Vietnam is embarking on significant governmental restructuring aimed at enhancing efficiency and addressing institutional bottlenecks. Announced during the Communist Party’s central committee meeting held on December 1, 2024, the plan is set to merge or eliminate several ministries and agencies as part of the country’s broader strategy to streamline its political system.
Le Minh Hung, the head of the Party’s Central Organization Committee, detailed the proposed changes, which include consolidations of various government departments. Notably, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will merge with the Ministry of Finance, whereas the Ministry of Transport will be combined with the Ministry of Construction. This consolidation aims to bolster the nations’ planning capabilities and improve the handling of construction-related matters.
Similarly, the Ministry of Information and Communications is set to merge with the Ministry of Science and Technology to create a more unified effort toward managing digital transformation and scientific responsibilities. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will merge with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, thereby allowing for more integrated management of rural development and environmental affairs.
Interestingly, the restructuring will not just stop at merging ministries; it will also see the dissolution of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, with its responsibilities transferred to other relevant ministries. The State Capital Management Committee will be dissolved, shifting its functions to the Ministry of Finance and other affiliated agencies. The National Financial Supervisory Commission will also cease operations, reallocting its roles to the State Bank of Vietnam and the Ministry of Finance.
The Religious Affairs Committee will be absorbed by the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, creating a new Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee to tackle matters of faith and community inclusivity more effectively.
To reinforce Vietnam’s academic capabilities, the government plans to restructure two Acadamies of Sciences along with two national universities situated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to boost research and educational efficacy. This restructuring extends to the National Academy of Public Administration and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, enhancing human resource training for future leaders.
Beyond ministries, there will be assessments on the operation of various general departments under ministries, starting with key agencies such as the State Treasury and the General Department of Taxation. The government anticipates reducing five ministries and two government-affiliated agencies altogether.
The restructuring is not solely confined to executive branches; the National Assembly will also see changes. One proposal suggests reducing four committees and one agency under the National Assembly’s Standing Committee. This includes merging the Economic and Finance Committees and the Social and Culture Committees, alongside dissolving the Foreign Affairs Committee to shift its duties back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The rationale behind these merge-and-eliminate strategies stems from concerns for operational efficacy. The current political structure often leads to overlapping roles and slow decision-making processes, which can hinder timely and consistent governmental responses. During these discussions, General Secretary To Lam emphasized the importance of institutional reforms, highlighting them as necessary for addressing barriers to Vietnam’s growth.
To Lam, the Communist Party’s General Secretary, called for immediate implementation of the restructuring initiative to cultivate strong governance and propel Vietnam toward economic breakthroughs. This restructuring follows nearly 40 years of doi moi, which has successfully transformed Vietnam from one of the world’s poorest countries to one considered as a lower-middle-income nation and viewed as a model for development.
The necessity for these reforms has been reiterated by numerous party officials and scholars alike, who argue the government’s existing bureaucratic framework is inhibiting Vietnam’s economic potential. For example, Vietnam has been slower to develop compared to other Asian economic powers like South Korea and Taiwan, even with similar resources and political structures. To Lam referred to the current institutional set-up as the "bottleneck of bottlenecks," emphasizing the urgent need for reform.
Since 1992, Vietnam has undergone different phases of restructuring its ministries, reducing their number from 36 to 26 between 1997 and 2007. From 2007 to 2021, some more ministries were also merged, indicating the long-standing trend of reforming governmental structures.
Yet these efforts often skirt the sensitive topic of political reform within Vietnam, where the Communist Party remains wary of discussions surrounding democratic transitions or multi-party systems. The government is, nonetheless, committed to enhancing its state machinery's effectiveness, focusing on legal reforms and internal improvements without directly addressing political reform.
On the ground level, this restructuring approach signals to voter bases the leadership’s commitment to adapt and modernize Vietnam improving governance. Recent voter assemblies, such as those attended by General Secretary To Lam, have highlighted citizen satisfaction with assembly discussions focused on national priorities.
Overall, Vietnam’s march toward institutional restructuring demonstrates the nation’s resolve to evolve its governing apparatus to meet modern demands, clarify responsibilities across ministries, and facilitate clearer policymaking approaches. These efforts aim to usher the country teachers and officials take pride and ownership of the state’s administrative competency.
The official outlook is optimistic, proclaiming these reforms as historic moves toward establishing more cohesive governance frameworks and pushing Vietnam’s economy toward future milestones. With greater integration and streamlined operations, the hope is for faster decision-making, hungry to meet increasing domestic and international expectations on performance and transparency.
