban core, administrative headquarters |
| Di An | Binh Duong | Class II | Major rail freight hub, electronics, manufacturing |
| Thuan An | Binh Duong | Class II | Export processing zones, retail malls, logistics |
| Tan Uyen | Binh Duong | Class III | Textiles, furniture, ceramic industrial clusters |
| Ben Cat | Binh Duong | Class III | My Phuoc industrial zones, international universities |
| Bien Hoa | Dong Nai | Class I | Oldest industrial park hub, metals, machinery |
| Long Khanh | Dong Nai | Class III | Tropical fruit logistics, light industrial zones |
| Vung Tau | Ba Ria-Vung Tau | Class I | Offshore oil and gas, marine logistics, tourism |
| Ba Ria | Ba Ria-Vung Tau | Class II | Administrative capital, infrastructure services |
| Phu My | Ba Ria-Vung Tau | Class III | Cai Mep-Thi Vai deep-sea port complex, steel |
| Dong Xoai | Binh Phuoc | Class III | Rubber processing, cashew nut export, timber |
| Tay Ninh | Tay Ninh | Class III | Moc Bai border economic zone, Ba Den Mountain |
8. Mekong River Delta (Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long)
The agricultural rice bowl and aquaculture center of Vietnam, surrounded by complex river and canal waterways:
| City Name | Province | Urban Class | Key Economic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Xuyen | An Giang | Class I | Pangasius catfish processing, rice trading |
| Chau Doc | An Giang | Class II | Spiritual tourism (Ba Chua Xu), Cambodia river gate |
| Bac Lieu | Bac Lieu | Class II | Wind energy, intensive tiger prawn farming |
| Ben Tre | Ben Tre | Class II | Coconut processing, fruit confectionery, ecotourism |
| Ca Mau | Ca Mau | Class II | Gas-Power-Fertilizer complex, giant shrimp export |
| Cao Lanh | Dong Thap | Class II | Agricultural research, mango and lotus processing |
| Sa Dec | Dong Thap | Class II | Sa Dec flower village, rice flour manufacturing |
| Hong Ngu | Dong Thap | Class III | Border gate commerce, aquaculture trade |
| Vi Thanh | Hau Giang | Class II | Rice storage, agro-industrial processing |
| Nga Bay | Hau Giang | Class III | 7-way canal crossroads, floating market trade |
| Rach Gia | Kien Giang | Class II | Gulf of Thailand fishing port, coastal commerce |
| Ha Tien | Kien Giang | Class III | Cambodia coastal border gate, limestone tourism |
| Phu Quoc | Kien Giang | Class II | World-class island resort destination, pearl farming (view our Phu Quoc travel report) |
| Tan An | Long An | Class II | Gateway connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta |
| Soc Trang | Soc Trang | Class II | Shrimp export, Khmer cultural pagoda tourism |
| My Tho | Tien Giang | Class I | Tien River cruises, fruit orchards, manufacturing |
| Go Cong | Tien Giang | Class III | Marine aquaculture, traditional wood carving |
| Tra Vinh | Tra Vinh | Class II | Duyen Hai thermal energy, aquaculture, coconut |
| Vinh Long | Vinh Long | Class II | Co Chien River commerce, brick ceramics, fruit |
Bilateral Trade and Manufacturing Links: Philippines and Vietnam
Vietnam and the Philippines share deep economic integration across ASEAN trade routes. As major manufacturing and logistics partners, businesses across both nations frequently exchange textiles, apparel blanks, electronics, and agricultural commodities. If you are coordinating freight or importing promotional apparel, explore our Philippines to Vietnam import and export guide and our Vietnam national team sports merchandise catalog.
Contact Our International Apparel & Logistics Desk
For custom garment manufacturing, corporate uniform supply, bulk blank t-shirts, and international cross-border freight inquiries, get in touch with our specialists today: