Technology is a tool, people are the center

From July 1, 2025, along with the whole country, Hanoi simultaneously deployed the two-level local government model in 126 communes and wards. After one month of implementation, the operations of grassroots units were ensured to be smooth and uninterrupted, which was highly appreciated by the people. To have smooth and effective operations, Hanoi has flexibly implemented many methods, especially Digital Transformation which is considered a "vital" bridge between the two levels of local government.

"Golden key" for two-level local government operations

After more than 1 month of implementing the two-level government, the activities of 126 communes and wards in Hanoi are still running smoothly and uninterruptedly, without any interruption in serving businesses and people. Hanoi is considered one of the leading provinces and cities in implementing this seriously, systematically and effectively.

Despite the large amount of work when decentralized and delegated, each cadre and civil servant always strives to overcome difficulties to build a government close to the people, serving the people better. The preparation work not only focuses on perfecting the apparatus and ensuring resources, but is also associated with promoting digital transformation, decentralization and delegation of power with the ultimate goal of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of State management and the quality of service to people and businesses. One of the highlights of the two-level local government model is the breakthrough in receiving and handling administrative procedures. The number of commune-level administrative procedures in Hanoi has been increased from 112 to 559, helping people access services more quickly and conveniently.

The smart AI robot was officially put into operation by the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward (Hanoi) at the Public Administration Center to serve people and businesses.

To achieve this result, one of the factors considered to be decisive is the strong application of digital transformation. According to Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Truong Viet Dung, as soon as the Politburo issued Resolution No. 57-NQ/TU of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation (Resolution 57) at the end of 2024, the City Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee as well as all levels of government at that time and later determined that this was the "golden key".

This resolution is not simply a resolution on digital transformation, science and technology and innovation, but more importantly, it is a redesign of the urban governance model. Therefore, the City is deeply aware of this and during the implementation process, the City Party Committee and the People's Committee have issued consistent action programs from the City level to the district level in the past and the commune/ward level in the future (126 communes/wards).

Hanoi's experience is encapsulated in three elements: Synchronization; Data and Proactivity. "So where is the synchronization? It is the synchronization in the implementation organization, from the awareness of the Party Committee to the actions of the government as well as to each grassroots cadre when handling the contents related to the implementation of Resolution 57.

Second, data is the foundation. We are deeply aware that to decide on any issue, we need data and data will make the most accurate and real-time decisions. Third, we are proactive. If we wait for all the regulations to be completed, we will not be able to meet the reality. Therefore, thoroughly implementing the spirit of "running and queuing at the same time", we also work and learn from experience, and in the process, Hanoi established many teams/groups. Based on the staff who work directly, and then receive feedback from the people, we continue to perfect the processes and content... to implement this Resolution. The biggest lesson that Hanoi has learned is that resources come from thinking, motivation comes from innovation, and strength starts from the people. We see that we need to innovate the way of thinking and doing. It is from innovation in thinking and doing that we will have specific actions," Mr. Dung shared.

After 3 weeks of official operation, Hanoi has received 66,000 dossiers to implement procedures. Up to this point, the two-level local government apparatus has basically operated smoothly and synchronously. With the viewpoint of "no one is left behind", Mr. Dung affirmed that the City's leaders realize that in the process of handling administrative procedures and serving the people, Hanoi pays special attention to taxpayers, the elderly and the disabled, to serve administrative procedures. Hanoi has deployed the content of supporting units and people on-site to handle administrative procedures instead of the disadvantaged having to go to public administrative centers as well as public administrative points. The Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee said that Hanoi identifies technology as just a tool. People are the center; synchronization in direction; data in operation and proactiveness in implementation... are the biggest lessons that Hanoi has operated synchronously and consistently in the past weeks.

Stop avoiding and pushing things away.

Assessing digital transformation in the implementation of two-level local government, based on the results achieved by Hanoi and other provinces and cities, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long said that the role of the leader is a key factor. Mr. Long assessed: “Currently, Hanoi is implementing very strongly, clearly concretizing. If the leader does not directly do it, does not directly use it, then it cannot be effective in digital transformation. This transformation must originate from the leader. If the leader does not want to transform, does not directly direct the transformation, and the leader does not use the transformation results, then digital transformation will only be a slogan and not in practice. Resolution 57 of the Politburo also stated this content very clearly. The leader must be directly responsible for and direct the digital transformation and the digital transformation results will evaluate the level of task completion of the leader. Second, is data. Data is the foundation. We have been building databases. Ministries, branches, and localities need to ensure that data is "correct, sufficient, clean, alive", and especially "shareable". The principle is that people and businesses should only provide data once, then the system must be able to reuse it, avoiding the situation of The status is updated over and over again. I would like to emphasize: The data must reach 100%. If it only reaches 95%, it is still impossible to deploy the entire online process when operating, because the lack of data will cause interruptions. "Enough" here means 100%, "clean" means no errors, "alive" means always updated and useful, and especially must be able to be shared between systems and units". Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long added that digital transformation is not a project with a starting and ending point, but a continuous process. If we consider it an investment project, complete it and leave it there, then 5 years or 10 years later we will still stand still. Digital transformation requires continuous change, continuous updating and development. Therefore, ministries, branches and localities need to accompany businesses, not only in implementation but also in operation and improvement. We already have the PPP mechanism, we already have forms of ordering and assigning tasks to businesses - let's make effective use of these mechanisms. The State will be the one to come up with the problem, improve the process, place the order, and businesses will be the ones to implement, operate and ensure quality. Only when we have this correct perception will digital transformation truly come into practice, serving people and businesses effectively.

Speaking at the 25th session of the 16th Hanoi People's Council in July, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai noted that operating under the two-level local government model requires clarity, transparency and efficiency and must end the situation of pushing and shirking responsibility. She assessed that the arrangement, streamlining of the organizational apparatus, and merging of administrative units is a strategic step of great significance in terms of politics, organization and practice in the process of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the political system and the state management system; creating new development space, exploiting potentials and advantages, creating conditions, motivations and new mechanisms for the capital and the country to develop faster, more sustainably, and serve the people better. Identifying that meaning, in recent times, all levels, sectors, the entire political system and the people of the Capital have been proactive, serious, responsible, focused on leading, directing and implementing the work of arrangement, especially the arrangement of the apparatus from the city level to the commune level, creating high consensus and unity within the Party Committee and receiving support from the people. Hanoi is one of the leading localities, systematically and seriously implementing the arrangement of administrative units; it is the locality with the highest rate of reduction of commune-level administrative units in the country (reduced by 76% from 526 communes, wards and towns to 126 new communes and wards), with the consensus rate of the people over 97%.

The Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee affirmed that in a short time, the City has urgently completed a large amount of work to deploy and operate the two-level local government model to ensure smoothness and efficiency in accordance with the direction of Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW dated April 12, 2025 of the Party Central Committee and the conclusions of the Politburo and the Secretariat. He also requested that the issued policies must be feasible, must reduce the burden of procedures, and must really come into life. All levels and sectors must tighten discipline and order and promote the responsibility of leaders in deploying the new government model. Each level, each sector, and each cadre must clearly define their roles and functions. Specific work contents must be implemented in a drastic, transparent manner, with a roadmap and specific responsible people.

Comrade Bui Thi Minh Hoai also noted that we must continue to promote the building of a clean and strong Party and political system, considering this the decisive factor for all victories. The success of the Capital Law, digital transformation, or any other policy depends on people and staff.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Xa-hoi/cong-nghe-la-cong-cu-con-nguoi-la-trung-tam-i778522/