Accelerating administrative reform alongside digital transformation

Dong Nai is prioritizing the development of digital government as a key pillar of its digital transformation process by upgrading digital infrastructure, strengthening digital platforms and shifting administrative operations toward data-driven governance, creating new momentum for socio-economic development.

Building a modern public service culture

In recent years, localities across Dong Nai have actively proposed initiatives and administrative reform models, particularly in digital transformation, in order to deliver practical benefits to residents and businesses.

An officer at Binh Loc ward Public Administrative Service Center, Dong Nai City, assists residents in registering for online administrative procedures. Photo: Hai Quan

Pham Son Dien, Director of Dai Phuoc commune Public Administrative Service Center, said the locality has piloted the application of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based virtual assistant in public administrative activities to support specialized divisions in data compilation, statistics, reporting and news editing.

Notably, the commune has integrated an AI-powered public administration assistant into its portal, enabling residents to ask questions and receive guidance regarding administrative procedures.

Meanwhile, Binh Minh commune People’s Committee has implemented the “No-appointment Friday” model every Friday since October 2025. After more than six months of implementation, the initiative has produced positive results and improved public satisfaction.

The model is considered not only a solution to improve service quality but also a driving force encouraging officials and civil servants to enhance responsibility and become more proactive in handling work, thereby contributing to the development of a service-oriented administration centered on residents.

Pham Thi Le Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Binh Minh commune People’s Committee, shared that in the coming period, the commune will continue reviewing and upgrading the local Public Administrative Service Center in order to better meet digital transformation requirements and improve public services.

At the same time, the locality will continue emphasizing codes of conduct so that each official and civil servant further strengthens responsibility in performing public duties, thereby enhancing satisfaction among residents and businesses.

In Thuan Loi commune, authorities have recently implemented the model “Morning with the people” to improve service quality for residents and enterprises. Held once a week every Wednesday, the program allows leaders of the commune Party Committee, People’s Committee and specialized divisions to directly meet and exchange views with local residents.

According to Pham Xuan Thach, Director of Thuan Loi commune Public Administrative Service Center, maintaining the model has helped improve the effectiveness of citizen reception work while promptly understanding residents’ aspirations and concerns.

Moving forward, the center will continue advising on maintaining the weekly program to ensure practicality and effectiveness. Through the model, local authorities can promptly address residents’ feedback and recommendations while strengthening ties between the government and the people, aiming to build a friendly administration that serves the public.

“In the coming period, the center will continue coordinating with agencies and organizations within the political system to establish working groups or assign dedicated personnel to support residents, particularly elderly people and those in remote areas, in using essential digital services,” Thach added.

Developing transparent and effective digital government

In May 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the 2025 Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index 2025) for ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial and municipal administrations. Accordingly, Dong Nai’s administrative reform index rose to 93.1%, placing the locality among the nation’s leading performers and ranking third out of 34 provinces and cities nationwide. The result reflects the improving quality of governance and administration at all levels across Dong Nai.

Thuan Loi commune’s leaders conduct a field survey on promoting information technology applications and digital transformation at the commune’s Public Administrative Service Center. Photo: Hai Quan

In recent years, Dong Nai’s administrative reform efforts have continued receiving close and decisive attention and direction from leaders of the City Party Committee and People’s Committee. At the same time, digital transformation has been strongly promoted through various innovative solutions and models aimed at improving the effectiveness of administrative reform.

Under Plan No. 228/KH-UBND on administrative reform in Dong Nai for 2026, the development of e-government and digital government continues to be identified as one of the city’s key priorities.

Accordingly, the city will focus on completing digital infrastructure, strengthening data connectivity and sharing among state agencies, and accelerating the application of information technology in governance, administration and the handling of administrative procedures, with the goal of building a modern, transparent and effective administration.

Pham Van Trinh, Director of the Dong Nai City Department of Science and Technology, said the science and technology sector will focus on fundamentally transforming governance methods from traditional administrative models to digital governance operating on real-time data.

A core solution will be the operation of Intelligent Operations Centers (IOC) and Security Operations Centers (SOC) at both city and commune/ward levels to support centralized governance.

At the same time, AI-based decision support systems (AI-DSS) will be deployed to optimize administrative procedures and improve governance efficiency.

Dong Nai is also promoting various programs and activities aimed at advancing the “Digital literacy for all” movement while expanding models and information channels that enable residents and businesses to access online public services more quickly and conveniently.

Nguyen Kim Long, Member of the City Party Standing Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee, said the city will continue accelerating administrative reform in parallel with digital transformation. The focus will be placed on developing digital government, digital governance and digital public services, gradually forming a modern, transparent, open and convenient administrative system.

“The goal is to reduce procedures, shorten processing times and lower costs. Most importantly, residents and businesses must genuinely feel the convenience, accessibility and practical effectiveness every time they work with government agencies,” he stressed.

Alongside these efforts, Dong Nai is also focusing on building a modern public service culture that values a spirit of service, professionalism, discipline, public service ethics, and individual responsibility. In short, the city’s administrative apparatus must be measured by its practical effectiveness, reflected in public trust and local development outcomes.

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