International press conference announces the operation of Vietnam's new organizational apparatus from 1.7.2025

On the morning of June 17, in Hanoi, the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee coordinated with the Central Organizing Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the National Assembly's Judicial Committee to organize an international press conference to officially announce the Decision to operate the new apparatus of Vietnam according to the 2-level local government organization model from July 1, 2025.

The press conference was chaired by Central Party Committee member, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Pham Tat Thang; Deputy Head of the National Assembly's Law and Justice Committee Nguyen Phuong Thuy; Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Truong Hai Long; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan; Deputy Minister of Finance Ho Sy Hung.

The press conference was attended by many domestic and international reporters.

9:10: Mr. Pham Tat Thang - Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department - delivered the opening speech at the International Press Conference to officially announce the Decision to operate the new apparatus of Vietnam according to the 2-level local government organization model from July 1, 2025.

Mr. Pham Tat Thang said that the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, term XV, passed with a very high number of votes the Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution and the amended Law on Organization of Local Government, thereby establishing a model of organizing local government at 2 levels (provincial and commune levels) in a unified manner across the country, clearly defining the tasks, authority and organizational structure of each level of government.

This is a major event of historical significance, creating a solid legal foundation for the organization and operation of local governments according to the model of 02 level local governments held for the first time in Vietnam, serving the implementation of major policies of the Party and State on national development in various fields, ensuring national defense - security, and international integration. Comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, stated: The project on rearranging and reorganizing administrative units at all levels and building a model of organizing local governments at both levels along with the accompanying projects are very important and historic issues; not only rearranging in terms of organization, apparatus, and cadres; but also decentralizing in terms of authority; rearranging administrative units; allocating resources; creating development space. The goal is to build a Government that is closer to the people, closer to the people, and better serves the people; at the same time, opening up a new perspective in national development with a long-term vision, at least for the next 100 years" - Mr. Thang said.

According to Mr. Thang, this is an issue that cadres, party members and people of all walks of life in Vietnam are very interested in and highly appreciated for, and will be implemented synchronously from July 1, 2025. It can be said that the Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution and the amended Law on Organization of Local Government are important, necessary and strategic tasks to meet the development requirements of the country, perfect the political and legal system, and at the same time demonstrate the will and aspirations of the People in the new era, the era of the Vietnamese nation's rise.

9:15: Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thuy - Deputy Head of the National Assembly's Committee on Law and Justice - discussed some basic contents of the Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (CSV).

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thuy said that the Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has been carefully and seriously prepared, deeply reflecting the will and aspirations of the People, combining the will of the Party and the will of the People, in accordance with the practical situation and requirements for building, protecting and developing the country in the new era.

Regarding the basic content of the Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy said that the Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam No. 203/2025/QH15 recently passed by the National Assembly includes 02 articles, of which Article 1 amends and supplements 5/120 articles of the Constitution (including Articles 9, 10, Clause 1, Article 84, Article 110 and Article 111); Article 2 stipulates the effectiveness of the implementation and transitional provisions. Specifically as follows:

Amend and supplement regulations on the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations (Article 9 of the Constitution) to clarify the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front as the central organization of the great national unity bloc, creating a foundation for the arrangement and streamlining of socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and the State.

Amend and supplement regulations on Vietnam Trade Unions (Article 10 of the Constitution) in the direction of reasonably inheriting the constitutations, continuing to clearly recognize and demonstrate the position and role of Vietnam Trade Unions, ensuring consistency and no overlap with the amendment and supplementation of regulations in Article 9 of the Constitution.

Amend and supplement regulations on the authority to submit draft laws and draft laws of socio-political organizations (Clause 1, Article 84 of the Constitution) in the direction of stipulating that central agencies of socio-political organizations have the right to submit draft laws to the National Assembly, submit draft laws to the National Assembly Standing Committee to both demonstrate democracy and promote the active and proactive role of socio-political organizations, in accordance with the position and capacity of these organizations.

Amend and supplement regulations on the organization of administrative units (Article 110 of the Constitution) to create a foundation for the organization of local government at 02 levels. Accordingly, administrative units of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam are organized into 02 levels, including provinces and centrally run cities and administrative units under provinces and centrally run cities according to the law.

Amend and supplement regulations on local government (Article 111 of the Constitution) in the direction of supplementing regulations on local government in special administrative - economic units to have a more specific basis for continuing research, moving towards the establishment of special administrative - economic units with specific and outstanding mechanisms and policies in the coming time.

Regarding the effectiveness of implementation and transitional provisions (Article 2 of the Resolution): Article 2 stipulates the effectiveness of the Resolution, the end time of operation of district-level administrative units and transitional regulations to create a necessary legal basis and favorable conditions for the early completion of the organizational apparatus of agencies under local governments at all levels to officially switch to the 2-level local government model from July 1, 2025, ensuring that localities after implementing the arrangement and merger can operate smoothly and synchronously, without interruption of work, without affecting the normal operations of organizations, businesses and people.

9:25: Mr. Truong Hai Long - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs - introduces the basic contents of the Law on Organization of Local Government (amended) 2025.

Mr. Truong Hai Long said that organizing local government according to a two-level model is a major policy and guideline, demonstrating Vietnam's strategic vision in the context of the country entering a new stage of development, requiring a streamlined, efficient and modern governance apparatus. This model not only overcomes the cumbersomeness, layeredness, overlap in functions, tasks, and powers in the previous 3-level government organization model, but is also an important basis for promoting decentralization and delegation of power between the central and local governments and between local government levels, enhancing autonomy and self-responsibility of government levels, especially at the commune level - near the people, close to the people and directly serving the people.

