The local governance framework of Vietnam is undergoing significant changes, as evidenced by recent meetings and decisions by provincial councils. On February 28, 2025, Lâm Đồng Provincial People's Council convened for its 23rd session to address pressing personnel matters. Led by Chairwoman Phạm Thị Phúc, the meeting included the dismissal of several council members and the election of a new Vice Chairman.
During this session, the council made pivotal decisions, namely the resignation of Ủy viên UBND tỉnh, including former Health Department Director Nguyễn Đức Thuận, who retired. Other officials from various departments were also released from their positions due to retirements and new appointments. The council proceeded to elect Đinh Văn Tuấn, current Chairman of the Di Linh District People's Council, as the new Vice Chairman of Lâm Đồng Province, receiving unanimous support from the attending council members.
Chairwoman Phạm Thị Phúc remarked, "The council has demonstrated high consensus on electing the new Vice Chairman and dismissing previous officials. This reflects our commitment to following legal procedures and regulations. The aim is to strengthen governance, ensuring the provincial government can effectively implement socio-economic planning and policies." This determination aligns with the council’s broader objectives of enhancing the living standards of people and maintaining social and political stability.
Meanwhile, significant reforms have also been established at the national level, particularly concerning wage management within state-owned enterprises. The Vietnamese government recently promulgated Decree No. 44/2025, which stipulates maximum salaries for state enterprise leaders, capping the Chairman of the Board's salary at 80 million dong—approximately $3,500— and restricting the pay of general directors and managers to ten times the average worker's salary. This initiative aims to tie compensation more closely to labor productivity and efficiency, fostering the retention and attraction of skilled labor necessary for the nation’s economic development.
According to the decree, wages within these enterprises will be closely regulated to align with their operational activities, enabling enterprises to establish salaries based on market aligned productivity metrics. This move signifies the government’s intention to bolster operational capacity and entice high-skilled workers to key sectors.
The Quảng Ninh Provincial People's Committee, under the leadership of Phạm Đức Ấn, has also made significant strides by reorganizing the local police structure. On February 28, the provincial police held a ceremony to announce the merging of several police roles and disbanding district-level police operations. This restructuring includes transferring functions previously managed by various ministries to the provincial police, alleviating redundancy and enhancing operational efficacy.
Phạm Đức Ấn praised the restructuring efforts, stating, "The reorganization aims to prepare for a new era of governance, reflecting our commitment to public safety and efficient administration. With the discontinuation of district police, we must develop new strategies to fulfill our safety and governance responsibilities without compromising public service quality." The reassignment of 64 departmental leaders within the provincial police signifies the gravity of this restructuring aimed at improving community safety through more focused oversight.
At the national level, on February 27, the Secretary-General of the Communist Party, Tổng Bí thư Tô Lâm, emphasized the importance of biennial meetings of relevant departments to drive the Party’s initiatives for the upcoming 14th national congress. The meeting aimed to refine large-scale strategic goals for Vietnam’s socio-political agenda leading up to 2030, which includes achieving substantial economic growth and solidifying the Party's operational structure.
Tô Lâm urged participants to integrate elements of party cohesion and community aspiration within their legislative frameworks. He underscored the need for concise, action-oriented documentation encapsulating the Party’s ambitions, thereby improving the public’s faith in the Party's governance.
He articulated, "It is imperative to identify and realistically assess where we stand and the level of development we have achieved. Learning from our past contributes to our growth and the foundation of future successes as we aim for remarkable national development by 2045.”
Overall, the recent emphasis on governance restructuring, personnel changes at the local and national levels, and salary reforms highlight the Vietnamese government’s dedication to improving efficiency and productivity within its institutions. These developments suggest proactive measures to align Vietnam's political and economic structures with contemporary demands as the country prepares to stride confidently toward future challenges.