Decree No. 72-CP of November 18, 1996 of the Government to readjust the administrative boundaries of Quan Hoa, Nhu Xuan, Dong Son and Thieu Yen districts, Thanh Hoa province

- To establish Quan Son district comprising 9 communes: Trung Xuan, Trung Thuong, Trung Ha, Son Ha, Tam Thanh, Son Thuy, Son Lu, Tam Lu and Son Dien of Quan Hoa district

- To establish Muong Lat district comprising 6 communes: Trung Ly, Ten Tan, Tam Chung, Pu Nhi, Quan Chieu and Muong Thanh of Quan Hoa district

- To rename Thieu Yen district into Yen Dinh district

- To establish Nhu Thanh district comprising 16 communes: Thanh Ky, Thanh Tan, Xuan Thai, Yen Lac, Yen Tho, Xuan Phuc, Phuc Duong, Xuan Tho, Xuan Khang, Hai Long, Phu Nhuan, Mau Lam, Phuong Nghi, Xuan Du, Can Khe and Hai Van of Nhu Xuan district.

- To establish Thieu Hoa district comprising 15 communes of Thieu Yen district: Thieu Ngoc, Thieu Vu, Thieu Phuc, Thieu Tien, Thieu Cong, Thieu Thinh, Thieu Phu, Thieu Hung, Thieu Long, Thieu Giang, Thieu Duy, Thieu Nguyen, Thieu Hop, Thieu Quang and Thieu Thanh and 16 communes of Dong Song district: Thieu Toan, Thieu Chinh, Thieu Hoa, Thieu Minh, Thieu Tam, Thieu Vien, Thieu Ly, Thieu Van, Thieu Trung, Thieu Do, Thieu Chau, Thieu Van, Thieu Giao, Thieu Khanh, Thieu Duong and Thieu Tan.-