Efficient operation of two‑tier local government meets public expectations

(ĐN)- After 20 days of implementing the two‑tier local government model, province and commune level, the initial results appear quite positive, especially at the commune level.

However, this is the first time this model has been deployed and many new tasks have been assigned to communes, the workload is substantial and complex, so initial operations inevitably face confusion, difficulties, and obstacles.

Youth union volunteers in Tri An commune assist local residents with administrative procedures.

Efforts to serve and build trust

In recent days, at the Trị An commune Public Administration Service Center, residents have been warmly welcomed and guided by the commune’s youth union members on where to complete administrative procedures.

Nguyen Thi Liem, a resident of Trị An commune, said with enthusiasm: “Now, handling administrative procedures has become much more convenient, volunteers help fill out the forms so we don’t have to rewrite applications many times as before. Previously, processing procedures took me a full day; now it’s completed in just one hour.”

When asked by Deputy Secretary Thai Bao of the provincial Party Committee about why she didn’t use the online procedure to avoid traveling, Mrs Liem shared: “I’m old and unfamiliar with smartphones and electronic procedures, so I come to the centre to ask the volunteers and commune officials to help directly. My home is also close to the commune office, so it’s convenient to come.”

Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Dung of Trị An communal People’s Committee said that since July 1 after public reception and handling feedback, local residents have shown trust and high expectations for the two‑tier local government model. This is a great encouragement for communal officials, requiring them to continuously strive to overcome initial difficulties and successfully complete assigned tasks to avoid disappointing the public.

Following administrative reorganization, over 1,000 tasks from the provincial and district levels were transferred to the commune. Many of these tasks involve large workloads, high complexity, and initial operational challenges. To meet public expectations, both provincial and communal officials continue to raise their sense of responsibility, overcoming difficulties to complete this historic step for the nation in its new development phase.

In light of the public’s high expectations for the two-tier model, commune staff begin their workday as early as 6:45 AM; they often only leave at 8–9 PM after a productive day.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung, in just 14 days (July 1–14), the Trị An Public Administration Service Center received 1,146 applications, among which 520 fell within the commune’s authority; 324 applications have been processed, and the remainder are under review.

Space for innovation

Not only focused on convenient and effective administrative services, several commune and ward Party committees and government agencies have started adopting innovative approaches to meet new development needs.

Le Thi Kim Trinh, Head of Dau Giay communal Party Building Committee, said that under the previous three-tier system (province, district, commune) and now under the two-tier system (province, commune), hamlet and neighborhood leaders have always served as the commune’s “extended arm.” They are closest to the people, playing a key role in implementing Party and State policies to the public.

Previously, the distance from hamlets to Dau Giay People’s Committee was short. Now, with the merger, the area is larger and travel farther, for example, from the former Lo 25 commune to the new Dau Giay administrative center is 15 km, and many hamlet leaders are elderly. Therefore, the communal Party Committee has convened hamlet and neighborhood leaders to find fast and timely communication methods between the hamlets and communal leadership. They proposed a “strong party cell – stable hamlets – developing commune” model, with deeply engaged cell secretaries and hamlet leaders strengthening commune governance.

Under this model, weekly or quarterly meetings will be chaired by the communal Party Secretary to listen to residents’ feedback and hamlet issues for timely resolution. In addition to regular citizen reception and voter meetings, the communal leaders and People’s Council members will increase topic- and group-based face-to-face meetings with voters at their constituencies, residences, or workplaces, and may organize “Listening to voters weekly at the hamlet.”

Communes have been assigned over 1,000 tasks under the new model. To ensure commune officers meet new demands, Xuan Phu commune Party Committee recently organized training to enhance innovation capacity for officers, officials, and related local forces. The program covers four modules including innovation in local governance, commune officials as “creators and companions” supporting citizens and youth startups, building the “Innovative Commune – Smart Rural” model, and tools for designing commune-level innovation initiatives.

Lai The Thong, Party Secretary of Xuan Phu commune, said the training is part of implementing Politburo Resolution No. 57‑NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digitization. The communal Party, People’s Council and People’s Committee reaffirm that rapid and sustainable socio‑economic development requires developing science and technology, promoting innovation, leveraging local resources.

According to Mr. Trinh Xuan An, National Assembly deputy for Dong Nai, after 80 years since independence, Vietnam’s local government model has changed from three tiers to two tiers; administrative units reduced from 63 to 34 provinces and from 10,035 to 3,321 commune-level entities. For Dong Nai, after merging with the former Binh Phuoc province, the province and the entire country have turned a new page. Residents are eager for change in the two-tier model. The model streamlines bureaucracy, improves management efficiency, and promotes economic development, but it also places a heavier workload and responsibilities on political system and officials, even unprecedented challenges. This is a measure of the capability and resilience of public servants in the new governance system.

Reported by P. Hang