With a focus on innovation, streamlined organization, and effective and efficient operations, Điện Biên is proactively refining its operating mechanisms and strengthening the role and responsibility of each level of government, contributing to the development of a modern, people-centered administration that is closely connected to local communities and responsive to the development requirements of the new period.

After one year of implementation, the two-tier local government model in Điện Biên province has begun operating in a stable and coordinated manner, achieving positive results. The organizational structure of agencies, units and organizations within the political system has gradually been restructured and consolidated toward greater streamlining, effectiveness and efficiency.

Based on a proposal from the provincial People’s Committee, the provincial People’s Council issued Resolution No. 224/NQ-HDND on the establishment of specialized agencies under the provincial People’s Committee. Following the restructuring, the number of specialized agencies under the provincial People’s Committee was reduced from 19 to 14. After the administrative reorganization, Điện Biên province has 45 commune-level administrative units, including 3 wards and 42 communes. All 45 communes and wards are located in areas inhabited by ethnic minority communities and mountainous areas, including 2 region I communes, 5 region II communes and 38 region III communes for the 2026-2030 period.

According to assessments, the implementation of the two-tier local government model has initially demonstrated the advantages and effectiveness of the provincial government apparatus. Government has become closer and more responsive to the people, providing better public services while promoting local development. There has been an initial shift from an administrative management mindset toward a service-oriented and development-enabling approach, while decentralization and delegation of authority have proven effective, with the quality of services provided to residents and businesses placed at the center.

Nguyễn Thế Trung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Mường Lạn commune, said: “Following the implementation of the two-tier local government model, the commune government apparatus was quickly stabilized and has operated smoothly, ensuring that residents’ affairs are handled promptly. Officials and civil servants have strengthened their sense of responsibility and adopted a more service-oriented working style, with the goal of building a government that is close and responsive to the people and operates effectively and efficiently.”

Administrative reform has received particular attention and has continued to be implemented in a coordinated manner, contributing to improved public services and greater efficiency in the operation of State administrative agencies. The receipt and processing of administrative procedures have been carried out in accordance with regulations, with a high proportion of dossiers processed on time or ahead of schedule. From July 1, 2025, to June 5, 2026, the province processed 130,668 dossiers, of which 130,432 were processed ahead of or within the prescribed deadline, while 236 were overdue. A further 336 dossiers were still being processed, including 332 within the prescribed timeframe. There are currently 441 administrative procedures at the commune level. Residents no longer need to visit multiple locations to complete any of these procedures: all 441 can be handled at a single location, while 212 can be completed entirely from home.

“Nowadays, we find administrative procedures much more convenient. Officials provide thorough guidance and handle our requests quickly,” said Quàng Văn Lả, a resident of Bon village, Mường Lạn commune.

The consolidation of the organizational apparatus, together with the restructuring and improvement of the quality of the contingent of officials, civil servants and public employees, has gradually laid the human-resource foundation needed for the new model. The commune level has truly become the level directly responsible for implementation, bringing government closer to residents and enabling it to serve the people more effectively.

The Department of Home Affairs transferred 2,308 officials and civil servants and reassigned 14,273 public employees and workers from the former district level to the newly established communes. In particular, to ensure smooth and effective operations, the provincial People’s Committee seconded and reinforced 124 officials, civil servants and public employees to communes and wards, including 52 officials and public employees seconded from provincial-level agencies and units.

Trương Hồng Bách, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Búng Lao commune, said: “The seconded officials have helped address the shortage of personnel specializing in construction and transportation. They have actively advised the commune and helped it receive, manage and effectively implement ongoing works and projects transferred from the former district and former communes to Búng Lao commune. They have improved the effectiveness of State management at the grassroots level by sector and field, while promptly providing the locality with additional personnel who have the appropriate qualifications and professional expertise.”

Despite these achievements, the implementation of the two-tier local government model in the province still faces several difficulties. Some communes continue to face shortages of civil servants in certain specialized fields. In some remote and isolated areas, telecommunications and internet infrastructure remains inadequate, affecting access to and implementation of activities related to science and technology and digital transformation.

To further build on the strengths and effectiveness of the two-tier local government model, Điện Biên province will continue to implement new policies and strategic directions from the central government and the province in line with local realities. All policies and tasks will be clearly defined and strictly implemented based on the principle of “six clear points”: clear responsibilities, clear tasks, clear timelines, clear accountability, clear deliverables, and clear authority. The province will make a decisive shift from “policy study and dissemination” to “deep understanding, effective action, and follow-through to completion.” Leadership and implementation must be decisive and closely attuned to conditions on the ground, with concrete results and deliverables serving as the key measures of performance. The guiding principle is clear: “There must be concrete outputs and results; tasks should be completed thoroughly and decisively at each stage, while leadership and administration must maintain a long-term vision for local planning and for developing effective and sustainable economic models.”

The province will strengthen the comprehensive leadership role of Party committees and grassroots governments while renewing leadership and management thinking and methods toward greater practicality, substance and effectiveness. It will decisively complete the review, restructuring and placement of commune-level officials, civil servants and public employees to ensure effective performance of assigned political tasks. Decentralization and delegation of authority will continue to be expanded in tandem with the allocation of resources, enhancing the initiative of each agency and unit in handling matters within its jurisdiction.

Administrative reform will be accelerated in conjunction with the development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation in line with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW. Digital infrastructure will be regarded as a core component of governance infrastructure, with priority given to upgrading data transmission networks, synchronizing administrative management systems and developing digital platforms to support the operations of grassroots governments.

With strong political determination across the entire political system, public consensus, and the spirit of innovation and responsibility among officials and civil servants, the two-tier local government model will continue to demonstrate its effectiveness in practice. This will provide an important foundation for building a streamlined and modern administration that operates with greater capacity, effectiveness and efficiency; improving the quality of services for residents and businesses; unlocking resources; and creating new momentum for socio-economic development, contributing to the rapid and sustainable development of Điện Biên province in the new period.