When the space for dialogue is connected over a cup of tea or coffee.

Without formal halls or podiums, the bond between the government and the people is being established simply over a cup of tea or coffee. Through citizen consultations and meetings following the model of "People's Council Representatives - Drinking Tea and Listening to the People" in rural Hung Yen, or "Neighborhood Coffee" in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, people's problems are gradually resolved, and the policies of the Party, State, and local authorities are accurately conveyed.

From the saying "Drinking tea and listening to the people" in Hung Yen.

At 6:30 AM on May 14th, in accordance with Plan No. 02-KH/TTHĐND of the Standing Committee of the People's Council of Vu Thu Commune, Hung Yen Province, regarding the implementation of the "People's Council Representatives - Listening to the People's Talk Over Tea" model, a cordial meeting took place at the home of Mr. Pham Quang Quy in Trung Hung village. The dialogue was attended by the Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of the commune, Pham Thi Nhu Phong; the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, Tran Thanh Hai; along with People's Council representatives from Group No. 1, specialized departments, and a large number of local residents. Over familiar cups of green tea, conversations about life and work unfolded naturally. The People's Council representatives proactively raised the most practical issues affecting the local community.

Pham Thi Nhu Phong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People's Council of Vu Thu commune, speaks with voters (Photo from printed newspaper).

With the gap narrowed, residents of Trung Hung village frankly proposed that the Commune People's Committee provide funding and technical support to connect the drainage system, ending localized flooding during heavy rains. Voters also requested that the process of issuing land use right certificates be expedited; waste collection be strengthened; security and traffic safety be ensured at the Cau La intersection; and vigilance be increased in fire prevention and drowning prevention for children during the summer months. All heartfelt opinions were seriously considered and addressed frankly during the tea break.

Demonstrating the spirit of "actions speak louder than words," immediately after the dialogue, the Party Secretary and Chairwoman of the People's Council of the commune, Pham Thi Nhu Phong, along with professional staff, went directly to the site to survey the issues raised by voters and requested the urgent development of a plan to resolve them definitively. Mr. Pham Van Tam (88 years old, Trung Hung village), a veteran revolutionary with nearly 65 years of Party membership, emotionally shared: "The most precious thing is the sincere listening and truly receptive attitude of the government. My family also encountered difficulties with land procedures, and after receiving thorough guidance from officials during the tea session, I understood the process to complete the paperwork."

Following a meeting with constituents, the leaders of Vu Thu commune visited the area where residents had requested a drainage system to conduct a survey and provide guidance on how to resolve the issue.

Following the success of Group 1 in Trung Hung village, the model was quickly replicated. On the morning of May 15th, at the home of Mr. Ngo Duy Chien (Tho Loc village), Group 2 of the Commune People's Council continued to meet with the villagers to discuss a range of issues: agricultural production restructuring, environmental sanitation, restoration of historical and spiritual relics, etc. Ms. Tran Thi Binh shared that although she had wanted to speak about upgrading roads and renovating temples and pagodas many times, she kept it to herself because she was "shy" in front of crowds. The warm atmosphere of the tea-drinking session gave her the motivation to speak up, and the commune leaders immediately acknowledged her concerns and committed to resolving them soon.

Voters openly engage in conversations and offer suggestions and recommendations on issues that concern them.

Despite only being piloted for two sessions, the "People's Council Representatives - Listening to the People's Voices Over Tea" model has had a tremendous ripple effect. According to the Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Vu Thu commune, instead of the traditional meeting hall, representatives go directly to people's homes on Friday mornings (the second week of each month) from 6:30 to 8:00 AM; each representative attends at least six meetings per year. The content focuses on land management, environment, infrastructure, social welfare, and pressing issues at the grassroots level. To avoid the situation of "listening and then doing nothing," the Standing Committee of the People's Council of the commune clearly defines a five-step process: Receiving; classifying; summarizing and forwarding for processing; monitoring and supervision; and providing feedback on results. Recommendations will be followed up, included in the questioning sessions at meetings when necessary, and the results will be made public for people to monitor.

The "Neighborhood Coffee" program in Dong Hung Thuan ward creates a space for dialogue with the people.

Enjoy a cup of "Neighborhood Coffee" in Ho Chi Minh City.

If green tea is associated with the villages of Northern Vietnam, then in a dynamic metropolis like Ho Chi Minh City, a morning iced coffee acts as a catalyst bringing the government closer to the people through the "Neighborhood Coffee" model. Recently, the Party Committee and People's Committee of Dong Hung Thuan Ward organized the "Neighborhood Coffee" program with the participation of ward leaders, ward police, armed forces, and Party branch secretaries and heads of neighborhoods from 49 to 84. In a friendly atmosphere, residents raised many issues regarding urban development, the environment, administrative reform, street order, and the sense of responsibility of the officials.

Leaders of Dong Hung Thuan ward directly responded to comments and suggestions shared at the "Neighborhood Coffee" program.

Based on that, the ward leaders directly discuss, explain, or assign officials to handle the issues within their authority. Ms. Tran Thi Huyen Thanh - Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People's Council of the ward - emphasized that the program is implemented with the motto "listen and act," and is organized periodically once every quarter, prioritizing areas with many outstanding issues. In the first quarter of 2026, through the "Neighborhood Coffee" program, the ward received 17 opinions on clean water, alley upgrades, lighting, traffic, etc. Many issues have been considered and resolved completely, notably the coordination in installing traffic control signs in the school area to ensure the safety of students during peak hours…

The "Drinking Tea, Listening to the People" model in Hung Yen and the "Neighborhood Coffee" model in the megacity of Ho Chi Minh City have skillfully transformed the daily cultural space of the people into a political forum, a channel for direct, open, sincere, and highly constructive dialogue. A cup of tea in the Northern Delta or a glass of iced coffee in the South has become a unique political "catalyst," affirming the determination to build a government that is truly close to the people and serves the people.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/khi-khong-gian-doi-thoai-duoc-ket-noi-qua-chen-tra-ly-ca-phe-10417251.html