Streamlining State apparatus to expand development space

NA Deputy Truong Xuan Cu

National Assembly (NA) Deputy Truong Xuan Cu (Hanoi constituency)

Urgent requirement of long-term strategic significance

As Vietnam enters a new phase of development, streamlining the State management apparatus will expand development space needed for the country’s stable, long-term strategic growth to advance in the new era. It may even be a decisive factor in the era of the nation’s rise.

Reality shows that in any country or nation, a streamlined, efficient administrative apparatus will be a foundation to unlock creativity, remove bottlenecks, and enable the country to function efficiently and develop steadily. This time, our determination is exceptionally strong. The streamlining effort is implemented not only within the scope of the Government but also expands to Party organizations at all levels, from the central down to the grassroots levels; merging provinces, eliminating the district level, and reducing the number of communes. This is a revolutionary comprehensive and systemic overhaul of the entire political system. It is both urgent and necessary. The sooner it is done, the more beneficial it will be for the people and the country.

Vietnam currently has 63 provinces/cities, 705 districts, and 10,595 communes/wards while other Asian countries like China has 34 provinces, Japan 47, and The Republic of Korea just 16. Merging provinces and eliminating district-level authority are not merely about reducing numbers; it is an urgent need to enhance governance capacity, optimize resources, and create broader space for socioeconomic development.

NA Deputy Pham Trong Nghia

NA Deputy Pham Trong Nghia (Lang Son constituency):

Creating space and momentum for economic growth

The streamlining issue is not unique to Vietnam. It is part of a global trend. Developed countries like the UK, France, the US, Japan, the RoK, and Singapore are pioneers in administrative streamlining, cutting staff in the public administrative apparatus, thereby, creating room for economic growth and also significantly improving public welfare and producing other positive outcomes.

As for Vietnam, streamlining is not just an administrative task, but also essential for political stability, economic growth, and raising the country’s international standing, especially in an age of fast-paced technological change.

I believe that streamlining the apparatus will increase operational efficiency, reduce budget expenditures so that there will be more investment in other critical areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, while also raising responsibilities of each agency, making monitoring and evaluation of their operations easier.

Dr. Bui Duc Thu, former Deputy Director of the NA Deputy Affairs Committee

Dr. Bui Duc Thu, former Deputy Director of the NA Deputy Affairs Committee:

Merging provinces will drive a major growth breakthrough

Merging provincial-level administrative units is necessary to ensure both local and national economic efficiency. With the current pace of technological and productive advancement, keeping the existing administrative boundaries, especially in some small provinces, would greatly limit the development space and lead to administrative redundancy and increase regular expenses. If we want to promote healthy economic and fiscal structures and improve the people’s lives, we must cut regular expenses and reduce staffing by streamlining the apparatus.

When provinces are merged, their land areas will increase by 1.5 to 2 times, opening up new space for development. With support policies from the Party Central Committee and the government, the interconnectivity among provinces and regional economic zones is expected to improve and become more robust