Two-level local government: A historical turning point for the Vietnamese people

The mission of district-level government in the flow of Vietnamese history

In our country, district-level governments (with names such as district, prefecture, and prefecture) were formed very early and played an important role in population management, tax collection, military recruitment, and maintaining security and order. Each historical period witnessed the important role of district-level governments.

During the feudal period, the administrative level equivalent to the district played a role in the central centralized apparatus, helping the court manage the country. Units such as Phu, Chau, Huyen helped the court control and develop the country. During the French colonial period: The district level implemented the colonial rule policy, and was also the place where the patriotic movement was developed.

After gaining independence in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation for democratic administration through important decrees (Decree No. 63/SL, dated November 22, 1945 and Decree No. 77/SL, dated December 21, 1945).

These decrees stipulate the organization of local government according to democratic principles, with administrative levels: Province, District, Commune, giving power directly to the people. Throughout historical periods, the Party and State have constantly improved the organization of local government to meet the development requirements of each period.

It can be affirmed that, since the successful August Revolution, under the leadership of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government, and Vietnam Fatherland Front through the periods, the district-level government has always accompanied with intelligence, courage, enthusiasm, and dedication to the common development of the country. And as the assessment says: "The district-level administrative unit has been steadfast, persistent, shouldering great responsibilities, excellently and completely fulfilling its glorious historical mission over the past nearly 8 decades".

The demands of the times and breakthrough decisions

Entering the 21st century, the world context is developing rapidly, especially with the explosion of knowledge economy, digital technology, artificial intelligence and big data. This reshapes the way countries operate, requiring an administration that is flexible, fast and transparent. Many developed countries such as Japan, Korea and the Nordic countries have streamlined their administrative apparatus, moving towards a clear model of decentralization and delegation of power, minimizing unnecessary intermediate levels to increase management efficiency and public services.

Vietnam is no exception. The three-level government with the participation of the district level in the new period has revealed certain limitations, such as the emergence of additional intermediate levels in handling administrative procedures, potential overlap in functions and tasks between levels, and the burden of operating costs. Therefore, the transition to a two-level government model from July 1, 2025 is an important step in reforming national governance.

To implement the administrative reform goal, the Party and the State have issued important directive documents: Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, dated October 25, 2017 of the 12th Central Executive Committee, this is a breakthrough Resolution, paving the way for the implementation of the arrangement and merger of administrative units and streamlining the apparatus nationwide; Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW, dated April 12, 2025 of the 13th Central Executive Committee of the Party. Decision to arrange and merge provincial and commune-level administrative units, officially switching to a 2-level government model from July 1, 2025. This is a breakthrough, demonstrating the Party's high determination to build a streamlined state apparatus and political system that operates effectively, efficiently, modernly and cost-effectively, aiming to improve the Party's leadership and governance capacity and better serve the people in the new development stage.

At the same time, there are important conclusions of the Politburo and the Secretariat on directing the implementation of the arrangement and streamlining of the state apparatus, implementing a two-level local government; Resolution 202/2025/QH15 dated June 12, 2025 of the National Assembly: On the arrangement of provincial-level administrative units, the whole country from 63 provinces and cities is arranged to 34 provinces and cities (including 28 provinces and 6 centrally-run cities).

Resolutions on the arrangement of commune-level administrative units of the National Assembly at the 9th Session: Accordingly, the whole country has a total of 3,321 commune-level administrative units, including 2,621 communes, 687 wards and 13 special zones (a decrease of 66.91% compared to present), marking the scale and determination of the national administrative reform.

In Nghe An, after implementing the arrangement of commune-level administrative units in the 2023-2025 period, Nghe An province has reduced the number of commune-level administrative units from 412 to 130. This is a clear demonstration of the determination to carry out administrative reform.

The policy of building a two-level local government including provincial and communal levels, no longer district level, is an inevitable step towards the requirement for a more streamlined and flexible administrative apparatus. This not only helps to reduce administrative procedures but also improves management efficiency, serving people and businesses more quickly and effectively. The revised Law on Organization of Local Government has promoted decentralization, delegation of power and authorization to properly implement the motto "Local decision, local action and local responsibility".

This empowerment not only helps reduce intermediate levels and shorten administrative processes, but also creates conditions for commune-level authorities to maximize their capacity and creativity in solving local problems. At the same time, it also sets higher requirements for commune-level authorities in terms of strengthening staff capacity, applying technology, enhancing interaction, supporting people, promoting proactive creativity, unity, and connection with direct superiors, which is a strategic step towards building a truly effective administration."create, serve"to contribute to the overall development of the country in the new period.

The transition to a two-tier government model does not deny the historical value of the district government, but is a continuation and development of the administrative reform process over the years. This is an inevitable step, a historic turning point to create a more modern, more effective administration, and to best meet the aspirations of the people in the new context. Vietnam is facing a historic moment, determined to build a creative administration to strive to become a developed country, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's powers in the 21st century.

To realize the aspiration of developing a prosperous country, Vietnam is facing important strategic opportunities. The consistent viewpoint of the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Government and the central ministries and branches has received high consensus from the local authorities and the vast majority of the people. General Secretary To Lam, at the meeting to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the establishment and growth of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2025), stated that: From now to 2030 is a period, a strategic opportunity, a sprint stage of the Vietnamese revolution to achieve the 100-year strategic goal under the leadership of the Party, creating a solid premise to achieve the goal of 100 years of national founding."If we miss the opportunity, we will be guilty towards the country and the people. That is the order of the times."