Across Vietnam, a sweeping wave of administrative reform is reshaping local government and the military alike, with an eye toward efficiency, accountability, and resilience in the face of both natural and bureaucratic challenges. Two major stories—one from the frontline of national defense in Son La province, the other from the heart of public administration—reveal how the country is navigating a delicate balance: streamlining its apparatus while safeguarding public resources and morale.
In the rugged northwestern reaches of Son La, the Military Defense Command of Area 2—Song Ma, under the Provincial Military Command, has taken on an expanded role, now overseeing 13 communes spread across the districts of Song Ma and Sop Cop. This shift, part of a broader reorganization, has demanded not just a larger management footprint but also a renewed focus on stability and effectiveness. According to Bao Son La, the unit’s leadership quickly set clear roles and responsibilities, uniting behind a single purpose: "to overcome difficulties and stabilize the unit." Their efforts are visible from the command center’s green, orderly grounds to the efficiently arranged living quarters, all designed to support both daily life and mission readiness.
Thượng tá Khuất Minh Tuấn, Political Commissar of the Area 2 Command, highlighted the dual priorities of logistics and morale. “The unit ensures full reception, management of camps, material facilities, vehicles, and weapons; maintains green, clean, and beautiful working and living environments,” he told Bao Son La. Beyond infrastructure, the unit has doubled down on political and legal education, aiming to build responsibility and unity among officers and professional soldiers. After the recent administrative merger, the command moved swiftly to stabilize personnel and address any challenges related to accommodation and working conditions.
Maintaining a high degree of combat readiness is non-negotiable. The command enforces strict duty regimes and runs regular drills to protect its agencies and units. In a proactive move, three working groups were dispatched to oversee the construction of security plans, while the command partnered with local People's Committees to establish Civil Defense Command Boards in all 13 communes. These boards, formed in accordance with the new Civil Defense Law, are now backed by detailed plans and regulations, ensuring that the area is prepared for both routine and emergency scenarios.
Militia forces—often the first responders in rural communities—have not been overlooked. Uniforms, equipment, and allowances are provided, and both regular and special militia receive proper training and compensation. The command is currently working with commune-level military commands to monitor militia strength, update lists of conscription-age citizens, and prepare for the 2026 recruitment drive. Song Ma commune, for instance, has completed its review of eligible citizens, thanks to coordinated outreach and education efforts. "Many families are encouraging voluntary enlistment," reported Vũ Sơn Tùng, head of the Song Ma commune military command, underscoring the community’s support for national defense.
But the responsibilities of the Area 2 Command extend beyond military preparedness. The unit has built robust plans for disaster prevention and search and rescue, working closely with relevant agencies. This readiness was put to the test during the floods from July 26 to August 3, 2025, when over 200 officers and more than 1,600 militia members joined forces to conduct search and rescue operations and aid recovery. Their efforts included supervising the construction of 52 new houses, relocating 205 homes, and repairing 61 others for families in communes hit hardest by the disaster.
In keeping with the spirit of the "Military logistics sector follows Uncle Ho's teachings" movement, the command maintains strict discipline in its kitchens and barracks. Health rates among military personnel are impressive—98.8% healthy—thanks to attention to hygiene, preventive medicine, and a push for self-sufficiency through increased production and livestock. All these efforts, Bao Son La reports, are steadily building a "strong, solid defense area and protecting the Fatherland in the new situation."
Meanwhile, on the civilian side, the process of administrative streamlining is reaching a critical juncture nationwide. By the end of August 2025, around 100,000 officials, civil servants, and public employees had left their posts as a result of administrative unit reorganization, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (as reported by VOH). Ministries, sectors, and localities are racing to resolve policy and benefits issues under the guidance of Decrees 178/2024/ND-CP and 67/2025/ND-CP. Local governments have been tasked with stabilizing the new two-level administrative model, streamlining specialized agencies at both provincial and commune levels, and ensuring that procedures for citizens and businesses are handled swiftly and efficiently.
After three months of these reforms, a comprehensive review, evaluation, and restructuring of the official workforce is underway. Experts, such as Dr. Vũ Thị Mai Oanh from Ho Chi Minh City Cadre Academy, warn of the dangers of “wasting talent,” describing it as "a worrying form of intellectual waste." Without mechanisms to value and retain skilled personnel, the public sector risks losing its most capable members. Dr. Ngô Tuấn Phương (Ho Chi Minh City University of Law) and Dr. Ngô Thị Kim Liên (Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City) both advocate for urgent improvements in policies to attract and nurture high-quality human resources. They argue that such measures are essential for effective state management and for creating the breakthroughs needed for development, especially with the 14th National Party Congress and the 16th National Assembly elections on the horizon.
Alongside personnel issues, the management of public assets has emerged as a pressing concern. By the end of 2024, more than 11,000 public houses and plots of land remained unresolved, with many properties either degraded or illegally occupied, according to the Ministry of Finance. Out of over 38,000 public offices in 52 provinces and cities that have undergone reorganization, 4,226 are now redundant. Some provinces are acting decisively: Vinh Long is converting surplus offices into schools, while Dong Nai is reallocating them to provincial agencies or transforming them into health and education facilities. Ho Chi Minh City has issued a plan to handle public assets under the principle of "no loss or waste," redirecting properties to serve education, health, and cultural needs.
Experts stress that effective management and use of public assets is more than just a matter of saving resources—it is a test of leadership and the ability to coordinate across institutions. Dr. Nguyễn Thị Tường Duy from Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade cautions against letting public land go unused or fall into disrepair, warning that such waste "causes losses and erodes public trust." For Vietnam, the fight against waste—whether of talent or property—is becoming a defining challenge in its quest to build a lean, honest, and effective state.
Both the military’s experience in Son La and the nationwide administrative overhaul illustrate a nation in transition, determined to adapt, protect, and grow stronger in the face of change.
