Effective models for administrative reform

Beyond reducing application processing times, many wards and communes in Dong Nai City are gradually innovating public service delivery through flexible and practical administrative reform models.

Officials and civil servants from the Dai Phuoc commune Public Administration Service Center travel to hamlet cultural houses to process administrative procedures for residents.

Many wards and communes have proactively and flexibly adjusted working hours, deployed staff to grassroots areas, and enhanced the application of information technology to ensure uninterrupted processing of administrative procedures.

Bringing public services to the grassroots level

One of the initiatives highly appreciated by residents in recent times is the “Golden Saturday Hours, Boundary-free Administrative Processing” model, which has been implemented by the Dai Phuoc commune People’s Committee since May 9.

On a recent Saturday morning at the cultural house of hamlet 1 in Dai Phuoc commune, many residents arrived early to complete administrative procedures without having to travel to the commune’s Public Administration Service Center. Elderly residents unfamiliar with digital platforms received dedicated support from officials and members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in accessing online public services onsite.

According to many wards and communes, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of administrative reform models requires continued investment in digital infrastructure, along with efforts to improve technological skills among elderly residents, particularly in rural areas.

On the first day of implementation, the model recorded more than 30 residents seeking support, guidance, and assistance with administrative procedures. As a result, the locality received 14 online public service applications, including nine applications for signature authentication related to job applications, all of which were processed with results returned immediately.

Pham Son Dien, Director of the Dai Phuoc Commune Public Administration Service Center, said that every Saturday morning, the team implementing the model is divided into two groups, with one working at the center and the other traveling directly to hamlet cultural houses to guide residents and receive administrative procedure applications. The implementation of the model aims to help residents save time and travel costs, while also increasing the rate of online public service usage at the grassroots level.

Nguyen Thi Oanh, a resident of Dai Phuoc Commune, said that having officials come to hamlet cultural houses to assist with administrative procedures has made the process much more convenient for residents, especially elderly people and those unfamiliar with technology.

Practical experience in Dai Phuoc Commune has shown that organizing mobile teams to process administrative procedures is an effective solution, particularly for areas with large geographical coverage or where residents face difficulties accessing public services.

Flexible to better serve the public

Along with bringing public services closer to the grassroots level, many other administrative reform models in the city have proven effective and should be expanded.

A notable example is the model for processing administrative procedures without regard to administrative boundaries. Under this approach, residents can submit applications at any public administration service center in the city instead of being required to return to their place of residence as in the past. The model is currently being implemented in various fields, including agriculture and environment, and judicial affairs, contributing to reduced overcrowding at local offices. Many residents said that being able to submit applications at any Public Administration Service Center has significantly reduced travel time, particularly for those working far from their place of residence.

According to a report presented by the Dong Nai City Public Administration Service Center at a conference reviewing one year of operation under the two-tier local government model, the processing of administrative procedures without regard to administrative boundaries has been carried out in a stable manner. Currently, around 2,100 administrative procedures are being implemented under the one-stop-shop and interconnected one-stop-shop mechanisms across the city, with 100% of these procedures announced as eligible for processing regardless of administrative boundaries.

From July 1 to December 31, 2025, the number of applications received and processed without regard to administrative boundaries reached 752,289, accounting for 98.3% of the total. In particular, the rate in the fields of agriculture and environment, and justice reached approximately 72%.

In the first quarter of 2026, the number of applications received and processed under this model reached 391,602, accounting for 99.5%, while the corresponding figure for the two aforementioned fields was approximately 73%.

Another noteworthy model is the establishment of grassroots-level service points for issuing ID cards and electronic identification accounts. The police force has deployed 45 stations for the issuance and renewal of citizen identity cards and electronic identification accounts at the commune level, helping residents access services closer to their place of residence, reduce waiting times, and ease overcrowding at application processing centers.

Meanwhile, many wards and communes have mobilized Youth Union members and students with information technology skills to provide support at commune-level public administration service centers in Dong Nai City. These personnel assist residents in creating online public service accounts, guide them in submitting online applications, and handle basic technical procedures, thereby helping reduce the workload for officials and civil servants during peak periods.

In addition to implementing new models, many localities have adopted flexible approaches to management and application processing. Some areas proactively classify applications from the initial reception stage, with simple cases prioritized for the same-day processing to minimize repeated travel for residents, while more complex cases are clearly informed of processing timelines.

In Tan Quan Commune, Vice Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee Bui Duy Dung said that the locality has strengthened the application of information technology in application processing. Many procedures are monitored and coordinated online among departments, helping shorten processing times and minimize delays. As a result, numerous applications are processed on the same day, including outside regular office hours.

Practical experience at the grassroots level shows that administrative reform in Dong Nai is becoming increasingly people-centered. The establishment of reception desks at hamlet cultural houses and the provision of after-hours administrative services for residents demonstrate that administrative reform in Dong Nai is no longer just slogans on paper but is gradually becoming tangible benefits in people’s daily lives.

By Ho Thao – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha