2026 Economic Census: Enumerators' efforts

Along with the rest of the country, Dong Nai Province is currently conducting the 2026 Economic Census. The results will provide comprehensive data to support evaluation, policy planning, and the management of socio-economic development.

Business households actively cooperate with enumerators in providing economic information. Photo: Ngoc Cuong

To ensure the successful implementation of the 2026 Economic Census, in addition to public cooperation, the efforts of the statistics sector, and coordination from local authorities, the role and responsibility of enumerators are particularly significant in fulfilling objectives and requirements while ensuring information security throughout the census process.

Knocking on every door

A smartphone pre-installed with survey forms has become an essential tool that enumerators carry during this period to support economic census work. Since its launch on January 7, 2026, enumerators across communes and wards in Dong Nai province have been actively engaged in fieldwork.

Taking advantage of the lunch break, Dao Thanh Long, who is in charge of economic data collection at Phuoc Binh Commercial Center (Quarter 6, Phuoc Binh Ward), visits local business households to gather economic information. Long explained that most small traders are occupied with sales throughout the day, so enumerators like him often use lunchtime to conduct surveys. "As an enumerator assigned by the Phuoc Binh Ward Steering Committee for the 2026 Economic Census, I always strive to fulfill my duties effectively. There are traders whom we can only reach during lunch breaks or late in the afternoon. We need to be flexible with our timing to avoid disrupting their business operations," Long shared.

Enumerator Le Thi Thanh Nga, who is responsible for Quarter 2 in Phuoc Binh Ward, noted that many establishments can only be accessed during midday or late afternoon due to their busy trading schedules. However, for each enumerator, every collected figure represents a significant “puzzle piece” contributing to the overall picture of the local economy, requiring continuous dedication and effort.

To obtain accurate economic data, the role of enumerators at the grassroots level is crucial. Enumerators must flexibly choose appropriate times to approach each business household, especially as trading activities intensify ahead of the Lunar New Year. Thanks to the enumerators' systematic and responsible approach, the census has received strong cooperation from local traders and business households.

Ensuring progress and quality

The 2026 Economic Census applies the direct interview method, requiring enumerators to visit each business household and interview designated information providers. Through their enthusiasm and sense of responsibility, enumerators help residents understand that each piece of data provided contributes to shaping development policies.

Le Thi Hoa Hong, Deputy Head of the Dong Nai Provincial Statistics Office, said, “It can be said that the success of the 2026 Economic Census depends significantly on the enumerators. They are the ones who directly collect information at the grassroots level, “knocking on every door” to gather figures and data that accurately reflect the country’s economic landscape. In addition to professional training in interviewing and data collection provided by statistics officials, the dedication and efforts of enumerators play a vital role”.

In Phuoc Binh Ward, which has 2,658 individual production and business establishments, the Ward Steering Committee for the 2026 Economic Census selected 31 enumerators to carry out data collection. Nguyen Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of the Phuoc Binh Ward People’s Committee and Head of the Ward Steering Committee for the 2026 Economic Census, affirmed, “The enumerators of the 2026 Economic Census in the ward are uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters from the local neighborhoods, those who play a vital role in ensuring the progress, quality, and effectiveness of the 2026 Economic Census. All survey forms are carried out directly by enumerators using smartphones, so their sense of responsibility and experience are essential to the success of the 2026 Economic Census.”

The area managed by the Phuoc Binh Grassroots Statistics Unit covers 10 wards and communes. With approximately 130 enumerators, the unit, together with the census steering committees at the commune and ward levels, has focused on implementing the survey to ensure progress. Communication activities have also been carried out through various channels to help establishments and business households understand the census and to encourage them to provide information.

According to the Dong Nai Provincial Statistics Office, the 2026 Economic Census is being conducted in two phases. Phase 1, from early January to the end of March 2026, focuses on business households, religious and belief establishments, and cooperative groups. Each dataset collected is carefully reviewed by enumerators before being uploaded to the system, ensuring an accurate reflection of local business conditions. To effectively implement the 2026 Economic Census, Dong Nai province has deployed 1,473 enumerators. All of them possess a strong sense of responsibility and prior experience in statistical surveys.

By Anh Ngoc – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho