Identifying challenges clearly to craft effective solutions

On the morning of November 3, the Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee held a thematic conference with the Standing members of Party Committees of 23 wards across the province to review the results of operating the two-tier local government model.

Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, speaks at the conference. Photo: Huy Anh

At the conference, the Standing members of the wards’ Party Committees reported on leadership, direction, and administration since the two-tier local government model took effect on July 1, 2025. They also submitted numerous proposals and recommendations to resolve difficulties and bottlenecks to ensure smooth operations of the wards’ apparatus.

Nguyen Duy Tan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tran Bien Ward: After its establishment (based on the consolidation of the entire natural area and populations of the wards Buu Long, Quang Vinh, Trung Dung, Thong Nhat, Hiep Hoa, and An Binh), Tran Bien is considered one of the largest wards nationwide in terms of area and population.

Nguyen Duy Tan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tran Bien Ward, speaks at the conference. Photo: Huy Anh

Tran Bien Ward proposed that the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee continue directing relevant agencies and units to review and recommend to the competent authorities the abolition of unnecessary procedures and document components, especially commune-level confirmations on application forms, based on the national population database and other specialized data systems. The ward also asked businesses and schools in the area to strictly use citizens’ digital IDs and not require photocopies of ID cards, thereby reducing workload at the commune level while still facilitating residents and avoiding multiple trips that affect satisfaction with public administrative services.

Currently, the ward has 28 ongoing projects and works. Therefore, the ward has proposed that the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Party Committee of the Provincial People’s Committee, and the Provincial People’s Committee approve the establishment of a “Project Management Board for Investment, Public Services, and Compensation, Site Clearance” under the Tran Bien Ward People’s Committee. This board would be formed based on the existing Public Services Management Board, while adding personnel currently involved in local projects from the Project Management Board Zone 01 and the Bien Hoa-based Provincial Land Fund Development Center.

The ward proposed developing a mechanism to attract and incentivize qualified professionals specializing in compensation, site clearance, and resettlement support to work locally. Consideration could be given to providing financial support or increasing staffing in line with workload and task complexity. At the same time, Tran Bien Ward requested permission to allocate resettlement housing for households displaced by key development projects, allowing them to receive residential land in existing resettlement areas within Bien Hoa City.

Nguyen Quang Phuong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tan Trieu Ward: Tan Trieu Ward was established through the merger of Tan Phong Ward and the communes of Tan Binh, Binh Loi, and Thanh Phu, with a total population of 128,730 residents. At its first Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, the ward set a goal to develop Tan Trieu Ward comprehensively, while meeting the standards of a civilized urban area by 2030.

Nguyen Quang Phuong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tan Trieu Ward, speaks at the conference. Photo: Huy Anh

Tan Trieu Ward proposed that the provincial People’s Committee approve the ward’s plan to develop a 1/2,000-scale subzone zoning plan in parallel with the general urban planning of Bien Hoa City, similar to the wards Trang Dai, Tran Bien, Phuoc Tan, Bien Hoa, and the communes Dai Phuoc, Nhon Trach, and Phuoc An (in accordance with Conclusion Notice No. 120/TB-UBND dated August 12, 2025, issued by the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee).

In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Environment recently issued a document requesting feedback on the 2026 land price table for Dong Nai Province. Tan Trieu Ward recommended that the Provincial Party Executive Committee review and direct the Party Committee of the Provincial People’s Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee to re-examine the draft 2026 land price table before submitting it to the Provincial People’s Council for approval, ensuring it aligns with the province’s actual conditions. The ward also proposed conducting a detailed assessment of the table’s impacts on residents’ livelihoods and the province’s socio-economic development.

Currently, Tan Trieu Ward has a total of over 1,271 hectares of national defense land, accounting for 20.10% of its total natural area, with several existing issues in the management and use of defense land. The ward’s People’s Committee requested that the Provincial People’s Committee continue directing relevant agencies to address matters related to the management and use of defense land across the province.

