As part of the effort to “rearrange the administrative map,” Điện Biên province merged 129 communes, wards, and townships into 45. The personnel system was reorganized in a streamlined, strong, and efficient direction: district-level officials were assigned to take on commune-level roles; part-time officials were given suitable positions or allowed to retire upon request. The initial staffing arrangements generally met the aspirations of individuals and aligned with local realities.

Before the two-tier local government model officially came into effect on July 1, the province conducted a two-day trial run (June 25-26) in 18 of the 45 communes and wards. The standout result from the trial was the shortened time for handling administrative procedures. Now, after more than a month of implementation, despite difficulties and a lack of full working facilities, commune-level officials have gradually overcome obstacles, ensuring uninterrupted public services. Their authority and responsibilities have increased, as many procedures previously handled at the district level are now managed at the commune level. As a result, commune officials have clearly defined their tasks, worked to overcome challenges, applied science and technology, and embraced digital transformation in their duties. The most visible change is at the administrative service centers, where staff are always on duty to guide citizens, receive documents, and process requests promptly, building public trust in the Party’s policies and the State’s laws.

The most urgent task for communes now is to complete the organization of their Party congresses for the 2025-2030 term. Before the mergers, each commune had already drafted documents, prepared personnel, and arranged conditions for its congress. Now, following the mergers, communes must consolidate and rewrite their documents, defining tasks, goals, and solutions for a larger territory, bigger population, and different conditions compared to before. Preparation is following central guidelines, with the congress covering two main contents instead of the previous four. While some personnel matters are now decided by higher-level Party committees, drafting congress documents still requires substance and effectiveness. Even with tight timelines, documents must be complete, and drafts should be circulated for feedback from Party members, local residents, and retired officials to ensure democracy and objectivity. The more feedback received, the better the documents will reflect key tasks and appropriate solutions.

When contributing to these documents, the Điện Biên provincial Party Standing Committee has focused on identifying goals and solutions for the next term, emphasizing the need to leverage local strengths and potential. On August 5-6, the Standing Committee reviewed documents from 16 commune Party committees, demonstrating urgency and determination to ensure the congresses proceed. Each commune’s unique advantages, economic development, tourism potential, public security, were addressed with specific guidance. For example: The Chiềng Sinh commune’s Party Committee adjusted targets for maintaining national-standard schools; Pú Nhung commune was advised to define suitable macadamia and coffee planting zones; Tủa Thàng commune was guided to develop aquaculture in its reservoir; Sính Phình and Sín Chải communes were encouraged to expand high-grown tea areas. Communes near the center, such as Mường Pồn, Thanh Nưa, and Núa Ngam, were advised to review their goals toward achieving new rural development standards. A new addition to the congress documents is the task of building combined primary-lower secondary schools in border communes during the term. Following the groundbreaking of the first such school in Si Pa Phìn commune, the remaining 14 border communes in the province were advised to include this task in their congress documents.

The provincial Party Committee has required communes to incorporate and refine these suggestions so that the goals, tasks, and solutions align closely with local realities, thereby contributing to the successful realization of the provincial Party’s objectives and the country’s development.

When the political report and congress documents are well-prepared and incorporate broad feedback, approving the resolution at the congress will be straightforward. However, resolutions will only come to life if they are feasible and closely tied to the lives of the people. This means they must embody collective wisdom, uphold democracy within the Party, and adhere to the principle of “collective leadership, individual responsibility.” When democracy is promoted, more ideas and practical initiatives will emerge, leading to decisions suited to each locality’s reality.

This historic moment, implementing the two-tier local government model for the first time, is also a “test” for commune-level Party committees and governments to boldly make policy choices and development directions. People nationwide place their hopes in this “first congress” at the commune level, opening a new stage of development.