Editor's note: In the process of building a "creative city" and a "smart city", Ho Chi Minh City has identified the development of a network of cultural and sports centers as a key task, linked to the overall planning of the entire city. From July 1, 2025, when Ho Chi Minh City expands its boundaries and operates a two-level local government model, these institutions will enter a phase of comprehensive restructuring, opening up opportunities for innovation but also posing many challenges in management and operation.
After July 1, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City will be required to review and rearrange the entire system of cultural, information and broadcasting centers. This is an important step to overcome the overlapping of functions and dispersion of resources; at the same time, create a foundation for a unified, streamlined cultural and information institution model that is suitable for the characteristics of a special urban area.
From “organization” to “service”
After more than 4 months of operation, the space of the Xuan Hoa Ward Cultural and Sports Service Center (No. 107 Truong Dinh, Xuan Hoa Ward) has become bustling. Recently, a representative of Ban Co Ward came to pay the cost after this center was in charge of organizing the stage for the gift-giving program to the ward's people, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2. Previously, the art competition with the theme "Echoes of Ban Co's singing" was also provided by the Xuan Hoa Ward Cultural and Sports Service Center, from organizing the stage, to sound, lighting...
These specific tasks show a clear shift in the Cultural and Sports Service Supply Centers, which are proactively responding to the actual needs of the facilities.
Implementing the direction and guidance of the Central and local governments, the network of cultural and sports institutions in Ho Chi Minh City was reorganized with the following names: Center for Cultural and Sports Services (formerly Ho Chi Minh City area); Center for Culture, Information and Sports or Center for Culture, Information and Broadcasting or Center for Culture, Information and Broadcasting (formerly Binh Duong province area); Center for Culture, Information and Sports (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau province area).
Dr. Ly Dai Nghia, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Sports Training and Competition Center, commented that this change is a turning point in management thinking. If previously, the "public service unit" model focused on implementing legal targets and professional tasks according to the State's plan, the service supply model forces centers to create products and services that meet market needs, serving people as customers in a competitive environment.
The Saigon Ward Cultural and Sports Service Center was formed by merging the Cultural and Sports Center and the Children's House and expanding its functions: from organizing events, talent classes, health training activities to providing entertainment services, community activities, learning and creative spaces.
Ms. Phan Ngoc Thao, Director of the Saigon Ward Cultural and Sports Service Center, said that while previously, activities were mainly organized according to movement plans, now the center focuses on meeting the practical needs of the community. People can register for yoga, dance, sports classes or rent space to organize events... A more flexible and diverse model, approaching the socialization method, but still maintaining the nature of a community-serving institution.
Ms. Phan Ngoc Thao added: "We make a difference through community and connection. The center will not only be a place to practice, but also a place for common cultural activities, a place to connect residents."
The spirit of service and meeting the cultural and sports needs of the people is also clearly shown at the Cultural and Sports Service Supply Center of Tan Thuan Ward. After the model transformation, the center focuses more on serving the people at the grassroots level, bringing them closer to the people - serving the community. In addition, the center focuses on developing additional supply functions.
Mr. Tran Van Ly, Director of the Center, said: "The new point is that the current model allows the center to provide diverse services (renting venues for events, organizing gifted classes, art and sports programs...) combining public services and socialization, helping to operate more dynamically and autonomously."
One contact, many advantages
The reorganization of the Service Supply Center model and the consolidation of many cultural, sports and tourism institutions have created a large and diverse workforce. The Binh Trung Ward Cultural and Sports Service Supply Center (merged from the Thu Duc City Cultural and Sports Center and Thu Duc City Children's House) currently has 165 staff; the Saigon Ward Cultural and Sports Service Supply Center has 167 staff... These figures show the capacity to mobilize and coordinate human resources on a large scale, contributing to ensuring good political and social tasks in the locality.
Operating funds are also concentrated at one point, facilitating budget allocation and organizing inter-ward and inter-commune activities on an expanded scale. According to many experts, streamlining management points helps save administrative costs and increase the efficiency of public budget use.
Taking advantage of human resources and flexibility in operating models, many Service Supply Centers have gradually built up their reputation. After surveying many places and looking for a suitable location, amateur volleyball "boss" Duong Van Ho Vu (Director of Thien Tan Company) decided to choose Hoc Mon Commune Cultural and Sports Service Supply Center (facility 1) as the venue for the tournament. The success of the 1st Gold Cup 7400 Volleyball Tournament (August 2025) made many people working in the industry appreciate the professionalism and quality of the service provider.
Mr. Ho Vu shared: After the administrative unit merger, I was worried that the centers would limit rentals and training. But in reality, that was not the case, activities took place normally. We used to organize many tournaments at gymnasiums in Ho Chi Minh City, but the Hoc Mon Commune Cultural and Sports Service Supply Center brought comfort: good facilities, reasonable rental prices, enthusiastic support...
The Hoc Mon Commune Cultural and Sports Service Center was formed on the basis of merging the Cultural, Sports and Communications Center, the Children's House and the Management Board of the Nga Ba Giong Martyrs Memorial Site. The unit currently manages about 13 facilities serving the cultural and sports sector, including units that own gymnasiums and performance halls.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh, Director of Hoc Mon Commune Service Supply Center, informed: “After the conversion, the center's functions have not changed much, even become more convenient. The areas are linked and support each other. For example, media supports culture and sports; relic sites help educate traditions for children and teenagers in the area”. Not only improving the quality of event organization services, the facilities of the Culture and Sports Service Supply Center have also become familiar meeting places for teenagers and students in neighboring residential areas.
An important factor in evaluating the effectiveness of cultural and sports institutions is the extent to which they spread to community life, reaching every citizen. With more than 20 members practicing regularly and open to the public, the archery club of the Cultural and Sports Service Center of Tan Thuan Ward has become a familiar place for physical training. Head coach Pham Vo Trung Nguyen said: The club is open from 9am to 9pm every day, serving both the practice needs of the people and a place for talented athletes to practice. The practice field is modernly designed, with indoor and outdoor areas with many distances, so it attracts a large number of people who love the sport. The center's board of directors is very open, always creating conditions for the development of the movement.
The strong movement and positive signals in activities, a common trend that is easy to see, the closer to practical needs, the more professionalism and service quality are enhanced, the more the centers become a spiritual support for the community in the context of urban expansion. The process of restructuring grassroots cultural and sports activities, turning the centers into open, flexible spaces where people can find the need to practice, entertain, create and connect with the community, the new cultural and sports institutions really come into life.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tai-cau-truc-thiet-che-van-hoa-the-thao-co-so-bai-1-buoc-da-chuyen-doi-post826194.html
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