Streamlining the administrative apparatus: Getting closer to the people for a stronger government.

Communes should no longer just handle routine administrative tasks, but must become the place where development policies are directly implemented and problems arise at the grassroots level.

Nearly a year after the implementation of the organizational restructuring, the operation of the two-tiered local government model has shown clear positive changes, with a more streamlined apparatus, faster administrative procedures, and closer proximity to the people at the grassroots level.

However, along with these initial results come new pressures regarding personnel, decentralization, digital infrastructure, and practical operation. New directives from the central government also demonstrate a determination to improve the model so that local governments operate more effectively and efficiently.

Recently, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 18/CT-TTg on improving the quality of local government officials and civil servants at the commune level to meet the requirements of the new situation. The spirit of the Directive clearly states that the commune-level official workforce has been fundamentally strengthened, and working methods are gradually changing towards better serving the people and businesses. However, the demands of the new development phase are much higher.

As the functions and responsibilities of the grassroots level expand, and as the goal of "double-digit" growth is set, the commune level will no longer just perform ordinary administrative tasks but must become the place to directly organize and implement development policies and resolve emerging issues at the grassroots level.

Therefore, Directive No. 18 requires a comprehensive review of the quality of commune-level officials; assigning the "right person to the right job, at the right time, and in the right place," promoting practical abilities, strengths, and work experience; resolutely streamlining the workforce for those with weak abilities, lack of responsibility, and who do not meet job requirements; prioritizing talented, capable, experienced individuals with the ability to withstand pressure and in-depth expertise for complex areas such as land, construction, complaints, and denunciations.

Notably, the evaluation of officials is required to be directly linked to the progress of work, and the satisfaction of citizens and businesses.

That spirit is also being emphasized throughout many major directives of the Central Committee. National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, when presiding over a session on the comprehensive review of the system of legal documents, stressed that this is a "total institutional inventory."

The requirements must clearly identify which regulations are hindering development, which are overlapping, outdated, or no longer relevant, avoiding vague and superficial reports.

At the first regular government meeting of the 16th term, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung also requested continued efforts to promote decentralization and delegation of power, coupled with inspection and supervision; using reform results as a criterion for evaluating the responsibility of ministries, sectors, and localities.

Handling administrative procedures for citizens at the new Thất Khê Commune Public Administrative Service Center, Lạng Sơn province. (Photo: Văn Đạt/TTXVN)

The government has issued eight resolutions on reducing, decentralizing, and simplifying administrative procedures and business conditions; abolishing 184 administrative procedures, decentralizing 134 procedures to local authorities, and abolishing 890 business conditions.

These figures show that reforms are being implemented in concrete ways. However, the government itself acknowledges that the operation of the two-tiered local government system still has shortcomings; decentralization and delegation of power are not thorough; and the issuance of some guiding documents is still slow.

Therefore, the Resolution of the Government meeting in April 2026 continues to require a preliminary review of one year of implementing the two-tiered local government model; completing a 50% reduction in the time for processing administrative procedures and a 50% reduction in the cost of complying with administrative procedures in 2026 compared to 2024.

The National Assembly also requested the Government to continue tightening discipline and order; practice thorough austerity; and overcome waste in the management of public assets, land, and delayed projects. At the same time, it authorized the use of funds saved from the restructuring of the administrative apparatus to supplement the salary reform budget.

The nationwide implementation of the new model has also shown many significant changes. After one year of implementing the two-tiered local government system, Lam Dong province reduced the number of Party-level agencies by 66.6% and the number of government-level agencies by 61.9%.

The province has completed the organizational restructuring in 124 communes, wards, and special zones; mobilizing more than 730 officials to strengthen the grassroots level. Lam Dong clearly identifies the need to build a team of officials with digital capabilities, working on data platforms, meeting the requirements of operating a two-tiered government system, while setting the goal of ensuring all commune-level officials and civil servants meet the university-level qualification standard and are proficient in using digital platforms.

In Thai Nguyen, after merging with Bac Kan, the number of commune-level administrative units decreased by 188; the number of specialized agencies at the provincial level was halved. From urban areas to mountainous regions, the new model is promoting a change in governance thinking towards being closer to the people.

For example, in Phan Dinh Phung ward, after the merger, the population is over 121,000 people, but the Public Administrative Service Center only has 7 staff members.

Despite immense workload pressure, the locality has chosen digital transformation to address the challenges. From July 2025 to the present, the ward has received nearly 25,000 administrative documents, mostly processed online; the resolution rate has reached 97.2%.

An AI virtual assistant system has been implemented to support residents 24/7. The approach of the ward officials has also changed, as they now proactively guide residents and prioritize resident satisfaction.

However, practical experience also reveals significant difficulties. Thai Nguyen province has acknowledged that some areas are still struggling to operate the new model, the assignment of tasks is not truly scientific, the imbalance in human resources between sectors still exists, and the capacity to apply information technology and digital transformation at the grassroots level is uneven.

Even in Da Nang, the allocation and placement of officials is considered to be not truly balanced; some officials have not yet adapted to the new requirements and tasks, still working according to old methods and habits; the leadership and management capabilities and professional qualifications of some officials do not meet the requirements of the new working methods in the system and the demands of reality.

Faced with this reality, many localities are strongly shifting towards demanding stricter discipline and improving the quality of officials. Da Nang, for example, has emphasized preventing incompetent officials from hindering development; resolutely replacing irresponsible and evasive officials; and addressing the imbalance of personnel in different areas. The city has also determined that it must send young, capable officials to the grassroots level and use tangible results as the basis for evaluation.

Even in the field of defense, the new model requires adjustments to ensure its suitability. The Bac Ninh Provincial Military Command has proposed continuing to review emerging difficulties and obstacles in order to promptly propose solutions, ensuring military and defense tasks are carried out in conjunction with the new organizational structure.

The reality of the past year shows that streamlining the administrative apparatus and implementing a two-tiered local government system is the right policy and is creating many positive changes. However, as it goes into operation, the need to improve institutions, enhance the quality of officials, strengthen digital transformation, and achieve genuine decentralization becomes increasingly urgent.

New directives from the central government, along with approaches from many localities, demonstrate a clear determination to continue overcoming difficulties and perfecting the model.

As institutions continue to be comprehensively reviewed, and officials are assigned to the right positions with authority coupled with responsibility, the two-tiered local government model will not only be an organizational change but will also become a driving force for rapid and sustainable development in the new phase.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tinh-gon-bo-may-gan-dan-de-chinh-quyen-manh-hon-post1109586.vnp