On the first day of July, at the Na Sang commune Public Administrative Service Center (formerly the Mường Chà district Party Committee Hall), many local residents were present to complete administrative procedures. Staff in charge of various sectors arrived early to ensure smooth services. The working atmosphere was efficient and professional, with procedures handled quickly and effectively.

For Hồ A Di, who had visited one-stop service offices multiple times before, this was his first encounter with the self-service kiosk system, including automatic issuance of application receipts and guidance for necessary documents. Although somewhat unfamiliar with the process, thanks to dedicated support from the center’s staff, he successfully received a receipt and completed his administrative paperwork.

“I came here to apply for a funeral allowance for a war veteran,” said Hồ A Di. “The staff here were very welcoming and helped me complete the procedure quickly. I’m very satisfied.”

Na Sang commune is one of the newly established localities implementing a digital public service kiosk. Citizens simply insert their ID card, and the machine automatically scans, returns the original documents, and prints out an application receipt along with a list of required procedures. The user-friendly kiosk reduces wait times and enhances convenience.

The new Na Sang commune was formed by merging four previous administrative units: Sa Lông, Ma Thì Hồ, Na Sang, and Mường Chà town, resulting in a commune with a natural area of 360 km² and a population of over 19,500 people. The commune’s government office is located at the former Mường Chà town office. With a large and diverse population, over 82% of whom belong to ethnic minorities, and uneven socio-economic development, the two-tier model places urgent demands on governance capacity, organizational restructuring, and improving public service quality to ensure sustainable development.

According to Trịnh Hoàng Thắng, Secretary of the Na Sang commune Party Committee, despite the opportunities presented by reform and integration, Na Sang still faces many challenges. Meeting our tasks requires the combined intelligence, capability, and collaboration of all levels and sectors. Along with implementing the new local government model, the Party Committee and people of Na Sang are also actively pursuing the resolutions of the 13th National Party Congress, the 14th provincial Party Congress, the commune-level Congress, and the 2020-2025 socio-economic development plan.

Similarly, in Mường Thanh ward (formed by merging Noong Bua, Nam Thanh wards and Thanh Xương commune), the atmosphere is bustling as staff members take on new roles and responsibilities. With limited preparation time, many officials and civil servants are still juggling duties from both the old district and commune levels.

Nguyễn Văn Hưng, Chairman of the Mường Thanh ward People’s Committee, shared: “To ensure smooth and effective operation, we prepared detailed procedures and assigned clear responsibilities to units and individuals. This is the first time staff are working under the new model, and each procedure has a clearly defined process tied to individual accountability. That means officials must be more proactive, coordinate faster, and act with greater precision.”

Staff in Mường Thanh ward received hands-on training in using digital systems. Over the past days, regardless of weather or weekends, they have been preparing infrastructure, decorations, and connectivity, demonstrating high commitment to avoid disruptions when officially launching.

According to reporters’ observations, on July 1, the first day of the two-tier government operation in Mường Thanh ward went smoothly. Administrative procedures at the Public Administration Center were handled quickly and effectively. “We are fully prepared to implement the two-tier model. We’ve devised solutions to streamline procedures for citizens. The ward aims for 100% of citizens to submit and complete public service procedures online,” said Chairman Hưng.

As part of national efforts to streamline administrative organization, Điện Biên province restructured 129 former local-level administrative units into 45 new ones (42 communes, 3 wards). From June 25-26, 18 pilot units tested the new two-tier model through mock sessions: first People’s Council meetings, executive committee sessions, and simulated public service delivery. These were treated as real operations, citizen interaction and document handling occurred just as in formal conditions.

Today, new communes and wards across the province are operating in sync, delivering public services without disruption. The provincial Online Public Service Portal has integrated all 1,146 administrative procedures, enabling easy access and full digital support for citizens. With strong political will and public consensus, the two-tier government model is being implemented smoothly and effectively in Điện Biên, opening up a new chapter of development and governance.