Vietnam is undergoing significant changes to its government operations as part of efforts to improve efficiency and streamline administrative processes across the country. The push for reform, particularly the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles, aims to create a more effective and responsive government.
Recent developments highlight the trend of consolidations and restructuring within provincial governments, as seen in Bình Định and Tam Kỳ. Bùi Tất Thắng, former director of the Development Strategy Institute at the Ministry of Planning and Investment, emphasized the importance of reorganizing provincial administrations to bolster economic development. He noted this as an opportune moment, stating, "It is time to create coherent, resource-efficient governance structures" as the country transitions away from its historical fragmented administrative model.
Thắng pointed to the necessity for combined efforts across provinces to address the challenges such as local waste management and infrastructure development, asserting, "We cannot solve regional issues without inter-provincial collaboration. This merger of local structures can help optimize resource use effectively." This collaboration is particularly pertinent now, as the Vietnamese economy requires agile and unified governance to drive growth.
Bình Định has taken noticeable strides to streamline its bureaucratic mechanisms. The province inaugurated the Công Service Center, launched as part of its one-stop-shop approach to public services. Citizens like Tôn Quang Thắng have benefited from these reforms. He expressed satisfaction, stating, "I received my property loan paperwork processed within three days, significantly simplifying the my experience and saving me time." Indeed, Bình Định reported processing over 33,000 applications just last month, with nearly all transactions completed on time.
Local officials are taking proactive steps to promote efficiency. Đặng Trung Du, Deputy Director of the Public Administration Service Center, explained how improved technology and competent staff contribute to fulfilling administrative duties. "We focus on training our personnel to be both professional and accommodating," he remarked, showcasing the dual goal of service assurance and administrative efficiency.
The province isn’t merely enhancing public service delivery but is also restructuring its administrative core to increase effectiveness. Recently, the Bình Định People's Council merged two legislative committees for more streamlined governance. Hồ Quốc Dũng, Secretary of the Bình Định Provincial Party Committee, articulated the rationale behind such changes: "Even when two committees meet operational criteria, merging allows us to reduce internal bureaucracy and boost operational efficiency. The goal is to develop, not just to slice through governmental functions."
Such steps reflect broader strategies recognized at the national level as part of Resolution 18, promoting effective organizational structures throughout Vietnam’s governmental framework. The restructuring aims to tailor the administrative machinery to contemporary social and economic needs, particularly advocating for the consolidation of overlapping functions.
Meanwhile, the city of Tam Kỳ has followed suit by implementing its own reforms. The city reduced its number of departments from 11 to 9, merging several to create functions with clearer operational mandates. "We want efficiency; so, we implemented changes to create agencies responsible for multiple tasks rather than having diffusion of responsibilities across smaller departments," Phạm Hoàng Đức, Deputy Secretary of the Tam Kỳ Party Committee, explained.
Similarly, the district established the new An Xuân ward by merging two others, unifying manpower and resources to optimize community service delivery and governance. This strategic decision was supported by both the governing bodies and local residents who stand to benefit from improved service coordination.
Local government officials stress the need for staff training and support, ensuring all transitions lead to sustained operational capabilities. Lương Công Tuấn, Chairman of the City Council's Legislative Committee, reiterated this requirement for effective restructuring, emphasizing the careful planning around staffing and service delivery during such transitions.
These initiatives not only signify structural change but articulate a vision for more responsive governance across the provinces of Vietnam. New policies and guidelines are being drafted to facilitate these transitions, focusing on minimizing disruption and maximizing leadership effectiveness, thereby fostering public trust.
The overarching goal driving these reforms remains clear: to build more adaptable and streamlined public administration capable of responding to contemporary needs and challenges of the Vietnamese populace. The strategies focused on merging departments and implementing technology-enhanced services lay the groundwork for improved interactions between citizens and government.
Progress continues to be monitored closely, with local administrations now tasked with ensuring these reforms yield demonstrable improvements. The goal is to unify efforts across governance levels to create more effective service delivery frameworks, illustrating the momentum of change across Vietnam's administrative operations.