Administrative reform gains momentum through special emulation campaign

Strengthening administrative reform has been identified as one of the seven key priorities of Dong Nai’s special 500-day-and-night emulation campaign launched under Resolution No. 05-NQ/TU dated May 1, 2026, of the City Party Committee’s Executive Board. Under the theme “Solidarity – Discipline – Efficiency – Breakthrough, building a civilized and modern Dong Nai,” the campaign also aims not only to accelerate reform efforts but also to sustain and enhance their quality through 2030.

Officials and civil servants at the Binh Minh commune Public Administration Service Center guide residents in completing administrative procedures. Photo by Ho Thao.

The resolution sets out the goal of advancing administrative reform in tandem with digital transformation, placing citizens and businesses at the center of public service delivery. The city aims to process all administrative procedures through digital platforms, with all city-level dossiers and at least 90% of commune-level dossiers handled through electronic systems. In addition, Dong Nai aims to reduce administrative procedure processing times by at least 30% while further improving satisfaction levels among citizens and businesses.

Maintaining top rankings

 From the earliest days of implementing the emulation campaign, many localities moved quickly to translate its objectives into practical action. From one-stop-shop divisions to community digital technology teams, the spirit of “Solidarity – Discipline – Efficiency – Breakthrough” is being reflected in tangible results on the ground.

Ngo Hong Khang, Deputy Party Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Phuoc ward, said the locality has consistently regarded administrative reform as a central task closely linked to digital transformation and improvements in the quality of the civil service workforce. Through strong leadership and a systematic approach, Binh Phuoc ranked first among all 95 wards and communes citywide in the 2025 Administrative Reform Index. The ward also achieved the highest ranking at the commune level in the quality assessment of public service quality for citizens and businesses under Decision No. 766/QD-TTg.

According to Khang, the commitment and decisiveness of local leaders are critical factors behind these achievements. The ward regularly reviews administrative reform indicators, builds on successful practices and addresses shortcomings through targeted solutions tied to the responsibilities of individual units.

The locality has focused on standardizing the entire process of receiving, handling and returning administrative dossiers in a transparent manner while shortening processing times. One notable initiative is the application of technology to dossier management. Each day, the management software automatically flags dossiers due within the next two or three days and sends alerts to a shared work group, helping officials stay on top of processing deadlines. As a result, dossier-handling progress is closely monitored, significantly reducing the risk of delays. At the same time, the ward has intensified efforts to guide residents in using online public services. “Administrative reform can only deliver real results when people are able to access and use digital public services effectively,” Khang emphasized.

Through the 500-day-and-night emulation campaign, Binh Phuoc ward is determined to maintain its leading position in administrative reform and indices on administrative service delivery to citizens and businesses. The locality also considers reform outcomes an important criterion in evaluating officials and civil servants, while continuing to invest in information technology infrastructure, strengthen administrative discipline and improve service quality.

Bringing public services closer to citizens

 Alongside Binh Phuoc ward, the spirit of the 500-day-and-night emulation campaign has spread widely across many other localities.

At the Binh Minh commune Public Administration Service Center, officials and civil servants proactively review dossiers on electronic systems and assist residents in completing procedures right from the initial reception stage. During periods of high workload, staff members often work beyond regular hours to ensure dossiers are processed on time and residents are not left waiting.

Dinh Thi Duyen, Acting Deputy Director of the Binh Minh commune Public Administration Service Center, said officials and civil servants always regard citizen satisfaction as their primary service objective; and continuously improve their digital skills to meet increasingly demanding work requirements.

Nguyen Thi Hong, a resident of Binh Minh commune, said in the past, I often had to rely on my children or grandchildren because I was not familiar with technology. Now, thanks to guidance from local officials, I can track the status of my application on my phone.

The emulation campaign is also gaining momentum in areas facing greater socio-economic challenges. In Da Kia commune, where ethnic minority groups account for approximately 27% of the population, administrative reform faces obstacles related to economic conditions, transport infrastructure and residents’ access to information technology.

The year 2026 is a pivotal one, marking the first year of implementing the Resolution of the First Dong Nai City Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term. The period carries particular significance and places higher demands on urban governance, administrative reform and the quality of public services for citizens and businesses.

Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the City Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee.

Under such circumstances, Dang Huu Khoai, Deputy Party Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Da Kia commune, stressed that difficulties should never become an excuse for delaying reform efforts. The more challenging the circumstances, the more decisive we must be. In addition to providing services at government offices, the commune actively supports vulnerable groups and organizes at-home administrative services for residents who are unable to travel. Meanwhile, 25 community digital technology teams continue to operate effectively, helping residents install applications, create accounts and use online public services, thereby narrowing the digital divide.

Khoai added that alongside professional training, the locality places special emphasis on building a workforce that is responsible, dedicated and closely connected to the people. In the coming time, we will continue expanding models that assist residents in accessing public services directly at the grassroots level, particularly in areas with large ethnic minority populations.

Speaking at a recent conference reviewing administrative reform performance in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Hoang called on departments, agencies and local authorities to continue implementing reform tasks decisively, ensure the effective operation of the two-tier local government model and effectively carry out the special 500-day-and-night emulation campaign. Under the campaign, Dong Nai aims to reduce processing times by at least 30% for procedures eligible for review and simplification, thereby helping remove obstacles for citizens and businesses, improving the investment and business environment, and supporting economic growth.

From officials monitoring dossier progress daily through electronic systems in Binh Phuoc ward, to civil servants patiently assisting residents at the Binh Minh commune Public Administration Service Center, and community digital technology team members traveling to villages and hamlets across Da Kia commune, the spirit of the emulation campaign is being brought to life through practical actions every day.

 These efforts are contributing to better service delivery for citizens and businesses while helping create a public administration that is more modern, efficient and responsive to the needs of citizens and businesses.

By H.Thao – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha