Digital transformation breakthrough in Plan 02: Building seamless electronic processes for “two-level digital government” to operate effectively

Amidst the strong flow of reforming the local government apparatus according to the two-tier model, Plan No. 02-KH/BCĐTW places digital transformation - technology - new processes at the key position. It is not only a technical requirement, but also a commitment to a seamless digital government, dedicated service, not allowing any administrative records or procedures to fall or be delayed due to the reason of "changed structure".

The arrangement, streamlining and reorganization of district and commune-level authorities into a two-tier model is a strong move but also poses potential risks in the administrative record processing process if this transformation is not supported by a sufficiently strong, interconnected and flexible digital platform. The domestic press has emphasized that Plan 02 is not just a technical solution, but an overall administrative reform strategy, requiring the system to operate synchronously, consistently and not "fall" when the organizational structure changes.

In reality, if each locality still operates in the traditional way, with paper records and manual processing at each level, as soon as the apparatus is reorganized, it is very easy for congestion, data errors, loss of records or interruption of public services to occur. Digital transformation is a mandatory condition to ensure that public service processes are not interrupted, minimize the risk of data loss during the merger process, and ensure that local authorities continue to "serve" smoothly.

Plan 02 of the Central Steering Committee on science , technology development, innovation and digital transformation aims to promote online records throughout the process, meaning that all steps from receiving, appraising, processing, and notifying results are carried out in a digital environment, without the need to transfer paper or only transfer electronic documents.

Completely eliminate the "paper-electronic parallel process" at provincial, district and commune level agencies, ensuring the legality of electronic records equivalent to paper records when the organizational structure changes.

Apply digital signatures and electronic authentication to ensure the authenticity and integrity of digital records through each processing step, preventing unauthorized interference.

As of August 2025, the rate of online records throughout the process has reached 39.71%; data shared via the national data integration and sharing platform (NDXP) has connected with more than 90 ministries, branches and localities.

In Hanoi , the City People's Committee has directed the elimination of parallel paper and electronic processes, requiring the entire system to use electronic records, building a shared data warehouse, and connecting document management systems, so that when reorganizing at the commune and district levels, the system is not interrupted.

From June 20, 2025, Hanoi city officially tested the 2-level government model in communes and wards.

Some provinces and cities have operated "non-territorial administrative procedure implementation points", where people can submit applications online from anywhere in the province, not bound by administrative boundaries.

At the Government office , administrative and clerical work has been strongly modernized: more than 123,000 non-confidential documents were issued electronically from 2020 to 2025; an electronic storage system was deployed for millions of paper documents.

These practices show that when combining systematic digital transformation with local government reorganization, people and businesses will continue to be served continuously, intelligently, quickly, and without being affected by changes in administrative structure.

In the above mentioned technological solutions, the Science and Technology sector plays a central role, being the driving force that helps turn orientation into action:

The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for building the national digital architecture framework, developing NDXP, providing technical support, coordinating with ministries and branches to build shared systems, standardizing APIs and interconnected data.

The Ministry is responsible for issuing documents guiding implementation, technical standards and mechanisms for integrating and connecting IT systems between government levels.

Local Departments of Science and Technology are responsible for proactively receiving and deploying digital platforms locally; coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications and local IT units to integrate and synchronize electronic records systems and shared data management platforms.

Along with that, the science and technology sector organizes training programs, provides guidance, provides technical support and connects IT experts to local agencies in the digital process application phase.

Departments of Science and Technology can also coordinate with technology enterprises to build localized solutions suitable to the practical conditions of each province and district, so that the digital process is not "leveling" but is both effective and flexible.

Common platform application solutions, “end-to-end digital processes”, intelligent monitoring, support chatbots and rapid response teams are strategic breakthroughs to make the future of “two-tier digital government” a reality.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/dot-pha-chuyen-doi-so-trong-ke-hoach-02-xay-dung-quy-trinh-dien-tu-lien-mach-de-chinh-quyen-so-hai-cap-van-hanh-hieu-qua-197251012143716022.htm