A provincial city (Vietnamese: thành phố thuộc tỉnh) is a type of second-level subdivision of Vietnam. It has equal status along with urban districts, districts, municipal cities, and towns.^[1] Also by virtue of Decree No. 42/2009/ND-CP, provincial cities are officially classified into Class-1, Class-2 or Class-3.^[2]

The cities can only subordinate to provinces as a second-tier unit. At the third tier, provincial cities are divided into wards and communes, the latter of which apply to the more suburban parts.

Municipalities, Cities, & Towns in Vietnam
Municipalities: red (special class), pink (class 1)
Municipal cities: green (class 1)
Provincial cities: dark blue (class 1), cyan (class 2), light blue (class 3)
Provincial towns: orange (class 3), yellow (class 4)

Facts

Cities are usually provincial urban and administrative centers. Some cities also was appointed provincial economic centers and the culture center of a region (between provinces). There might still agricultural population in the suburban of provincial cities. Provincial cities are divided into wards (within the inner city) and communes (within the suburban). Cities are equal level with counties, urban districts or towns, but larger and more important. At the time of 2020, seven cities: Bắc Ninh, Dĩ An, Đông Hà, Huế, Sóc Trăng, Thủ Dầu Một and Vĩnh Long, do not have any rural commune.

List of provincial cities