The decisions, now in place, aim to streamline local governance, creating more efficient administration. The Party Central Committee and local authorities must urgently implement these historic resolutions to avoid any interruptions in operations.

At the meeting outlining these decisions, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm affirmed that this was a historic meeting, deciding on crucial and breakthrough issues that would propel the country into a new phase of development. As the strategy is set, with plans and timelines established, all government agencies and local authorities must act promptly, ensuring the effective execution of the directives.

Currently, localities are conducting surveys on the merging of commune-level administrative units to ensure the goals set by the decisions are met. According to reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs, by the end of December 2024, the country had 10,035 commune-level units and 696 district-level units. This includes 2 cities under central authority, 84 provincial cities, 53 towns, 49 urban districts, and 508 districts (11 island districts). The 11th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee has agreed with the proposed plans concerning the continued restructuring of the political apparatus, rearranging administrative units and organizing local administrations with provincial and communal levels. Under the new model, the country will comprise 34 provincial-level units (28 provinces and 6 centrally-run cities), down from the current 63.

This would establish a two-level local government system, comprising the provincial and commune levels, with the district level abolished. Additionally, the restructuring will reduce the number of communes by about 60-70% nationwide, and streamline various organizations, such as the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations, at the central, provincial, and commune levels.

In Điện Biên province, there are 10 district-level administrative units and 129 communes, wards, and towns. With an area of over 9,540sq.km and a population of 653,422 people (as of April 2024), the province’s population density is only 68 people per square kilometer. The province borders Laos and China with a border length of over 455km, and the area is predominantly mountainous and remote. Although Điện Biên will not merge its province, the province faces challenges in managing the merger of communes, especially with the extensive mountainous areas and border regions. This includes integrating infrastructure, such as electricity, water supply, and communication systems, which have yet to be fully upgraded.

Given the local characteristics, the province has devised a plan to merge its 129 communes, reducing the number to 42 communes and 3 urban wards, a reduction of 65.1%. The mountain and border areas will face even more challenges in this restructuring process. The sparse population, undeveloped infrastructure, and geographical challenges mean that there is a need for a clear solution and roadmap to ensure effective implementation.

The goal of the administrative streamlining revolution and the restructuring of local government units is to shift from passive service to proactive service, ensuring that the government is closer to the people, more responsive to their needs, and focused on their well-being. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính emphasized this point during the meeting, stressing that local peculiarities, such as geography and population density, should be taken into account when merging administrative units.

This historical resolution is crucial and will have significant impacts on the lives of public servants, party members, and citizens. However, it is essential that the process of staffing and allocating resources is done fairly, transparently, and responsibly. The aim is to minimize discord and corruption while ensuring the most efficient use of the available resources for the country’s development and the people’s well-being.