Nghe An is realizing President Ho Chi Minh's ideology of "putting the people first."

Listen to the people to solve difficult problems.

In the scorching May sun, in front of the grocery kiosk that has been a part of his family's life for over 30 years, Mr. Le Van Viet (Hong Thai hamlet, Hung Nguyen Nam commune) is busy sorting and packaging goods in preparation for dismantling the structure.

His family is one of 44 households whose kiosks along Provincial Road 542C and the 12/9 Canal must be demolished to restore traffic safety and improve urban planning. Mr. Viet shared: “We’ve been doing business here for decades, and we’re very sad to see it demolished. But it’s the general policy, so our family agrees. What reassures us is that the government truly listens and works alongside the people.”

Beyond fostering consensus, the spirit of "putting the people first" is clearly demonstrated in the way the Party committee and government work alongside the people. Along with extending the deadline by one month to give households more time to sell their products, the commune directed the Fatherland Front and other socio-political organizations to post information on the fanpage, community Zalo groups, and the public address system, calling on officials, Party members, and the people to join hands in supporting the purchase of goods from the businesses.

Households that voluntarily dismantle their structures before the deadline receive support from the commune in terms of manpower and resources for dismantling, along with a reward of 2 million VND and a Certificate of Commendation. This approach sends a clear message: the Party committee and government not only require people to sacrifice personal interests but also value consensus for the common good.

Based on the practical experience of dismantling 44 kiosks, the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Hung Nguyen Nam commune drew a core lesson: "When people are fully informed, listened to, and respected, even long-standing problems can be resolved through consensus."

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A crucial factor in gaining public consensus was thorough and in-depth communication and persuasion efforts targeting each household. Specifically, the head of the Party committee and local government organized dialogues with 44 households; the people's suggestions and proposals, including which were approved and why, and which were not, were discussed openly and transparently. This clarity helped the people understand that the Party committee and local government were not imposing their will, but rather addressing issues based on legal regulations, prioritizing the common good and the rights of the people above all else.

Comrade Thai Huy Dung - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Hung Nguyen Nam Commune

Similarly, by placing the people at the center, Cua Lo ward has successfully resolved the long-standing "bottleneck" of the Binh Minh road upgrade and expansion project – a vital transportation artery of the coastal city.

The biggest difference lies not in the policy mechanisms, but in the leadership style and how they interact with the people. The heads of the Party committee and government directly visit each household, patiently listening to the grievances that have accumulated over many years. Once specific issues are identified, the ward organizes public dialogues between leaders, specialized departments, and residents to find common ground.

In particular, local leaders frankly accepted responsibility and publicly apologized to the people for past shortcomings that affected the rights of households. This sincerity created a turning point in trust.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Luu, a resident who previously faced difficulties, shared: "When the government understands the people's feelings and resolves their concerns correctly, our family is ready to hand over the land and cooperate with the local authorities."

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"No policy can succeed without the people's consensus. Officials must put themselves in the people's shoes to understand them, explain things responsibly, and act with sincerity. When the people trust them, even seemingly intractable problems can be solved in a short time."

Comrade Ngo Duc Kien - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairman of the People's Council of Cua Lo Ward.

It can be affirmed that, not only in Hung Nguyen Nam commune or Cua Lo ward, but in many localities throughout the province, Party committees and authorities are truly listening to the people, using dialogue instead of imposition, and understanding instead of administrative orders to resolve and address many difficult and long-standing issues. This is also vivid evidence that the ideology of "putting the people first" is becoming the driving force for innovation in leadership, governance, and sustainable development from the grassroots level.

Using public satisfaction as a measure of performance.

"Putting the people first" is a core and overarching principle in President Ho Chi Minh's legacy, affirming that the people are the subject and foundation of national unity and the invincible strength of the revolution. This truth has always been the guiding principle for all policies of the Party and the State.

Imbued with this ideology, in the context of reorganizing the administrative apparatus and operating a two-tiered local government system, Nghe An is strongly shifting from a management mindset to a service-oriented mindset; building a team of officials who serve the people, using people's satisfaction as an evaluation criterion.

In Van An commune, improving the quality of service to the people is identified as a priority. The Public Administrative Service Center has been comprehensively invested in; competent and responsible staff are assigned to directly receive, guide, and advise on the resolution of administrative procedures for the people.

According to Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee: The locality implemented the "Saturday for the People" initiative, increasing support forces during peak hours to shorten waiting times. Many procedures were processed quickly and transparently.

In its leadership and administration, Van An commune consistently adheres to the principle of being close to and connected with the people, using people's satisfaction as a measure of the effectiveness of the political system. As a result, many outstanding issues have been resolved, most notably the issuance of initial land use right certificates to nearly 70 cases; and the review of transportation, irrigation, school, and cultural center infrastructure for inclusion in public investment plans. The handling of citizen complaints, denunciations, and land disputes has been timely, contributing to maintaining stability at the grassroots level and strengthening people's trust.

In Quynh Son commune, the ideology of "putting the people first" is concretized through practical actions, starting with the principle of being close to the people to understand them, learn from them, and walk alongside them. The Standing Committee and the Executive Committee of the commune's Party Committee maintain a systematic approach at the grassroots level, directly attending village meetings and Party branch activities, organizing regular dialogues, and receiving people's opinions through various channels.

By staying close to the people, the Party committee and government focus on caring for the people's lives through concrete actions: supporting the construction of houses for disadvantaged households, sponsoring orphans, taking care of them during Tet (Lunar New Year), providing regular health check-ups, developing economic models, and improving the cultural and spiritual life of the community.

Comrade Pham Thi Hai Yen – Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People's Council of the commune – affirmed: The key to the Party Committee and government being close to the people and serving them well is that the commune's Party Committee has given special attention to building a team of cadres who know how to serve and protect the legitimate rights of the people, using people's satisfaction as a criterion for evaluating cadres.

From an overall perspective, Comrade Nguyen Thi Thom – Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department – ​​commented: The realization of the ideology of "putting the people first" in Nghe An is increasingly deepening, clearly demonstrated in the leadership methods and the organization of political tasks.

Many policies, from the provincial to the grassroots level, are built on the foundation of the people's interests; people's satisfaction is used as a measure of the effectiveness of the political system. In particular, with the implementation of a two-tiered local government system, the requirement to be close to and responsive to the people is even more strongly emphasized.

The process of handling administrative procedures at commune-level Public Administrative Service Centers has been shortened, made more open and transparent; officials proactively guide and support citizens. This is clearly reflected in the increasing satisfaction index of citizens with the administrative apparatus at all levels. According to the results of the Citizen Satisfaction Index with the Service of State Administrative Agencies in 2025 (SIPAS 2025), recently announced by the Ministry of Interior, Nghe An achieved 84.33%, ranking 11th out of 34 provinces and cities, placing it in the upper group and exceeding the national average.

Alongside administrative reforms, all levels, sectors, and localities are strengthening dialogue with the people to create unity in implementing political tasks, while promptly resolving difficulties and obstacles at the grassroots level, limiting the emergence of hotspots. The role of the people as the main actors is increasingly being promoted in movements and tasks related to socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, and building a strong political system.

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To ensure the continued spread of the "people-centered" ideology, it is crucial to focus on propaganda and, more importantly, building a team of officials who are truly close to the people and serve them well. When the people are truly the subjects of development and the center of all policy decisions, that will be the sustainable foundation for Nghe An to create breakthroughs and achieve rapid and sustainable development in the new era.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Thom – Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department.