Quickly adapting to the two-level local government model

Updated: 09:16, 03/07/2025

On July 1, 34 provinces and cities all over the country officially implemented the two-level local government. The working atmosphere at communes and wards clearly shows the spirit of innovation, marking an important change in the reformation of the state administrative apparatus.

In Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Can Tho, the administrative apparatus at all levels worked seamlessly, with officials and civil servants quickly adapting to ensure service for citizens and enterprises are not interrupted.

An official of Hai Chau Ward in Da Nang instructs citizens to conduct administrative procedures.

Government’s efforts, citizens’ excitement

In Da Nang, the working atmosphere on the first day of the new apparatus was serious. Jobs were carried out smoothly and the people highly appreciated the service spirit of officials and civil servants.

On July 1, a total of 94 wards, communes, and special zones quickly implemented important tasks, especially at the public administration service centres, which were ready to welcome citizens and enterprise coming to conduct administrative procedures.

In Da Nang’s central ward of Hai Chau, technical infrastructure was thoroughly prepared while the number of counters and civil servants at the public administration service centre was increased to deal with overload.

On the early morning, numerous people arriving to submit their applications, were ushered to the right counters by Hai Chau officials standing at the gate.

According to Nguyen Van Duy, Chairman of Hai Chau Ward, the operation on the first day was relatively stable with minimal hiccups.

Da Nang Vice Chairman Ho Quang Buu said officials and civil servants were requested to ensure all services are smooth and not interrupted right from the first day. He added that the city has received positive feedback from the people when administrative procedures were handled quickly and smoothly.

In the past several days, all wards and communes across the capital city Ha Noi have been adorned with flags, banners, and posters carrying messages of a lean administrative apparatus which is closer to the people and serves the people better.

Along with the nation, Ha Noi officially implemented the two-level local government model with 126 wards and communes.

In Ho Tay Ward, the local government received 60 dossiers and completed the handling of 52, while the other eight were transferred to the relevant units.

Nguyen Thi Viet Ha, the deputy chief of the ward’s office, said personnel were arranged to help the people fill in online forms if needed, adding the data and dossier transmission line is stable.

On the first day of the two-level local government, dozens of people were present at Sai Gon Ward in Ho Chi Minh City to conduct administrative procedures.

Tran Thi Xuan shared: “In the past, I always felt pressure when visiting a public office because it took me multiple trips to get my job done. But today the procedures are processed promptly, the civil servants are very helpful and friendly.”

Sai Gon Ward is a new administrative unit of Ho Chi Minh City, formed by merging Ben Nghe Ward with parts of Da Kao Ward and Nguyen Thai Binh Ward in District 1.

Sharing his thoughts on the first working day, Ha Minh Nhat, an official at the Sai Gon Ward Public Administration Service Centre, said: “We, the ward’s civil servants, have been trained so we are quite proficient. On the first day, we tried our best to complete all the assigned tasks and will work to serve the people and enterprises better in the future, contributing to the city’s overall administrative reform.”

Also on the morning of July 1, officials and civil servants of Vung Tau Ward arrived at the public administration centre early to check the system and ensure everything would go as planned. It was reported that the dossier reception and processing was quick and smooth.

Bui Van Hy, Chairman of Vung Tau Ward, said “The ward’s officials and civil servants have been well prepared and are ready for the operation of the new apparatus, ensuring that administrative procedures are handled as effectively as possible.”

Following the merger, Can Tho is now comprised of 103 wards and communes. On the first day of the two-level local government, despite some difficulties, administrative procedures were handled effectively and without problems.

In the new Tan An Ward, formed by merging Hung Loi Ward and An Khanh Ward in the former Ninh Kieu District, people coming to the public administration centre increased by threefold. Officials and public servants were present early in the morning to instruct the people to submit their dossiers.

Le Thi Yen Nhi, a local entrepreneur, said: “The officials at the new public administration service centre worked very hard and everything was processed quickly.”

According to Nguyen Thai Bao, Director of the Tan An Ward Public Administration Service Centre, despite facing some difficulties, the ward has made great efforts to reduce the waiting time for administrative procedures.

Overcoming difficulties to ensure effective operation

Reports from many communes and wards in Ha Noi showed that on the first day of the two-level local government, the working atmosphere very serious.

According to Pham Quang Ngoc, Chairman of Soc Son Commune, the commune was well prepared to serve the needs of the two-level local government in terms of both personnel and equipment.

The commune will continue training its officials to make sure administrative procedures are handled efficiently.

According to Nguyen Thi Bich Loan, Deputy Director of Can Tho’s Vi Thanh 1 Ward Public Administration Service Centre, on the first post-merger working day, the civil servants were ready to work under the new apparatus, looking to build a friendly local administration that serves people whole-heartedly and responsibly.

Problems are unavoidable on the first day, with the connection glitch causing some to wait longer than expected. However, the commune quickly contacted the telecommunication service provider to fix the issue.

According to Can Tho’s steering committee on building two-level local government, the new communes and wards have operated effectively, meeting the people’s needs for administrative procedures.

But due to the large workload, tight schedule and personnel shortage, some communes and wards experienced difficulty in fulfilling their jobs.

In addition, the floor area of some communes and wards is not sufficient for arranging functional zones as required, while some computers were inadequate for the actual needs.

Some communes and wards experienced connection and data storage issues, while the transfer of land dossiers from the district level to the commune level was delayed as most of them are in the form of paper.

According to a leader of Sai Gon Ward, in the initial period, service may not be truly perfect, but officials and civil servants are working to provide the people and enterprises with the best services possible.

Inspecting the operation of the two-level local government in Di An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City Chairman Nguyen Van Duoc asked the ward to review the implementation process to ensure the new apparatus must serve the people and enterprises better.

He requested officials to ensure the operation of the new apparatus is smooth with no tasks missed or delayed.

The implementation of two-level local government model all over the country is a historic milestone in the country’s administrative reform process.

During a recent inspection tour in Can Tho, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man stated that the policy of reorganising administrative units and implementing the two-level local government is aimed at bringing the government closer to the people and handling administrative procedures more quickly.

He emphasised that during the initial period of implementing the two-level local government will see difficulties and challenges, adding that Can Tho needs to make a concerted effort to overcome such challenges for the development of the city and country.