Institutionalizing the above major policy, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has passed a Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Constitution, promulgating the Law on Organization of Local Government (Law No. 72/2025/QH15) on June 16, 2025 and amending, supplementing and replacing other relevant Laws; the Government, relevant ministries and central agencies have issued many legal documents, documents directing and guiding the implementation of the 2-level local government model.

The Government has submitted and the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15 dated June 12, 2025 on the arrangement of provincial-level administrative units (ADUs) in 2025; The National Assembly Standing Committee has issued 34 resolutions on the arrangement of commune-level ADUs of 34 provinces and cities. Accordingly, after the arrangement, the whole country has 34 provincial-level administrative units (06 cities and 28 provinces); 3,321 commune-level administrative units (2,521 communes, 687 wards and 13 special zones).

The Law on Organization of Local Government No. 72/2025/QH15 has perfected the principles of dividing authority, decentralization, and decentralization between the Central Government and local governments, between provincial and commune-level local governments in a scientific, synchronous, and unified manner; clearly defining the authority between the People's Committee and the Chairman of the People's Committee, creating conditions for implementing a flexible and effective operating mechanism, encouraging proactiveness and creativity of heads of state administrative agencies in the locality.

In particular, the Law has empowered the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to directly direct and manage the settlement of issues under the tasks and powers of other specialized agencies and administrative organizations under his or her authority and the Chairman of the People's Committee and the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level, in case necessary, not to let the settlement of administrative work and procedures for people and businesses stagnate, congestion, or be ineffective.

9:40: Talking to reporters at the press conference

At the press conference, press agencies raised questions such as, in the past, what preparations has Vietnam taken to soon put the new apparatus into effective operation? Is there any difficulties or problems in the current adjustment process? And has Vietnam taken any adjustments to remove these difficulties and obstacles? Journalists and press agencies have questioned the proposal to merge provincial-level administrative units/ two-level local government organizations, which is expected to create positive impacts on the social and economic life of Vietnam? At the same time, press agencies also questioned why Vietnam is stepping up streamlining the public sector receiving salaries from the state budget to improve operational efficiency.

Responding to questions from the press, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Truong Hai Long said that in order to implement this major, strategic policy, in the past time, Vietnam has had synchronous, tight and comprehensive preparation, demonstrating a proactive and decisive spirit.

Regarding the legal basis, the National Assembly and the Government have actively reviewed, amended and supplemented many important laws such as the Law on Organization of Local Government and the Law on Civil Servants, to create a solid legal corridor for the organization of a two-level local government model.

At the same time, the system of documents under the law such as decrees and guiding circulars are also issued promptly, ensuring synchronization with the time of operation of the new model. Ministries and branches have proactively issued detailed instructions, even having organizational models for localities to effectively apply.

The Government has researched and developed appropriate personnel arrangement plans after the arrangement. In particular, focus on selecting a team of cadres with sufficient capacity, qualifications, legal knowledge and management experience to undertake tasks at the commune level - directly at the government level to the people.

The assignment of cadres also ensures clear people, clear work, clear responsibilities, associated with job positions, and readiness to receive additional decentralized authority. At the same time, localities proactively develop training and fostering plans to help cadres adapt to new functions and tasks.

In addition, the Government has paid attention to arranging and upgrading headquarters and working equipment, especially digital infrastructure. The information technology infrastructure system is guaranteed to connect interconnectively between 3,321 commune-level administrative units, facilitating the operation of digital government and handling administrative procedures in the electronic environment. In addition, the arrangement of public housing and the rearrangement of working offices are also focused on to ensure living and working conditions for civil servants after the merger.

Regarding propaganda work, the Government has directed the collection of public opinions seriously and received very high consensus, about 96% in localities to implement. The communication is carried out in parallel with the process of developing the project and implementing the new model, ensuring that people, cadres and civil servants understand, support and accompany.

The roadmap is built specifically, in detail, clearly for each task, each person, each stage. The plans have been made public and sent to relevant units for synchronous and effective implementation.

"With this careful preparation, we believe that from next July, the two-level local government apparatus in 34 provinces, cities and 3,321 commune-level administrative units will operate smoothly and continuously" - Mr. Long said.

Regarding the difficulties in the preparation process, Deputy Minister Truong Hai Long said that the biggest difficulty is the requirement to complete the legal system in a short time, but still have to ensure that there is no "legal gap".

The National Assembly, the Government and relevant agencies have made unprecedented efforts to issue a large volume of regulatory documents in a short time.

In addition, there are concerns of the team of cadres and civil servants when reorganizing the apparatus. The Government has paid attention to doing a good job of ideological work, developing support policies, and properly resolving cases affected by staff streamlining.

In addition, the commune level in the new model is not only the level close to the people, but also directly solves more work with higher requirements. Therefore, increasing training and improving the capacity of commune-level cadres is a challenge but also a priority in the coming time.

Deputy Minister Truong Hai Long also pointed out the positive impact of the new model, the reorganization of administrative units, reducing from 63 to 34 provinces, along with the two-level government model, will create more room for economic development, strengthen regional linkages, while saving the budget and improving management efficiency. The two-level government of "people-to-people, people-near-people" also helps improve the quality of service for people and businesses, while requiring the Government to strongly promote digital transformation and modernize the administrative system.