Innovating the Party’s leadership approach in connection with the two-level local government model

The arrangement of administrative units and the operation of the two-level local government have been identified as a major policy and strategic decision of the Party, a revolution in apparatus organization, providing new readiness and momentum to enter a new era, an era of national rise.

In implementing this revolution, all levels of Party committees and authorities from the province to the grassroots levels in Dong Nai have carried it out in a serious yet flexible manner, with high political determination, achieving consensus in awareness and action throughout the entire Provincial Party Organization.

Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee reviews one month of operating the two-level local government model. Photo: Huy Anh

Staying closer to the people, better serving the people

The resolutions and conclusions of the Party Central Committee regarding the arrangement of administrative units and the construction of the two-level local government have been concretized by the Dong Nai Party Committee into specific plans for leadership and implementation. All strictly follow the direction of the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, ensuring no delays and fully reflecting the Party Central Committee’s guidance.

Along with the rest of the country, from July 1, 2025, the new provincial and communal administrative units and the two-level local government model officially came into operation in Dong Nai.

In implementing this task, Comrade Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, consistently emphasized: “Maintaining internal unity is a matter of life and death, the foremost requirement in building the Provincial Party organization coupled with strengthening and promoting the power of great national solidarity.” He also regarded this as “the source,” “the red thread” throughout all efforts to ensure the Party’s and the State’s policies are thoroughly, consistently, and effectively implemented, best meeting the legitimate aspirations of the people.

After the reorganization of administrative units and the implementation of the two-level local government model, Dong Nai now has 95 communal administrative units, including 72 communes and 23 wards. Of these, 67 communes and 21 wards were newly formed after the rearrangement, and 7 communal-level units remained unchanged

With that spirit, since the first month of operating the two-level local government, Dong Nai has recorded many positive results. The organizational apparatus and key personnel have been consolidated; the new government quickly has gone into operation without any management gaps and served the people more effectively.

So far, the transition from a passive administrative government to a proactive, people-centred, service-oriented and enabling government has become increasingly evident. The people have expressed trust, satisfaction, and optimism about these positive changes.

When visiting the Public Administrative Service Center of An Vien Commune recently, Bui Thi Hoa (resident of An Vien Commune) shared her satisfaction:

“The attitude and working spirit of the officials and civil servants here are very professional and dedicated. I came to complete administrative procedures quite late, and my documents were only processed after working hours, yet the staff cheerfully worked through lunch so that I wouldn’t have to return multiple times,” Hoa said.

Vu Dinh Trung, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of An Vien Commune, said: “Recognizing that the new apparatus must operate effectively right from the start, without interruption in work, truly staying close to the people and serving them and businesses, the commune required all officials, especially those directly working with citizens, to be dedicated, responsible, and attentive so that the people are most satisfied.”

Special focus on grassroots personnel

Master Tran Quang Toai, Chairman of the Dong Nai Association of Historical Sciences, said:

“One of the goals set by the Central Committee is to streamline the apparatus, merge administrative units, and reallocate capable officials so that the government can be closer to the people. When the government is close to the people and listens to them, it better understands their lives and can respond to the needs of the people and localities more promptly. However, closeness to the people doesn’t happen automatically, it depends on how the policy is implemented and on the quality of the officials, especially at the commune and ward levels, which are closest to the people.”

According to the Organization Commission of the Provincial Party Committee, Dong Nai has always considered the consolidation and staffing of the grassroots political system as the key to improving the Party’s leadership efficiency and the effectiveness of local governance. This also contributes to local socio-economic stability and development, strengthening the close bond between the State and the people.

In Dong Nai province, personnel appointments at the commune level have followed the guidance of the Central Committee and the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee; most have been rated as fulfilling their duties well, meeting qualification and political theory standards, and possessing diverse professional experience across multiple fields. This has initially created favorable and stable conditions for localities to organize their leadership and management apparatus and effectively implement their political tasks.

Officials and civil servants at the Public Administrative Service Center of Phuoc Tan Ward handle administrative procedures for citizens.

Comrade Thai Bao, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Organization Commission, emphasized: “Personnel work is always regarded by Dong Nai as the decisive factor for the success of every policy, including the implementation of the two-level local government. The entire personnel process, from planning and appointment to rotation, strictly follows the principles of democratic centralism, transparency, objectivity, and fairness.”

Building on the results achieved, on August 12, 2025, the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee issued Official Document No. 288-CV/TU on actively implementing the two-level local government model and shifting the grassroots level toward proactive management and operation. The Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee required all Party committees, organizations, and units to continue strictly implementing the conclusions of the Politburo and the Secretariat, especially Conclusion No. 179-KL/TW (July 25, 2025) and Conclusion No. 183-KL/TW (August 1, 2025) on further perfecting the organization and operation of the two-level local government model and promoting grassroots initiative in managing socio-economic and defense-security tasks.

