Particularly important milestone
2025 enters the history of state administrative reform as a particularly important milestone. This is the first time Vietnam has simultaneously implemented the arrangement and streamlining of the organizational structure on a large scale and operated the two-level local government model nationwide.
The revolution to arrange and streamline the apparatus was strongly launched from November 2024 and continuously implemented in 2025. In less than four months, by March 1, 2025, the arrangement of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and agencies under the Government had been completed.
After arrangement, at the central level, there are still 14 ministries, 3 ministerial-level agencies (reduction of 5 ministries, ministerial-level agencies, corresponding to a decrease of 22.7%) and 5 government-attached agencies (reduction of 3 agencies, corresponding to a decrease of 37.5%). All 13 general departments and equivalent organizations were removed; 509 departments and equivalent organizations, a decrease of 76.2%; 231 cases, a decrease of 60.2%; and 3,377 sub-departments and equivalent sub-department organizations were cut, corresponding to 93.8%.
The number of public non-business units in the organizational structure of ministries and sectors also decreased by 82/224 units, equivalent to 36.6%. Ministries and sectors are currently continuing to arrange other public non-business units according to the policy in Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW and the orientation of the Central Steering Committee on summarizing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW.
Along with streamlining the organization at the Central level is the largest scale administrative unit arrangement since the establishment of the country. After the arrangement, the whole country will have 34 provincial-level administrative units, a reduction of 29 provinces and cities; 3,321 commune-level administrative units, a reduction of 6,714 units (66.91%) and the termination of operation of 696 district-level administrative units.
From July 1, 2025, the two-level local government model officially operates nationwide. Authority is redefined in a clear direction, increasing local autonomy, especially at the commune level. Out of 1,377 decentralized tasks, 949 tasks are assigned to localities. The proportion of administrative procedures under local authority increased to 56%, helping the government be more proactive in managing and developing socio-economics.
Creating new development space for localities
Mr. Le Nhu Tien - former Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children, said that streamlining the organizational structure is a necessary condition to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management.
According to him, when the apparatus has too many intermediate levels, policies must go through many stages, making implementation slow and difficult to reach people and grassroots levels. Simplification helps shorten this process. The benefits of arranging the apparatus are not only in saving budget but more importantly in expanding development space and helping policies reach people faster.
When the intermediate level is removed, which is the district level, the direction will go directly to the grassroots level, closer to the people and more directly with the people. All policies reaching people and businesses faster will create motivation for the country to develop when entering a new era" - Mr. Le Nhu Tien assessed.
According to him, this arrangement is not simply an administrative reform but of the nature of a "revolution" in the state apparatus organization, with the goal of building a long-term stable organizational system with a strategic vision for the country's development.
This process also aims to create a space for sustainable development, linking historical, cultural, traditional, defense, security and geopolitical, geo-economic, geo-cultural, and population factors to promote the overall development of the country.
From stabilizing the apparatus to improving operational efficiency
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa - Head of Public Management Department, University of Economics and Law (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), said that currently it is necessary to recognize this as a stage of "organizational stability", not yet a stage of fully promoting management efficiency.
According to her, the continued review and streamlining of the organization needs to be implemented in the direction of substantive restructuring, not just stopping at mechanically reducing focal points. First of all, streamlining must be based on functions, tasks and created values, it is necessary to review to eliminate overlap and duplication, and at the same time integrate units with similar functions. The principle is that each organization must have clear functions, specific outputs and be measurable.
Second, shifting from organizing according to "vertical sectors" to strengthening inter-sectoral coordination. Many issues today are inter-sectoral, so if the organizational structure is too fragmented, it will reduce the efficiency of handling. Therefore, it is necessary to redesign in a more flexible direction, reducing intermediaries, and increasing coordination capabilities.
Third, link streamlining the organization with streamlining the process. If only reducing focal points but the process is still complicated, the efficiency will not improve. Therefore, it is necessary to simultaneously simplify procedures, standardize processes and promote digitization to reduce the volume of administrative work.
Fourth, take output efficiency as a measure. The streamlining must be associated with improving the quality of service to people and businesses, not just reducing the number of units or staff.
In the context of promoting digital transformation and building digital government, to ensure that the streamlined apparatus truly operates effectively, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa believes that there are some decisive factors. She clearly stated that data must become the "core infrastructure" of management, not only digitizing records but also building an integrated, interconnected, shared data system, ensuring "one-time supply - multiple uses". When data is standardized and connected, the processing process will be faster, reducing dependence on paperwork and people.
In addition, standardization and redesign of public service processes on digital platforms also need to be noted. Digital transformation is not only about bringing old processes to the electronic environment but also simplifying and automating processing steps, thereby reducing manual workload and improving efficiency.
Ms. Hoa also emphasized the improvement of digital capacity of cadres and civil servants. Technology only promotes efficiency when users have sufficient skills and appropriate thinking. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on training digital capacity, the ability to work with data and adapt to the digital environment.
I believe that digital transformation only really works when it comes with good data, reasonable processes, suitable people and correct evaluation mechanisms. This is the foundation for the streamlined apparatus to operate more effectively and serve better" - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa shared.
