In Phình Giàng commune, Dương Tuấn Vũ, a civil servant from the Department of Finance, was assigned to a secondment in the Economics Office. Vũ shared: “When I received the secondment decision, I determined this was an opportunity to bring professional knowledge to serve the grassroots level. We were entrusted with the task, so we must show the highest spirit of responsibility. Six months in the commune is a precious time to hone skills, understand the people, and practice what I’ve learned.”

From the very first days of his assignment, Vũ and commune officials reviewed and guided the final accounts for completed projects, while also advising the commune People’s Committee on procedures for managing investment capital, public assets, and guiding the commune in preparing and balancing its budget according to regulations. “I will strive to help the commune resolve management obstacles, ensuring the effective use of state capital,” Dương Tuấn Vũ said.

Nguyễn Công Duy, a public employee from the provincial Center for Vocational and Continuing Education, was seconded to the Phình Giàng commune People’s Committee Office, in charge of information technology and digital transformation. Moving from a teaching environment to an administrative one, Duy admitted he couldn’t avoid feeling awkward: “I was a teacher for 17 years. At first, I was a bit worried about the new task and being far from home, but when assigned the job, I determined this was an opportunity to challenge myself and contribute.”

Utilizing his experience and sharpness with technology, Duy set to work establishing an email system and guiding commune officials on updating electronic documents, gradually building a data platform for administrative reform. Digital transformation isn’t just about technology; it’s about changing the working mindset. Each completed electronic form is a small step, but it holds great significance in building a digital government at the grassroots level.

Among the 52 civil servants seconded to the grassroots level this time, each young official is like a small but important link in the operational machine. They bring knowledge, experience, and a scientific working style from the provincial-level agencies, while also training themselves amidst the reality of the people’s lives, a place that tests their courage and forges their spirit of service. Through specific deeds, knowledge linked with action, and ideals linked with responsibility, they contribute to the successful completion of local tasks, serving the people better.

Conversely, for the localities receiving the seconded officials, this is a “breath of fresh air.” Đoàn Xuân Tứ, Chairman of the Mường Toong commune People’s Committee, said: “Grassroots-level officials are always on the front line of policy implementation, but it’s also the place with the greatest manpower difficulties. When officials from departments and sectors come, the commune gains specialized personnel, advisors, and guides. What’s precious is that they come to work with a spirit of responsibility and humility, working with us, not for us. The commune hopes that through this secondment period, our own team of officials will have their skills passed on and their capacity enhanced, so that the work isn’t disrupted later.”

Currently, Mường Toong commune has received two seconded officials: Đặng Xuân Chiến, a public employee from the provincial Management Board for Transport Construction Projects, is in charge of economics and investment, and Đỗ Thị Thu Trang, a public employee from Điện Biên Teacher Training College, is supporting IT and digital transformation. As soon as they arrived at the commune, they were assigned specific tasks, both supporting and guiding the on-site officials to ensure work continuity after the secondment period ends.

The policy of seconding officials to communes, if well-implemented, will bring a dual benefit: It helps the grassroots level gain quality personnel, while also creating a practical training and testing environment for the team of young officials. Through this, their professional capacity, spirit of responsibility, and adaptability are forged in the grassroots-level environment. This work also reflects the province’s long-term vision in personnel management, because building an effective apparatus must start from the grassroots level. Secondment is a way of training through practice, allowing each official to better understand the value of serving the people and strengthening the relationship between the government and the people. Going to the grassroots level is going to school. Learning from the people, learning how to work, learning persistence and dedication. That is a lesson no textbook can teach!