On October 22, 2025, Vietnam’s government took decisive steps to clarify and strengthen the roles of local and central authorities across a range of public sectors. Two major policy developments—one focusing on education and illiteracy eradication, the other on public service autonomy and infrastructure planning—signal a new era of local empowerment, accountability, and streamlined governance. These changes, outlined in Decree 143/2025/ND-CP and discussed at the National Assembly by President Luong Cuong, are set to reshape how Vietnam’s provinces manage key responsibilities, from schools to hospitals to airports.
Decree 143/2025/ND-CP, issued on October 22, marks a significant shift in the management of education and the fight against illiteracy. According to Đại Đoàn Kết, the decree grants Provincial People's Committees (PPCs) and their Chairpersons much stronger authority to recognize when a province has achieved certain standards in universalizing education and eradicating illiteracy. This move is part of a broader effort to more precisely divide responsibilities between the central government and local authorities, ensuring that each level of administration knows exactly what it is accountable for.
The decree spells out, in no uncertain terms, who does what. Provincial Chairpersons are now empowered to recognize their provinces as having met level 1 and level 2 standards for both education universalization and illiteracy eradication—no small feat, considering the diversity and size of Vietnam’s regions. For the highest benchmark, level 3, that authority remains with the Minister of Education and Training. This clear division, as reported by Đại Đoàn Kết, is designed to ensure “unified management authority of the government and operational rights of leaders in education management.”
But it’s not just about handing out certificates. The decree meticulously regulates the procedures for recognizing provinces that meet these standards. Each year, by October 10, provinces must submit detailed statistical reports on their progress. Provincial committees are required to complete self-inspections and the recognition process by December 30. If a province achieves level 1 or 2, the Chairperson announces the recognition and reports to the Ministry of Education and Training for monitoring. For the coveted level 3, the process is even more rigorous: the provincial committee submits a dossier to the Ministry, which then inspects both the paperwork and the real-world results before making a final decision. Should a province fall short, the Ministry provides a written explanation outlining the reasons for non-recognition.
These new rules are not just bureaucratic reshuffling. They aim to avoid overlap, gaps, or confusion about who does what—a perennial challenge in any large administration. As Đại Đoàn Kết explains, the decree “ensures the legal basis for the normal, continuous, and smooth operation of agencies; prevents work interruptions, overlaps, duplication, omission of functions, tasks, fields, and areas.” The upshot? Local governments can be more proactive and creative, but they’re also on the hook for results.
The same spirit of local empowerment and accountability was echoed in the National Assembly, where President Luong Cuong addressed lawmakers about the ongoing revision of the Law on Public Officials. According to Quân đội Nhân dân, President Luong Cuong stressed the need for “reasonable autonomy for public service units” as Vietnam completes its transition to a two-level local administration system. “What local governments at provincial and commune levels do well should be maintained,” he said, “while difficulties and obstacles must be removed.”
He didn’t mince words about the importance of clear, practical rules. “There must be specific regulations on the standards, responsibilities, rights, and obligations of public officials, linked with policies for officials,” President Luong Cuong stated. This isn’t just theory. The president pointed out that most public service units—especially in healthcare, education, and journalism—are created by the state to serve the people and must be ready to respond to any situation.
He cited the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces as a case in point. When local hospitals were overloaded, the Ministry of Defense mobilized military medical staff to support the effort. “In the morning they received their orders and by evening, doctors and nurses were on their way south,” President Luong Cuong recalled. This example, he argued, demonstrates why public service units must be both responsive and well-supported.
But how should these units be funded? President Luong Cuong was clear: “It’s necessary to define clearly which costs the state must cover, which parts the state supports, and which parts public service units must self-finance.” In other words, autonomy must be balanced with responsibility and clarity about who pays for what.
The president’s remarks extended beyond education and healthcare. Turning to amendments to the Civil Aviation Law, he emphasized the importance of careful, long-term planning for major infrastructure projects. “Planning is not just about building an airport,” he said. “It’s about evaluating the effectiveness of its operation and adjusting the design to meet long-term goals.” He referenced the Long Thanh airport project, noting that some lawmakers believe the runway design needs to be reconsidered to ensure the airport achieves its full potential. Synchronizing services and transportation—connecting air, rail, road, and sea—is also crucial, he said, to maximize the investment and benefit to the public.
President Luong Cuong also highlighted an all-too-common challenge: the desire of every locality to have its own airport. “Every locality wants an airport,” he observed, but cautioned that planners must be steadfast and avoid being swayed by local lobbying. “Those who plan and make decisions must be very determined, avoiding the mentality of favoring everyone.”
At the heart of both the new decree and the president’s remarks is a push for greater clarity, efficiency, and fairness in how Vietnam’s public sector is run. From education to public services to infrastructure, the message is consistent: empower local leaders to act, but hold them accountable for results. Make the rules clear, the procedures transparent, and the responsibilities well-defined. As Vietnam continues to modernize and decentralize, these changes will likely have far-reaching effects on the daily lives of its citizens.
These reforms, while technical on the surface, are fundamentally about building trust—in local government, in public institutions, and in the ability of the state to deliver for its people. By setting clear standards and empowering those closest to the ground to meet them, Vietnam is betting that local initiative, when paired with rigorous oversight, can drive real progress in education, health, and beyond.