Tang Quoc Lap, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Long Khanh Ward: Long Khanh Ward currently has a population of over 77,000 people and holds a strategic location near major transportation routes such as National Highway 1, National Highway 20, and key railway lines, providing convenient connections to other areas within Dong Nai Province and neighboring provinces. The ward’s economy is primarily focused on trade and services.

Long Khanh Ward proposed that provincial departments and agencies give priority to supporting capital investment for infrastructure, digital transformation, and urban service development. The ward also requested permission to pilot new economic models such as night streets, sharing economy, and green urban service cooperatives. In addition, it called for support in human resource training, particularly in urban management, digital economy skills, and entrepreneurship. At the same time, the ward proposed that the Provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Finance review and allocate additional funding to ensure adequate investment in technical and social infrastructure for Long Khanh Ward during the 2026–2030 period.

Tang Quoc Lap, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Long Khanh Ward, speaks at the conference. Photo: Huy Anh.

Tran The Anh, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Bien Hoa Ward: Bien Hoa Ward possesses significant potential and advantages for development. Its future development orientation focuses on preserving and promoting traditional cultural values by building the Bien Hoa Ceramics Craft Village as a distinctive cultural–tourism symbol. The ward will preserve and restore the traditional glazing techniques and characteristic patterns of Bien Hoa ceramics. It will organize ceramics exhibitions, festivals, and creative art contests to promote the brand and inspire younger generations. Its priorities will be given to modernizing technology and product designs, combining tradition with modern technology. The ward will develop product lines such as art ceramics, interior decorations, souvenirs, and tourism products that suit market preferences. It will establish the Bien Hoa Ceramics Museum to preserve and showcase the cultural values of this traditional craft toward long-term sustainability.

To effectively implement the above development orientation, Bien Hoa Ward proposed that the Provincial People’s Committee consider several issues related to personnel management and authorize localities to reorganize their office facilities for greater efficiency. Regarding the Tan Hanh Ceramics Industrial Cluster, where 90% of construction items have been completed and many registered establishments have yet to begin operations, the ward recommended that the province adopt management solutions to maximize the cluster’s potential and avoid waste.

Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Tam Hiep Ward: After the establishment of the two-tier local government model, several sectors of the ward are currently lacking civil servants with appropriate professional qualifications, particularly in the areas of healthcare, digital transformation, and social protection. The ward proposed that the Provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Home Affairs supplement staffing by assigning qualified civil servants and public employees to work locally. The Ward Integrated Service Center has not yet received specific guidance on its functions and responsibilities; therefore, the ward requested that the Provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Home Affairs promptly issue detailed regulations on the functions, duties, organizational structure, and staffing of the center.

Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Tam Hiep Ward, speaks at the conference. Photo: Huy Anh.

School facilities across the ward remain inconsistent, with a shortage of teachers at several educational levels (particularly preschool and primary school). The rapid increase in student enrollment has made it difficult to meet national school standards. The ward proposed that the Provincial People’s Committee direct the education sector to prioritize the allocation and recruitment of teachers in line with actual student numbers, and to invest in upgrading and supplementing school facilities and equipment to meet national standards. It also requested that the province allocate additional staff positions and strengthen the pool of officials and civil servants to handle the increased workload following the administrative restructuring.

The ward proposed strengthening equipment, facilities, and working means to ensure the effective performance of leadership and administrative duties. It also recommended that the province allocate adequate resources and funding in accordance with practical requirements, while promoting training and professional development to enhance the expertise and management skills of officials and civil servants, thereby ensuring that the two-tier local government model operates increasingly effectively, stably, and sustainably. Regular specialized training courses should be organized for commune- and ward-level staff to raise their professional qualifications and meet job requirements, particularly in the fields of information technology and digital transformation.

Vu Van Muoi, Secretary of the Party Committee of Dong Xoai Ward: At its first Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, Dong Xoai Ward set a target of achieving annual budget revenue growth of 14% or higher, with the industry–construction sector accounting for 54.84% and trade–services for 35.59%. To realize these development orientations, the ward proposed that the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee allocate capital resources to enable the locality to proactively implement key projects and major development initiatives.

