Removing bottlenecks, accelerating the "wheels" of digital transformation - Part 1: Efforts to "catch up and move forward"
Despite facing many initial difficulties, under the decisive leadership of the Steering Committee for Science, Technology, Innovation, Digital Transformation, Administrative Reform, and Project 06 of the province, many localities quickly adapted to the new requirements as soon as the two-tiered government system came into operation.
Reporters Team |Design:Huu QuanMay 31, 2026
Despite facing many initial difficulties, under the decisive leadership of the Steering Committee for Science, Technology, Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Administrative Reform, and the Provincial Project 06, many localities quickly adapted to the new requirements as soon as the two-tiered government system came into operation. From mountainous villages with free Wi-Fi to modern public administrative service centers, digital transformation is gradually creating significant changes in the operation of local governments and the lives of the people.
One afternoon at the Hoa Son Community Cultural Center, Ms. Nguyen Thi To Tam, an officer from the Muong Xen Commune Party Committee Office, patiently guided the villagers on how to create online public service accounts, install electronic payment applications, and use smartphones. For many Thai, Mong, and Khmu people, it was the first time they had independently completed a digital transaction that previously seemed impossibly far beyond their reach.
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That scene reflects an approach to digital transformation: not starting with complex technology, but beginning with the most immediate needs of the people, using practical application instead of theoretical propaganda.
Accordingly, Muong Xen commune established a grassroots-level Steering Committee for Digital Transformation, bringing awareness campaigns to every village and household through activities such as "Community Technology Day" and "Young officials guiding villagers on digital operations." This hands-on approach has gradually eliminated the hesitation towards technology among the people, especially the elderly.
Beyond providing conveniences for daily life, digital technology is also seen as a tool for expanding livelihoods. Locals are guided on how to promote and sell forest honey, brocade fabrics, sticky rice, etc., on social media and digital platforms, helping local products reach a wider market.
Mr. Vi Van Dung from Hoa Son village said: "Previously, I only knew how to use a phone for making calls and sending messages via Zalo and Facebook. Now I know how to use social media to promote organic vegetables, black chickens, and local pigs..."
In Nghia Mai commune, where electricity and telecommunications infrastructure used to be major obstacles, digital transformation began with a very fundamental step: bringing the internet closer to the people.
Free Wi-Fi hotspots installed at community centers using local funds have brought about significant changes in community life. These centers are no longer just meeting places but are gradually becoming "digital hubs," where people come to update information, learn how to use smartphones, and access online services.
Mr. Luong Van Xuan, head of Mai Thai village, said: "Announcements about meetings or work can be posted on a Zalo group connecting nearly 250 households, and everyone is informed immediately. Anyone who is absent is notified in advance. Besides that, instead of going to each house to collect contributions as before, the village committee simply sends a QR code for payment to the group so people can transfer money directly, saving time and ensuring transparency."
According to Mr. Nguyen Nam Phuong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nghia Mai commune, the low starting point, limited infrastructure, and human resources prevent the locality from implementing digital transformation in a widespread manner.
Therefore, the commune chose to focus on tasks that best meet the needs of the people, such as installing free Wi-Fi in all 23 hamlets, while maintaining a community-based digital transformation team to provide hands-on guidance and support in using online public services and essential digital platforms.
This spirit continues to expand in many other mountainous localities. In Anh Son commune, based on the model of twinning between Party branches following the principle of "the strong helping the weak, the favorable supporting the disadvantaged," 17 Party organizations from agencies, units, schools, and businesses in the area have donated 35 sets of computers and printers to village Party branches. They have also organized training on using computers, the internet, official email, and electronic document management systems for Party branch secretaries and village heads.
Notably, having been selected by the Provincial Party Committee as a pilot unit to implement four administrative procedures of the Party, the Anh Son Commune Party Committee established seven working groups to support grassroots Party organizations in their implementation. As a result, after only 48 hours of implementation, 100% of grassroots Party organizations had completed the collection and payment of Party membership fees through the digital platform, ranking first in the entire province.
To date, 100% of Party members have installed and used the electronic Party Member Handbook; 100% of documents are processed electronically; and the rate of digitized records has reached 100%.
From these specific stories, it can be seen that digital transformation in Nghe An is not simply about bringing technology into management and operation, but rather a process of narrowing the gap in access to digital services and utilities, helping people in disadvantaged areas gradually catch up with modern life.
The operation of the two-tiered government system in Nghe An shows that the commune level is gradually becoming the place that directly operates the digital system, connecting people with a modern administrative system.
