(VOVWORLD) - The 11th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee has reached high consensus on the restructuring of the political apparatus, administrative units, and two-tier local governments. The current administrative restructuring is being carried out with a bold, creative spirit, aligning with practical realities and a long-term vision of for the next 100 years in order to expand the space for socio-economic and cultural development.
 At the national conference to communicate the policies and decisions adopted at the 11th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee (photo: VOV) |
A revolution in streamlining the political system’s apparatus is taking place urgently with strong consensus across the Party and support of the public.
Unprecedented strategic decision
The Party Central Committee agreed that after the restructuring, Vietnam’s local government will have two tiers: the provincial level (provinces and centrally-run cities) and the communal level (communes, wards, and special zones under provinces and cities). The district level will be dissolved.
Vietnam will have 34 provincial-level administrative units. The merger of commune-level administrative units will reduce the current number of communes and wards nationwide by 60-70%.
Under the new administrative model, the administration at the provincial level will implement guidelines and policies of the central government, issue local policies, and direct and manage activities at the communal level. The administration at the communal level will be primarily responsible for executing policies issued at the central and provincial levels.
Party General Secretary To Lam said: "The post-restructuring local administration must be lean, efficient, people-oriented, and capable of meeting the demands of modern governance and implementing rapid and sustainable growth targets. It must be able to create new momentum and strength for national defense, security, and foreign affairs; serve as a driving force for economic development, promoting the private sector, accelerating science, technology, and innovation, and improving the well-being of the people."
To ensure swift and coordinated implementation, the Party Central Committee agreed on amending the Constitution and state laws related to local government organization, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and other political and social organizations, which will take effect on July 1, 2025. A transitional period will ensure smooth and uninterrupted operation aligned with the restructuring and merging schedule.
 Party leader To Lam (photo: VOV) |
Aggressive implementation, high-level concentration
On Monday, two days after the 11th plenum, the Central Steering Committee for reviewing the implementation of Resolution 18 on merging provincial and communal administrative units and building a two-tier government system at the local level. convened its third session. The plenum approved 121 specific work groups and specified responsibilities and deadlines. General Secretary To Lam said these tasks are interlinked and any delay in one area could stall the entire system. No task can be delayed, especially those related to institutional reform and finalizing Party regulations, which must lead the way to establish a solid legal foundation for implementation.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, head of the Government’s Steering Committee for reviewing the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 18, chaired a meeting Monday on the restructuring and merger of administrative units. The Committee issued a plan for the administrative reorganization and establishing the two-tier local government model. By July 1, the newly merged local government must be operating stably with an integrated administrative management software and national population database.
On Wednesday, the Politburo and the Secretariat convened a national conference to communicate the policies and decisions adopted at the 11th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee. The conference was broadcast live to the public on radio and television, reflecting the importance of the decisions and their broad and profound impact on the general public.
Vietnam is simultaneously undertaking multiple major tasks – streamlining the organizational apparatus, reorganizing administrative units, accelerating economic breakthroughs, and preparing for Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 14th National Party Congress.
The restructuring of the political system's organizational apparatus is an unprecedented strategic decision, whose primary goals are to ensure rapid, stable, and sustainable national development, improve people’s lives, and build a lean and efficient government. At the same time, the restructured apparatus will be capable of effectively implementing the Party’s guidelines in the new era of national rise and prosperity.