This historic milestone is the culmination of an urgent and concentrated national effort to “reorganize the territory” through the implementation of a streamlined two-tier government model. The fruits of this administrative reform will be evident in the coming days, beginning with the consolidation of provincial and commune-level units. This is a major policy move aimed at multiple goals, capturing widespread public attention. The merger of administrative units and the deployment of the two-tier governance model is a historic and politically significant event that will render the national administrative structure more compact, efficient, and conducive to development.

Under this sweeping reform, Vietnam will reduce its 63 provinces and cities to 34 (28 provinces and 6 centrally governed cities), and consolidate 10,035 commune-level units down to 3,321 communes and wards. In Điện Biên province, 129 communes, wards, and townships have been merged into just 45. The clearest evidence of this streamlining effort is the elimination of intermediary layers, improving responsiveness to public needs. With thorough preparation and a strong sense of responsibility from civil servants, citizens are hopeful that the two-tier governance model will deliver tangible benefits. From now on, administrative procedures can be resolved simply by visiting the commune, if not fully online through e-government services.

This restructuring represents nothing short of a revolution. It decisively abolishes the district level, restructures the provincial and commune levels with a completely new scale, and reflects the bold and forward-thinking decisions of the Party and State leadership. The goal is to build a government apparatus that is closer to the people and better able to serve them. Merging provinces and communes, and eliminating the district level, is a historic reform in the broader national effort to modernize state organization.

Despite the boldness of the move, many experts have voiced concerns over staffing challenges. Transitioning from a three-tier system (province-district-commune) to a two-tier one (province-commune) will create substantial surplus personnel, especially in former district departments. While the Party and State have anticipated this issue, they remain firm in their commitment to streamlining the administrative apparatus in the name of effectiveness and efficiency.

The merger of provinces and communes presents a critical opportunity to restructure the workforce towards a more compact and competent system. Officials who do not meet performance or competency standards will be phased out during the reorganization. The new local government apparatus will be more scientific, streamlined, and modern, eliminating the intermediate level to better serve the public. Over the past weeks, officials nationwide have worked diligently to pack and transfer documents, while continuing to provide public services. A focused, enthusiastic, and responsible working atmosphere has been reported across all provinces, cities, communes, and wards.

Nonetheless, challenges remain. Some difficulties include shortages of qualified personnel capable of addressing complex issues; inadequate infrastructure, office space, and working conditions at the commune level post-merger. In mountainous and remote areas like Điện Biên, further complications arise due to widely dispersed and sparsely populated settlements, unlike the clustered communities of the lowlands. With a natural area of 9,560km2 and a population of over 650,000, Điện Biên is mountainous, rugged, and highly fragmented, home to 19 ethnic groups, including two extremely small ones, Si La and Cống. The scattered nature of ethnic minority settlements makes it harder for commune-level authorities in border and highland areas to remain close to the people, especially as the newly merged communes cover larger areas.

Like all revolutions, this one comes with its share of challenges. The “grand reorganization” directly impacts people’s lives, making it all the more complex. To ensure the successful transition to the two-tier model and sustainable national development, the spirit of solidarity must be upheld across the country. For centuries, the unity of the Vietnamese people has triumphed through wars of independence and reunification. That same spirit is now needed to successfully implement this major policy shift and meet the aspirations of the people.

Because the people are the ultimate goal of this great restructuring revolution!