Resolution 18-NQ/TW: Building a streamlined, effective, and efficient apparatus

After nearly eight years of implementing Resolution 18-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017, of the 12th Party Central Committee, regarding “Some issues on continuing to renew and restructure the political system apparatus for streamlined, effective, and efficient operation”, the political system apparatus in Dong Nai has been reorganized in a streamlined manner, significantly reducing the number of units, cutting intermediary levels, and lowering the number of leadership positions.

Officials at the Chon Thanh ward Public Administrative Service Center assist residents with administrative procedures. Photo: Ngan Ha

The reorganization of the administrative apparatus has contributed to enhancing the effectiveness and operational efficiency of the political system, fully supporting the ward’s local development objectives.

Major policy, strong determination

According to the Provincial Party Committee’s report, in implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, from 2017 to April 2025, Dong Nai has completed the reorganization of the administrative apparatus of the Provincial Health Care and Protection Board for Officials. The Board’s responsibilities for monitoring, caring for, diagnosing, and treating officials have been transferred to Dong Nai General Hospital, where the Department of Officials’ Health Care has been established.

Advisory and support agencies, as well as the Party Committee’s affiliated public service units, have streamlined their internal structures in accordance with regulations. Accordingly, in the former Dong Nai province, following the reorganization of provincial Party agencies, the number of departments was reduced by 5, staff positions by 9, and deputy heads by 2. In the former Binh Phuoc province, the reorganization of provincial Party agencies resulted in a reduction of 10 departments, 45 staff positions, and 22 deputy heads.

Regarding local governments, the number of deputies in the People’s Councils has been reduced at all levels, the number of deputies working in state management agencies decreased, and the number of vice chairpersons of the People’s Councils at all levels has been adjusted in line with regulations.

Alongside the reorganization and streamlining of the apparatus under Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, units and localities have focused on reorganizing public service units in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW of the Central Executive Committee. Accordingly, Dong Nai province reduced 41 public service units under provincial departments, agencies, sectors, 3 units under departmental bureaus, 81 units under district People’s Committees, and 201 deputy heads. Binh Phuoc province reduced 5 public service units under the provincial People’s Committee, 17 units under provincial departments, agencies, sector, 72 units under district People’s Committees, and 93 deputy heads.

For the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, the apparatus has been reorganized, streamlining internal structures while completing the functions, tasks, powers, responsibilities, and working relationships of each organization.

Regarding the Party organization system, the former provinces of Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai have concluded the operation of provincial Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Designated Representations, transferring their functions and tasks to the Party committees of the respective organizations, agencies, and units where the CPV Designated Representations’ performances terminated. The Party Organizations of the Provincial Agencies Bloc and the Provincial Enterprises Bloc have been dissolved, while new Party Organizations for provincial Party agencies and the provincial People’s Committee have been established. The Department of Propaganda and Training and the Department of Mass Mobilization of the Provincial Party Committee have been merged.

Since July 1, 2025, in accordance with Central regulations, the Provincial Party Standing Committee has decided to conclude the operations of district-level Party Organizations and establish new Party Organizations at the communes and wards under the Provincial Party Committee, as well as Party Organizations for the Public Security, Military, provincial Party agencies, the Party Organizations of provincial People’s Committee, and advisory, support, and public service units under the Provincial Party Committee. Currently, the provincial Party organization comprises 99 directly subordinate Party organizations, 7 agencies and units under the Provincial Party Committee, and 315 agencies and units under subordinate provincial Party Committees.

Streamlined for greater strength

For local governments, following the provincial merger, the provincial level now comprises 61 agencies and units: 5 under the provincial People’s Council (a reduction of 4 agencies), 14 departments and sectors (down 13 departments and 119 divisions), 34 public service units under the provincial People’s Committee, and 181 state-run public service units under departments and equivalent agencies.

At the commune level, there are 190 agencies under the commune People’s Councils, 279 specialized agencies, 94 commune-level Public Administrative Service Centers, and 1,116 state-run public service units under the commune People’s Committees. Regarding the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations assigned tasks by the Party and State, from July 1, 2025, the Provincial Standing Party Committee, based on guidance from the Central Organization Commission, issued a decision to establish the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee (reducing 5 specialized advisory and support agencies for provincial socio-political organizations); commune Party Committees established 95 commune-level Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees. Following the provincial merger, the number of mass organizations assigned tasks by the Party and State is 427, a reduction of 559 organizations.

Currently, Dong Nai province has 95 commune-level administrative units (a reduction of 175 units), comprising 1,772 villages, hamlets, and urban neighborhoods.

Alongside the reorganization of the political system’s apparatus, Dong Nai has implemented several pilot models to streamline organizational structures and allow concurrent holding of leadership and management positions, tailored to local circumstances.

Comrade Thai Bao, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Commission, and Secretary of the Party Committee of Dong Nai Provincial Party Agencies, stated that: to ensure smooth operations immediately after the reorganization, leaving no legal gaps and maintaining continuity, effectiveness, and efficiency, the Provincial Party Standing Committee and the provincial People’s Committee issued regulations defining the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structures of agencies and units. They have promoted decentralization, clarified responsibilities, and prevented overlaps or omissions, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state management and facilitating services for residents and businesses.

To date, Party agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and local government at all levels have settled into regular and stable operations. The outcomes of implementing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW in Dong Nai are highly significant for streamlining the apparatus. Nevertheless, there were some difficulties and challenges during the initial implementation phase.

Comrade Giang Thi Phuong Hanh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairwoman of the People’s Council of Binh Phuoc ward, stated that: to continue strengthening the leadership capacity and combat effectiveness of the Party organization, and to build a streamlined, effective, and efficient political system that meets development requirements in the new phase, one of the key solutions in the coming period is to thoroughly implement the Central and Provincial directives and resolutions on the reorganization and consolidation of Party and government structures, combined with staff reduction. She emphasized strict adherence to Party meeting regulations and the establishment and replication of the “Four-Good Party Organization” and “Four-Good Party cell” models. Regular training and capacity-building programs should be provided for grassroots Party committee members, Party cells’ secretaries, and deputy secretaries, particularly the Party Committees of neighborhoods’ Party organizations, to enhance understanding, ensure mastery of Party principles and regulations, and apply them effectively in practice.

According to the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee, following the Central directives, the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee has reviewed the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, clearly assessing the achievements, difficulties, and challenges, and has submitted numerous proposals and recommendations to the Central authorities in line with the principle that the new apparatus must perform better than the old one, operate immediately, and ensure no interruption of work.

According to Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Environment, Nguyen Tuan Anh, following two times of its organizational restructuring, as of July 1, 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has 2,973 officials, public employees, and workers. Carrying out the reorganization and streamlining of its apparatus, the Department of Agriculture and Environment received guidance and support from Central ministries, sectors, and agencies, as well as directives and full facilitation from the Provincial Party Committee and the provincial People’s Committee. As a result, the reorganization and streamlining were completed on schedule and with quality. Alongside these achievements, some challenges remain. In particular, selecting suitable personnel after the reorganization posed a major challenge to some units as they had to carefully consider and decide “whom to retain and whom to streamline”.

According to Nguyen Tuan Anh, the process of organizational restructuring must be objective, fair, and transparent when evaluating officials and public employees; it must avoid favoritism and formality, and take into account the entire work history and contributions of staff, particularly for leadership and management positions. There should be a balance between retaining experienced personnel and developing a capable young workforce to meet the demands of assigned tasks.

By Dương An – Translated by Thu Hien, Thu Ha