The Politburo is directing research into abolishing district-level administrative units and continuing to merge commune-level units. So what practical challenges are facing this new administrative level?
Leaders of the Quỳnh Lưu District Party Committee's Organization Department hold a discussion with officials of Thuận Long commune. Photo: Mai Hoa.
Opportunities and challenges
The Politburo and the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam recently issued Conclusion No. 127, dated February 28, 2025, on conducting research and proposing further restructuring of the political system's organizational apparatus; in which, it requires research into abolishing district-level administrative units and continuing the merger of commune-level administrative units. When this policy is implemented, opinions from the grassroots suggest that this presents both opportunities and challenges for the commune level.
The great opportunity lies in expanding the development space for each locality; at the same time, there should be stronger decentralization and delegation of power, increasing the proactive role of communes in planning and deciding on development directions as well as implementing political tasks and resolving the difficulties and concerns of the people. In reality, there are times when communes have to seek opinions from the district level, and districts seek opinions from the provincial level, causing delays in time and reducing the effectiveness of resolution.
At the same time, administrative procedures for citizens and businesses will be streamlined by reducing intermediate layers. For commune-level officials and civil servants, this will provide an opportunity to improve and maximize their abilities and capabilities at a new level; conversely, those who fail to meet the requirements will be automatically "eliminated" from the system.
Officials in Thinh My commune (Hung Nguyen district) handle administrative tasks for residents. Photo: Mai Hoa
Alongside the opportunities, there are also many difficulties and challenges. Without a district-level administrative structure, the authority, functions, and responsibilities at the commune level will be strengthened and "upgraded"; the continued merger of communes will also increase the size, population, and workload at the commune level. This requires commune-level officials and civil servants to be upgraded in terms of expertise, professional skills, work ethic, and responsibility.
Comrade Nguyen Anh Quan - Secretary of the An Vinh Block Party Branch, Hung Phuc Ward, Vinh City, stated: "If the district level is abolished, the most important issue to focus on is building a high-quality team of officials and civil servants at the commune level. Currently, this makes it difficult to meet the demands of present-day development."
The difficulties and challenges lie in building a team of commune-level officials and civil servants capable of handling the tasks in the new conditions; at the same time, it is necessary to build a working relationship between the province and the commune level.
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If the district level is abolished, the most important issue to address is building a high-quality team of officials and civil servants at the commune level, as the current situation makes it difficult to meet the demands of present-day development.
Comrade Nguyen Anh Quan - Secretary of the Party Branch of An Vinh Block, Hung Phuc Ward, Vinh City
Maintain work performance.
Previously, in implementing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, dated October 25, 2017, of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on "Some issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the organizational structure of the political system to be streamlined, effective, and efficient," in two phases (2019-2021 and 2023-2025), Nghe An province reorganized, merged, and reduced 68 communes and wards; from 480, there are now 412 communes, wards, and towns.
With a sense of urgency, decisiveness, and determination to avoid disruption to work and ensure no areas or tasks are left unfinished after the reorganization of commune-level administrative units, the communes, wards, and towns undergoing mergers in the 2023-2025 period in the province have quickly adapted to the work, ensuring that local political tasks are carried out normally.
Officials in Thuan Long commune, Quynh Luu district, handle administrative procedures for residents. Photo: Mai Hoa.
Thuan Long Commune (Quynh Luu District), after the announcement of the decision to establish a new administrative unit and personnel changes on December 19, 2024, has put its apparatus into operation with many focused tasks. Of particular interest is the review and systematization of socio-economic development targets and tasks based on the two former communes and the planning; clearly identifying unfinished tasks to implement and supplement public investment to meet the development requirements of the new commune.
“In particular, tasks related to the people are given high priority by the Party Committee, the government, and the entire political system, especially resolving administrative procedures without delay for the people. Although the number of administrative procedures arising in the two months after the merger was high (January and February 2025), with a total of more than 1,000 procedures, of which 905 were carried out through online public services, the rate of resolving them ahead of schedule reached 93.9%,” said Comrade Tran Van Trung – Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuan Long commune.
In the same spirit of ensuring uninterrupted work, after the merger and restructuring of the political system, supplementing regulations, and assigning tasks to each collective and individual, Nghia Hung commune (Nghia Dan district) immediately implemented socio-economic, national defense and security, Party building, and political system development tasks of the locality.
Officials from Nghia Hung commune (Nghia Dan district) discuss with the team of part-time community workers in implementing tasks; directing the construction of a drainage system in the residential area. Photo: Mai Hoa
Notably, the Nghia Hung Commune Party Committee directed the completion of the congresses of subordinate Party branches by February 25, 2025, ensuring quality and adherence to the established guidelines; in particular, 14 out of 18 rural Party branches had their deputy secretaries appointed by the village heads. The commune also commenced construction on two projects at the beginning of 2025: a multi-functional commune cultural center with a total investment of 3.9 billion VND and a road more than 2 km long.
The awareness and responsibility of officials and civil servants in Nghia Hung commune have been strengthened, bringing them closer to the people, being deeply involved at the grassroots level, and resolving issues to ensure the needs of the people are met. The locality has focused on organizing dialogues between businesses and people to find common ground on the compensation plan for sand storage areas in the locality.
In Phu Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district), immediately after the merger, the entire political system mobilized to carry out political tasks. The focus was on organizing activities to celebrate the Party and the Lunar New Year, taking care of social welfare for the people, with over 600 Tet gifts distributed to those in difficult circumstances; directing spring crop production according to plan; and reviewing unfinished investment projects to develop plans for their continuation according to the plan.
Officials and civil servants of Phu Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, handle affairs for the people. Photo: Mai Hoa
Based on the anticipated difficulties and potential problems during this transitional period, Phu Thanh commune has strengthened state management in various fields, especially land management, traffic safety corridors, security, and order. In just the first two months of 2025, Phu Thanh commune detected and handled 3 cases of land encroachment violations...
The efforts to keep pace and avoid disrupting local affairs have affirmed the leadership role of the Party committees, the management of the government, and the effective involvement of the entire political system after the merger; creating trust and consensus among the people regarding the policy of reorganizing administrative units.
Besides the improved leadership, direction, and management efficiency resulting from a more streamlined and efficient staff of officials and civil servants, feedback from the grassroots level suggests that administrative boundaries in some localities have also been more rationally organized; increasing resources in terms of land, potential, strengths, and human resources for local development in the future.
