In the early days of the model, many officials felt unsettled, especially those working away from home. Accustomed to offices in the district center, they now had to travel dozens of kilometers on steep and dangerous roads every day, often with inadequate accommodation and living conditions. Behind their readiness to shoulder new responsibilities lay personal worries that were not easy to share: young children without proper care, elderly parents needing support, and family finances not yet strong enough to adjust to long separations. For them, the change was not simply about workplace relocation but also about disruptions to family life.

Phùng Mùi Chải, an official at the Nậm Kè commune People’s Committee Office, explained that her home in Pá Mỳ village is nearly 30 kilometers from the new commune office. Mountain roads are difficult, and during the rainy season, landslides and slippery slopes make travel dangerous. Because she has a small child, she still commutes daily by motorbike, leaving early in the morning and returning late. She hopes the State will soon invest in upgrading roads into Pá Mỳ and neighboring villages, not only to ease hardship but also to improve opportunities for trade and economic development.

From July 1, 2025, Nậm Kè commune was formed by merging the old Pá Mỳ and Nậm Kè communes, with the administrative office located in the old Nậm Kè center. This meant all Pá Mỳ officials had to move to Nậm Kè for work, facing daily travel of 30-40 kilometers on rough, muddy, and landslide-prone roads. According to Nguyễn Tiến Thành, Chairman of the Nậm Kè commune People’s Committee, about 65 percent of staff travel long distances to work. Some cannot commute daily and must rent rooms nearby or stay with relatives, while others still commute despite the hardship. To reassure staff, the commune frequently holds meetings for officials to share difficulties, coordinate effectively, and maintain morale.

Similar concerns were voiced elsewhere. Many officials, once used to working at district offices, now spend most of their time at commune and ward levels, sometimes dozens of kilometers from home. The change in workplace, living conditions, and family routines has created real disruptions. Yet, with effective ideological guidance, Party Committees and local authorities have helped officials understand the significance of reorganizing the apparatus, uniting their thinking, and accepting personal sacrifices to fulfill their tasks.

Lò Thị Tiên, who previously worked in cultural affairs at the old Na Son commune near her home, was reassigned to the Public Administrative Service Center of the new Na Son commune, about 20 kilometers away. Daily commuting by motorbike on mountainous roads became more challenging after a recent flash flood destroyed the road from her house to the office. Her biggest concern is not the hardship of commuting or the new workload but balancing time for her family, especially for her school-aged child. Still, with a sense of responsibility, she has adapted and views this as an opportunity to train herself and stay connected with the grassroots. Her main hope is for additional support in travel, housing, or allowances so that officials far from home have greater motivation and peace of mind to contribute.

In reality, under the two-tier government model, commune and ward-level workloads have increased significantly, requiring officials to be present more often and handle multiple tasks at once. Many have had to set aside family duties to focus entirely on public service, making support policies essential. Practical measures such as providing collective housing for officials, offering allowances for hardship posts, and organizing regular visits and encouragement have become urgent needs.

To ensure staffing for 45 newly organized communes under the model, Điện Biên reassigned nearly 3,800 personnel, including 750 district-level and 2,571 commune-level officials. Because so many must live apart from their families, organizational support is critical. Some localities have arranged official residences and facilitated transportation, while others have adapted office spaces to serve as temporary lodging for staff. These arrangements not only stabilize morale but also give officials the motivation to remain committed and effective in their roles.

Cù Mạnh Quyền, Deputy Director of the Public Administrative Service Center of Na Son Commune, explained that Na Son was formed by merging the old Na Son, Keo Lôm, and the town center, which meant a number of officials had to travel long distances. To reassure them, the commune reviewed needs and provided housing support. As a result, officials have remained stable in spirit, and operations have run smoothly. From July 1 to August 20, the center processed 452 administrative procedures, all completed on time or ahead of schedule.

The two-tier local government model represents an important step in streamlining the apparatus and improving political effectiveness. After two months of implementation in Điện Biên, despite difficulties and challenges, officials and civil servants in communes and wards have quickly stabilized their mindset and adapted to the new working method. Their sense of responsibility and dedication has contributed to positive changes, showing that when thinking is clear and action is decisive, any difficulty can be overcome.