These changes are clearly visible at the Dong Loc Commune Public Administrative Service Center.
Mr. Tran Phan Uoc (75 years old), residing in Hamlet 1, Dong Loc Commune, with the assistance of officials, completed his civil registration documents in just a few minutes using the electronic system. "Now the procedures are much faster and more convenient, saving people a lot of trouble," Mr. Uoc shared with satisfaction.
While digital transformation may reduce the hassle of dealing with administrative procedures for older adults, its effectiveness is even more pronounced for those already familiar with technology.
Mr. Phan Viet Tuan, who works in the real estate sector, had completed most of the procedures for transferring ownership and confirming land inheritance on the public service portal before coming to the center. When he arrived in person, it only took him a few more minutes to verify the information and receive the results.
"Processing time has been reduced by about 70%. More importantly, the process is transparent and consistent, no longer overly dependent on individual file handlers," Mr. Tuan said.
Behind the perceived "speed and efficiency" lies a comprehensive restructuring of local government operations. From receiving, evaluating, and approving applications to delivering results, everything is done electronically; paper documents are digitized upon receipt and updated into a shared data repository.
That is also the core of digital transformation at the grassroots level: not only faster but also more transparent and standardized. As a result, 100% of administrative procedures generated in Dong Loc commune are fully digitized, both input and output; the rate of timely and early resolution reaches 99.92%; online payment reaches 100% for fee-based applications; and the satisfaction index of citizens and businesses reaches 100%.
According to the leaders of Dong Loc commune, digital transformation is not only taking place at the "one-stop" service center but has spread throughout the entire political system. The commune Party Committee is promoting digital transformation in Party work; the People's Council is holding "paperless meetings"; and the People's Committee is operating and processing documents entirely in a digital environment with an almost absolute rate of digital signatures.
The telecommunications, internet, and smart broadcasting infrastructure covers the entire area, eliminating any signal blind spots. The completion of all 92 digital transformation tasks demonstrates that this locality is gradually shifting from a paper-based management model to a data-driven one.
In Thanh Vinh ward, digital transformation is also creating a new look in serving the people. The ward's Public Administrative Service Center has been comprehensively invested in, including automatic queue number dispensing machines, electronic display boards showing procedures, and a computer area to support people in submitting applications online.
According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Vinh Ward, 100% of administrative procedures under its jurisdiction have been provided online; all documents and resolution results have been digitized; and the online payment rate has reached 100%. The ward is also preparing to launch a mini-app for government-citizen interaction on the Zalo platform in 2026.
In line with the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo, digital transformation is not only a supporting tool but also a foundation for creating a new model of government – one that is transparent, flexible, closer to the people, and serves the people more effectively.
General Secretary and President To Lam once emphasized: "Developing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation is not just a choice, but a path to survival." He also affirmed that digital transformation is the "central nervous system," the bridge ensuring smooth communication between provinces and communes.
In line with that spirit, Nghe An province has determined that digital transformation is no longer an isolated task for each locality, but has gradually formed an interconnected, unified, and synchronized administrative ecosystem based on shared data.
Prior to Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, the Provincial Party Committee had already issued Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU on digital transformation by 2025, with a vision to 2030. The Resolution of the Nghe An Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term further affirms: “Focus on comprehensive digital transformation across all areas of state management and economic, cultural, and social activities...”.
To date, Nghe An's digital infrastructure has developed rapidly, with 99.97% of the population covered by 4G, over 80% by 5G, and more than 70% of households having fiber optic internet. Digital government platforms, population databases, and online public services are operating stably, creating convenience for citizens and businesses.
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS UP TO Q1/2026:
- 100% of public services are provided online through the National Public Service Portal.
- At the provincial level, the rate of applications received and processed on time or ahead of schedule is 99.77%; the rate of applications submitted online reaches 88.18%; At the commune level, the rate of applications submitted online reaches 99.3%.
- The results of digitizing records and administrative procedures reached 100%, and the reuse rate of digitized data reached 68.97% (higher than the target set by the Government in Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP dated January 8, 2025, which is 60%).
However, given its characteristics as a large province with a large population, many difficult mountainous areas, a high proportion of ethnic minorities, and uneven access to technology, digital transformation in Nghe An is not a sudden leap but a journey of "catching up and progressing," as there are still many "bottlenecks" that require localities to make efforts, proactively overcome difficulties, and find ways to adapt in order to integrate into the national digital transformation flow.
(To be continued)
