Part 4: Filling the “void” from institutions to personnel

From investing in and reorganizing communal cultural institutions to consolidating the contingent of hamlet and village heads and dispatching cadres to remain firmly on the ground, the goal is to ensure that even as villages expand and residents live farther apart, communal affairs proceed smoothly, public voices are heard, and policy guidelines reach every single household.

Shared spaces for new communities

Following reorganizations, certain villages do not lack cultural houses, but rather a facility large enough to gather the entire population. Consequently, reviewing cultural institutions must be calculated against the scale of the consolidated village rather than merely summing up existing structures. In Chiềng Sinh commune, out of 19 villages, only 5 cultural houses are currently in active use, 2 are nearing completion, and 3 have secured investment approvals. However, 9 villages still lack cultural houses or independent community gathering venues.

Đỗ Văn Sơn, Chairman of the Chiềng Sinh commune People’s Committee, stated that in the immediate term, the commune has reviewed and identified specific deficits across each village to implement suitable responses. Where cultural houses remain in sound operational condition, their use is maximized; where facilities have deteriorated or proven cramped, renovation and upgrading plans are drafted; and villages lacking venues are integrated into the investment roadmap. Crucially, investments must align with demographic characteristics, distances between residential clusters, and actual communal living needs. Under this roadmap, the commune plans to allocate approximately VND 48 billion to progressively complete the commune-level Culture and Sports Center, the library, and the village cultural house system.

In Mường Toong commune, restructuring has left the locality with 14 villages, many comprising residential clusters situated far apart. Thus, for a community living space to operate effectively, it must not only provide adequate capacity for residents, but also account for location, geographical distances, and travel convenience. Đoàn Xuân Tứ, Chairman of the Mường Toong commune People’s Committee, noted that post-restructuring, villages are wider and populations are larger, requiring assembly venues to be calibrated to the newly consolidated units. Where conditions permit, gathering venues will be established progressively; for far-flung clusters, the commune must devise appropriate organizational solutions to prevent geographical distances from impeding public participation in communal activities.

According to Đoàn Xuân Tứ, the commune’s core priority is ensuring that post-consolidation, residents from disparate clusters still perceive a sense of unity within a single community. Therefore, beyond infrastructural investments, the commune will continue promoting the roles of village heads, Party cell secretaries, reputable elders, and individuals who previously oversaw former hamlets. They understand the terrain, master local customs, know individual family circumstances, and can assist new cadres in mass mobilization.

Beyond Mường Toong and Chiềng Sinh, deficits or misalignments in community living spaces are manifesting across numerous hamlets and villages following restructuring. Population scales have shifted and perimeters have expanded, yet cultural institutions in many localities were constructed based on earlier population sizes. The imperative is therefore not simply adding more buildings, but progressively adapting living spaces to fit the new communities and the specific realities of each residential pocket.

For instance, Tam Vạn hamlet, Sam Mứn commune, has approved a plan to build a cultural house in late 2026. This represents an urgent necessity as the hamlet’s population scale following consolidation has enlarged, while existing infrastructure fails to meet assembly demands. Nguyễn Thị Thủy, Head of Tam Vạn hamlet, shared that previously each hamlet possessed its own venue, whereas merging brought a larger household volume, making community mobilization more difficult. Villagers eagerly anticipate early project rollout to foster community cohesion.

Under the implementation plan for the National Target Program on Cultural Development for the 2025 - 2030 period, Điện Biên province expects to allocate VND 869 billion toward cultivating cultural environments, developing infrastructure, landscapes, and cultural institutions, encompassing VND 770 billion in development investment capital and VND 99 billion in non-business capital. These resources will enable localities to progressively construct, renovate, repair, and upgrade cultural and sports facilities to satisfy public needs, particularly in merged localities lacking appropriate communal spaces.

The ultimate benchmark is community stability

Parallel to perfecting community facilities, consolidating the grassroots contingent represents an essential post-restructuring demand. Many provisional village heads continue managing daily operations, preventing interruptions in village activities. Nevertheless, village elections must be organized promptly so citizens can directly select trusted individuals, thereby clarifying roles, establishing accountability, and providing leaders with added motivation to engage proactively in collective affairs.

Nguyễn Thị Oanh was recently elected by residents as head of Duyên Long hamlet, Thanh An commune. The hamlet currently comprises 314 households with approximately 1,300 residents. Given the large population scale, the duties of the village head are greater, demanding close engagement, a firm grasp of developments, and the ability to forge consensus among the people. Oanh shared that earning the trust of residents gives her greater peace of mind to continue her work. Serving previously as provisional head left many affairs in transition, but now that villagers have officially chosen her, she feels an added responsibility to stay close to the grassroots, listen to public opinions, settle matters within her authority, and work with residents to build a united and advancing village.

For Oanh, public confidence is not merely the outcome of an election, but serves as an anchor helping leaders clearly define their responsibilities. Once the village head position is officially formalized, provisional attitudes give way to organizational stability across community operations.

From Oanh’s experience, public trust clearly provides a vital foundation for grassroots cadres to assume duties with confidence. On August 29, more than 5,100 voters representing households across Thanh An commune attended conferences to elect hamlet and village heads for the 2026 - 2031 tenure. The election was conducted across 22 hamlets and villages, guaranteeing regulatory compliance, democracy, and seriousness. As a result, 100% of participating voters unanimously endorsed the nominated candidates, reflecting high grassroots consensus.

Trần Văn Hải, Chairman of the Thanh An commune People’s Committee, shared that organizing village head elections carries immense significance, as post-restructuring units feature larger scales and broader perimeters, imposing higher demands on leaders. Allowing residents to select trusted figures directly creates consensus right from the grassroots, while giving village heads added responsibility and drive to fulfill assigned mandates.

Public trust demands that leaders possess sufficient prestige to unite people, operational management capability, and grassroots proximity to bridge differences after consolidation. Nguyễn Tiến Đạt, Director of the Department of Home Affairs, considered that a new village head must possess the ability to link residential clusters that formerly belonged to separate hamlets, knowing how to listen, exchange, and forge consensus. That person may be a former village head or another trusted community member; the critical aspect is aligning with the scale and characteristics of the new village while securing public agreement.

From the operational reality of newly merged villages, work allocation is another factor requiring careful consideration. If a village head must track developments, convene meetings, conduct outreach, mobilize people, resolve petitions, and coordinate nearly every grassroots task, the pressure becomes overwhelming. Alongside consolidating leadership positions, localities must promote the roles of Party cells, Front work boards, mass organizations, and reputable elders so each force shoulders a suitable portion of work.

In Sín Thầu commune, restructuring left 13 villages. The mandate is not merely administrative reorganization, but helping previously distinct communities progressively forge consensus within a shared living space. This requires time, as each residential cluster maintains its own customs, clan ties, and community routines. Pờ Mỳ Lế, Standing Deputy Secretary of the commune Party Committee, noted that cadres must remain close to the people, listening and explaining clearly. Issues touching upon daily livelihoods must be discussed within Party cells, at village meetings, through reputable elders, and across mass organizations. When residents receive clear information, participate actively, and see their concerns addressed, communal cohesion will gradually take root.

Administrative boundaries can be redrawn through a formal decree, but a newly consolidated hamlet or village becomes a genuine community only when residents have venues to meet, trusted figures to lean on, and common affairs to deliberate and execute together. That serves as the ultimate benchmark to evaluate how restructuring efficiency is manifested right where governance touches the people most closely.