Specifically, the ward proposed that it be allowed to retain 100% of the revenue from land auctions, land-use conversions, and land allocations without auction arising within its jurisdiction. It also requested permission to retain the annual budget over-collection assigned to the locality under the decentralization framework. Under the Plan for Preserving and Promoting the Cultural Values of Ethnic Minorities in Bung Se Quarter, which is linked to community-based tourism development and aims to create a distinctive cultural–tourism product for Dong Xoai, the ward emphasized that, beyond state budget resources used for cultural preservation, the development of community tourism requires socialized investment. This would help transform Bung Se into an attractive tourist destination, drawing visitors and generating local revenue. Therefore, the ward requested that the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Committee, and relevant departments and sectors provide development orientation, introduce capable investors, and encourage investment participation in the project.

Nguyen Khac Hanh, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phuoc Long Ward: Since its establishment, Phuoc Long Ward has possessed many outstanding advantages, including a system of historical relics, unique natural landscapes, large-scale specialized fruit-growing areas, and the ability to connect quickly to major transportation corridors.

To fully leverage the local potential and advantages, the Party Committee of Phuoc Long Ward proposed that the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee direct a review, adjustment, and supplementation of planning to align with the ward’s development orientation. The ward recommended prioritizing budget allocation and strengthening investment, trade, and tourism promotion activities to maximize local potential and advantages, particularly in relation to the Ba Ra Mountain – Thac Mo Lake scenic complex. Accordingly, it called for early investment in digital and transportation infrastructure, as well as regional connectivity, including surveying and constructing a bridge connecting Phuoc Long Ward and Bom Bo Commune to National Highway 14, upgrading and expanding the DT.741 and DT.759 routes, and allocating funds to complete lighting, greenery, and drainage systems in a synchronized manner to support urban development, thereby facilitating trade, tourism, and socio-economic growth, and improving residents’ living standards.

The ward proposed prioritizing investment capital for the construction of a ward-level cultural and sports center (which is currently unavailable). It also requested funding for the repair of ward agency offices to meet immediate working needs. At the same time, the ward asked for authorization to transfer all public office buildings (including those managed by vertical agencies) to the ward for management and use.

Le Khac Dong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Minh Hung Ward: Since July 1, 2025, when the two-tier local government model was implemented, the workload at the ward level has increased significantly. Many new tasks have been decentralized and delegated to the commune and ward level, while human resources have not been supplemented accordingly. As a result, some civil servants must concurrently handle multiple areas of work, often working overtime under high pressure and heavy responsibility. In addition, the ward’s physical infrastructure remains limited and faces many difficulties.

The Party Committee of Minh Hung Ward proposed that the Provincial Party Standing Committee approve the policy of developing a subzone master plan for the entire ward to serve as a basis for land allocation, leasing, land-use conversion, and project investment, as well as for updating projects and works into the new Dong Nai provincial master plan. At the same time, the ward requested approval and funding to carry out procedures for allocating a 19.4-hectare land area to the ward for compensation, support, resettlement, and land recovery to build several facilities, including public security, military offices, an Integrated Service Center, and resettlement housing for local residents. The ward also proposed investing in the construction of several schools, planned road routes, and office headquarters to meet development and administrative needs.

Huynh Thi Thuy Trang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of Phuoc Binh Ward: During the implementation of assigned tasks, alongside the achievements attained, the ward has also encountered several difficulties and obstacles. In particular, compensation and site clearance work remain challenging: Residents have been demanding compensation rates three to five times higher than the regulated levels, resulting in a lack of consensus and reluctance to donate land as before. There is still no official guidance on appropriate compensation rates for crops that reflect real market conditions. The locality does not have a land development center, and implementation is carried out mainly by concurrent staff, leading to high workload pressure and limited specialization. Coordination among relevant units has also been inconsistent due to insufficient procedural guidance, while some projects have been delayed because of prolonged land valuation processes.