Promoting the role of grassroots Party Committees

In each stage of the revolution, our Party has always emphasized the pioneering and exemplary role of officials and Party members, not only in words but also in concrete actions. For the two-level local government model, the Party has also set the requirement that officials and Party members must work more efficiently, handle multiple tasks, and stay closer to the people.

Currently, the commune level is responsible for more than 1,000 tasks. Many of these are new, with a heavy workload, high level of difficulty, and complexity, making initial operations inevitably face challenges and obstacles. In this context, grassroots Party committees in Dong Nai have made great efforts to strengthen leadership and overcome challenges, ensuring that the new government operates effectively, especially by promoting the pioneering and responsible spirit of officials and Party members.

Bui Thi Minh Thuy, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People’s Council of Thuan Loi Commune, said: “To promote the pioneering and exemplary spirit of the staff and civil servants and promptly organize key activities under the new two-level local government model, right from the first days of operation, the commune has launched two emulation movements: “30 days and nights to resolve pending issues related to the two former communes and standardize the commune’s Public Administrative Service Center, Beautifying and greening rural areas.”

To further stimulate enthusiasm in implementing the two-level local government model, on August 26, 2025, Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, signed a plan to launch an Emulation Campaign for organizing the operation of the two-level local government synchronously, effectively, and efficiently across the province. The campaign focuses on four key areas: Ensuring smooth, effective, and efficient apparatus operation, enhancing state management effectiveness, improving the quality of services for citizens and businesses, building a contingent of responsible, dedicated, and professional officials and civil servants; and promoting the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations in operating the two-level local government model.

The Party Committee of Thuan Loi Commune has also consistently encouraged officials to self-learn and study new regulations to enhance their advisory capacity. The commune has also paid close attention to reviewing and assessing the actual capacity of civil servants to assign tasks appropriately, ensuring they are capable of effectively performing their responsibilities.

Tran Duc Thinh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Loc Quang Commune, shared: “Right from the early days of the new two-level local government operation, to quickly stabilize the organization and implement political tasks, the Commune Party Committee directed local Party organizations to develop working regulations, assign duties to each Party Committees and Party members. Members of the commune Party Executive Committee and members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee of the 2025-2030 term have been assigned to oversee Party organizations, with each member directly responsible for a residential area to monitor the situation and guide the implementation of tasks. The commune also strengthened IT application across Party Committees, Party organizations, especially to Party cells in residential areas, thereby effectively implementing the duties of the new government.”

With a strong determination to continue innovating toward a modern and professional working model, one of the key tasks set out in the 10th Draft Political Report to be presented at the 2025-2030 Provincial Party Congress is: “Promoting administrative reform with a focus on simplifying administrative procedures linked with adopting digital transformation and building a digital, smart government. Ongoing efforts should be made to consolidate and effectively operate the two-level local government structure, ensuring streamlined, efficient governance; build an integrity-based, service-oriented, and enabling government for the people and businesses; and enhance modern, effective local governance capacity. Investment must be completed in the provincial political–administrative center.”

The determination and measures for operating the two-level local government in a streamlined, effective manner are creating new momentum and spirit for Dong Nai, together with the entire nation, to stride confidently into a new era: the era of national rise.

Dr. Bui Quang Xuan, Vice Rector of Dong Nai University of Technology (Trang Dai Ward), stated: “With strong determination and strategic vision, Dong Nai can absolutely become a development spotlight of Vietnam and the region where the dream of prosperity is no longer distant but within reach.”

He added: “To stay steady amid the vast sea, the Dong Nai ship needs five masts: First is the transparent and flexible institutions – the solid framework that keeps the ship stable and on course. Next is the transformation of the growth model, like a compass that helps guide new routes in the technological era, smart urban areas.  Dong Nai’s modern deck represent a smart urban area, where the crew lives, works, and creates in optimal conditions. Alongside this, its high-quality human resources serve as the skilled sailors steering the ship through rough waves. Finally, a modern transportation infrastructure and logistics systems act as the smooth sea lanes, allowing the ship to reach global ports quickly.”

In Dong Nai, the operation of the two-level local government apparatus is always closely linked with leadership and direction in socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security; achieving the double-digit economic growth and effectively implementing the tasks of 2025-2030 Party Congresses at all levels as scheduled.

“When all five masts fully catch the wind, the Dong Nai ship will sail powerfully across the waves, not only reaching its destination safely but also venturing far into new horizons. This is not just the journey of a land, but of millions of people working together with shared determination. And one day, when looking back on this voyage, we will see Dong Nai transformed into a shining lighthouse guiding not only itself but also other “ships” of the country to venture into the vast ocean,” Dr. Bui Quang Xuan expressed with confidence.

By H.T - Translated by Trieu Ngan, Thu Ha