Hop Thanh Commune holding a conference reviewing one year of implementing the two-tier political system and local government model, and a briefing session with party cells and hamlets

Streamlining the apparatus, improving governance effectiveness

Reorganizing the apparatus of the political system is a consistent policy of the Party and the State, driven by the need to build a modern administration that operates with capacity, effectiveness, and efficiency. The reorganization of administrative units and government apparatus at all levels in recent years has brought positive changes nationwide; the management apparatus has been progressively streamlined, intermediate layers reduced, work processing shortened, budget resources saved, and the quality of service to the People improved.

In Thai Nguyen, the process of reorganizing administrative units and establishing the two-tier local government model has been carried out seriously and methodically, in strict compliance with regulations and while maintaining stability. Before the reorganization, Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces had a combined total of 280 commune-level administrative units; after the reorganization, this number was reduced to 92, a decrease of 188 units, or more than 67%. At the provincial level, the number of specialized agencies was cut from 26 to 13, and the number of specialized divisions was cut from 213 to 89. The system of public service units was also reorganized to be leaner and more effective; as of May 2026, the province had 144 provincial-level public service units, a decrease of 31 from before.

After one year of implementation, local government operations have quickly stabilized; the handling of administrative procedures has not been disrupted; and socio-economic development tasks have continued to be carried out steadily. These results are clear evidence of the soundness of the policy to reform the organizational apparatus.

Based on the above results, continuing to reorganize hamlets, villages, and residential groups is a necessary step that builds on what has been achieved and remains coordinated with it. Once commune-level administrative units have been reorganized, the residential community system under them must also be reviewed and reorganized accordingly to ensure uniform management, avoiding a situation in which the apparatus at higher levels has been streamlined while grassroots organizations remain scattered, small in scale, difficult to manage, and unable to concentrate resources.

This policy is fully grounded in political, legal, and practical terms. It gives concrete form to the Party's view on continuing to reform and streamline the organizational apparatus, while also meeting the need to improve governance efficiency at the grassroots level. Reviews conducted in many localities show that some hamlets and residential groups remain small in scale with sparse populations, failing to meet the prescribed criteria, which creates difficulties in management, resource allocation, and the organization of community movements.

At present, the reorganization plans are being implemented under a strict roadmap. Localities across the province are reviewing current conditions, checking them against the criteria, developing schemes suited to the characteristics of each area, openly seeking voters' opinions, and completing dossiers for submission to competent authorities for consideration.

In a document directing the implementation of Directive No. 21 of the Prime Minister on the reorganization of hamlets and residential groups, Comrade Vuong Quoc Tuan, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, stressed the need for all levels and sectors to step up communication and mobilization efforts to build strong consensus among the People, ensuring that residents are fully informed, able to contribute opinions, and able to oversee the reorganization process in accordance with the law on the exercise of democracy at the grassroots level. Localities must fully take into account the specific historical, cultural, and customary factors, geographic conditions, national defense and security considerations, and the natural cohesion of residential communities, while linking the reorganization to the need to improve grassroots governance efficiency, promote digital transformation, and meet the requirements of rapid and sustainable development.

This refutes the claim that the reorganization is a top-down administrative imposition. In fact, it is a process carried out on the basis of promoting the People's right to mastery. Every plan must undergo broad consultation, with feedback incorporated and fully explained before implementation. It is precisely this direct participation of residents that ensures objectivity, transparency, and social consensus.

The benefits of the reorganization go beyond simply reducing the number of units; they aim at a more fundamental goal: improving the quality of grassroots governance, enabling the apparatus to operate cohesively with clear accountability, concentrating resources more effectively on infrastructure investment, enhancing community welfare, promoting digital transformation, and serving the People ever better.

During the reorganization of hamlets and residential groups, the handling of public assets, especially community cultural houses, is drawing close attention. (Pictured: The cultural house of Ao Dau Hamlet, Van Han Commune)

Social consensus is the foundation of success

One claim that can easily create psychological impact is the argument that merging hamlets and residential groups will erase community identity and blur the historical traditions of each locality. This is a one-sided argument that distorts concepts in order to sow anxiety among the People.

It must be clearly affirmed that adjusting the organizational units of residential communities does not mean abolishing cultural values or denying the formation history of each hamlet, village, or residential group. The identity of a locality is forged from its traditions, customs, way of life, collective memory, and tangible and intangible cultural values. None of these elements disappear simply because of an adjustment to a name or an organizational scale.

Practice in many localities shows that after reorganization, cultural institutions, traditional festivals, and fine customs have still been preserved, and have even gained better conditions for conservation and promotion as resources are invested in a more concentrated manner. When a community has an appropriately sized scale, mobilizing resources for infrastructure construction, organizing cultural and sports activities, protecting the environment, and ensuring security and order also become easier.

In Thai Nguyen, the development of reorganization plans has always been linked to the requirement to respect the historical, cultural, and customary factors of each community. Localities place emphasis on communication, dialogue, and explanation so that residents clearly understand the goals and long-term benefits of the policy. It is precisely this frank and democratic dialogue process that forms the basis for strengthening social consensus. Consensus is not formed by administrative orders, but is built through correct awareness, firm trust, and transparency in implementation.

In a newly issued document, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan also stressed that, during the implementation of the reorganization of hamlets and residential groups, political stability and social order and safety must be maintained; the situation must be proactively monitored and arising issues promptly addressed to prevent hotspots or complex incidents at the grassroots level; and the tradition of community solidarity must be preserved and promoted while reinforcing the People's trust in the Party and the State.

The reorganization of hamlets and residential groups helps concentrate resources and improve the quality of service to the People. (Pictured: The inauguration of the concrete road in Dong Huong Hamlet, Kha Son Commune)

Hostile forces often exploit people's emotional attachment to village and hamlet names to spread false information, stir up doubt, and label the merger as arbitrary and mechanical. Their goal is to undermine the People's trust in the Party's reform policy and create division between the government and residents. Yet all such distortions become meaningless in the face of concrete results from practice.

After each round of administrative unit reorganization, the management apparatus has operated more stably and effectively; socio-economic development tasks have continued to be carried out in a coordinated manner; political security and social order and safety have been maintained; and the People's trust has continued to be reinforced. This is an important basis for affirming that reorganization does not mean the loss of community, but rather the reorganization of residential communities in a way better suited to the requirements of governance and development.

For this policy to be put into practice, the combined strength of the entire political system must be brought into play. Party committees must perform well in leadership and ideological guidance. Governments at all levels must organize implementation in a scientific, democratic, and transparent manner. The Fatherland Front and mass organizations must stay close to the grassroots level and grasp the thoughts and aspirations of the People. Grassroots cadres must truly set an example, stay close to residents, and directly explain, engage in dialogue, and resolve issues as they arise.

Alongside this, propaganda agencies play a particularly important role on the ideological front. Accurate and timely information, together with clear analysis of the theoretical and practical grounds of the policy, will help steer public opinion and build unity in awareness and action, while also effectively countering and refuting wrongful and distorted views.

The reorganization of hamlets, villages, and residential groups is a step toward perfecting the organizational apparatus, improving the quality of governance, and meeting the development requirements of the country and of each locality. It is the right decision, with a clear roadmap, implemented democratically, openly, and prudently, for the long-term benefit of the People.

With the correct leadership of the Party, the coordinated involvement of the entire political system, and the consensus of the People, the reorganization of hamlets and residential groups will create a solid foundation for building a modern, effective grassroots government that stays close to the people and serves the People ever better.