Huynh Thi Thuy Trang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of Phuoc Binh Ward, speaks at the conference. Photo: Huy Anh.

The Ward People’s Committee has submitted a written proposal requesting the Provincial People’s Committee to promptly issue appropriate compensation unit prices for crops and structures; to consider establishing or enhancing support from the Land Development Center; and to provide uniform guidance on inventory and valuation procedures. The ward also proposed that the Regional Project Management Board coordinate closely with the ward in public communication and mobilization efforts to ensure project timelines are met. The ward reported difficulties in disbursing investment capital due to heavy rainfall, which has affected construction progress, particularly on rural transportation projects. In addition, urban order and construction management have faced challenges because there is no detailed coordination regulation. Inspections are mainly carried out by the construction officer in cooperation with neighborhood representatives; however, since these officials often concurrently handle multiple duties, inspections are not conducted regularly or continuously.

The Ward People’s Committee has proposed that the Department of Construction promptly issue regulations on construction order management across the province and provide guidance on establishing Ward-level Urban Order Management Teams to enhance the effectiveness of inspection and violation handling. The quality of the civil service workforce after the administrative unit consolidation remains uneven; some officials have not yet met job requirements and will need time for adaptation, training, and professional development.

According to Resolution No. 34/2023/NQ-HDND dated December 8, 2023, of the former Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Council, neighborhood, hamlet, and village association heads were entitled to a monthly allowance of 500,000 VND. However, after the administrative merger and implementation of Resolution No. 32/2023/NQ-HDND dated December 8, 2023, issued by the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Council, this allowance is no longer applicable. Neighborhood association heads have expressed their hope to continue receiving financial support to help offset part of the expenses incurred while performing their community duties. They have requested that the province review and address this issue soon and provide a formal response to grassroots organizations.

In response to the proposals and recommendations from the ward Party Standing Committees, Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, emphasized: In 2025, Dong Nai aims to disburse 100% of its public investment capital plan, a key factor in helping the province achieve an annual economic growth rate of 10%. This is an extremely challenging task, requiring strong determination and focused leadership from all levels of government, as well as the active cooperation and consensus of the business community and local residents. In particular, the performance of the 23 wards, which have favorable socio-economic conditions, will play a crucial role in driving overall provincial growth.

The Provincial People’s Committee requested all agencies, units, and 23 wards to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the directives of Party General Secretary To Lam delivered at the 13th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, focusing on the principle of “three priorities, three transparencies, and one yardstick”.

The province emphasized the need to shift substantively from “process” to “results”, ensuring that every task produces tangible outputs, has a clearly assigned entity responsible for implementation, and includes specific completion milestones. All tasks must have clear objectives, timelines, resources, responsibilities, and inspection mechanisms; reports must be submitted on schedule; and progress and results must be made public for citizen oversight.

Departments such as Home Affairs, Finance, and Science and Technology are tasked with advising the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee to implement synchronized solutions, ensuring the two-tier local government model operates stably and effectively.

The Party Committees of the 23 wards were urged to promote initiative and innovation in leadership methods to address internal challenges, using public satisfaction as the key measure of performance. Each ward should adopt solutions to capitalize on its unique local potential, transforming inherent advantages into drivers of economic growth. They were also directed to urgently review, update, and adjust subzone plans, land-use plans, and urban infrastructure plans to ensure consistency with the revised Dong Nai Provincial Master Planning for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

The wards were encouraged to actively coordinate with the Department of Construction and the Department of Agriculture and Environment to review unused land funds and include them in plans for urban, commercial–service, industrial, and tourism development. They should mobilize and use development and social welfare resources efficiently, accelerate public investment disbursement, compensation, and site clearance, and strive to fully disburse 100% of the 2025 public investment capital plan. At the same time, the wards should promote digital transformation, develop the digital economy and digital governance, advance green growth and sustainable urban development, and improve people’s livelihoods in tandem with comprehensive social progress.

   By Phuong Hang - Translated by Quynh Nhu, Thu Ha