The two-tier local government model in Quang Ninh – An innovative mindset from a leading province in administrative reform
Thursday, Oct/16/2025 - 11:53
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(L&D) -In its journey of innovation, creativity, and development, Quang Ninh continues to affirm its position as a leading locality nationwide in administrative reform — restructuring the political system toward a leaner, more efficient, and effective apparatus — a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
The implementation of the two-tier local government model (at provincial and communal levels, without the district level) from July 1, 2025, is considered a historic milestone — demonstrating the strategic vision, political determination, and bold, pioneering spirit of the Party Committee, government, and people of Quang Ninh Province.
Innovative mindset – a pioneering step forward
As a province holding a particularly strategic position, with both land and maritime borders with China, Quảng Ninh has long been regarded as “the firm frontier shield of the Fatherland.” From early on, the province has been deeply aware that, in order to achieve rapid and sustainable development, it must build a more streamlined, efficient, and people-oriented political apparatus.
Quảng Ninh sáp nhập nhiều đơn vị để nâng cao hiệu quả hoạt động.
Since 2014, Quang Ninh has implemented Project 25 and issued the City Party Committee’s Resolution No. 19-CPC on innovating leadership methods, improving the Party’s capacity, and streamlining the administrative apparatus and payroll. This has laid a crucial foundation for the province to implement the Central Committee’s guidelines on continuing to restructure the political system’s organization in accordance with the Central Committee’s Resolution No. 18-CC.
With a spirit of proactivity and innovation, Quang Ninh has boldly proposed and piloted numerous new models, streamlining intermediate layers, enhancing the role and accountability of leaders, while linking administrative reform with improving the quality of the contingent of officials, civil servants, and public employees.
Implementing the Conclusion No. 121 of the Central Committee, Quang Ninh proactively reorganized the entire political system toward compactness and efficiency.
To date, the province has eliminated one intermediate administrative level, consolidating 171 commune-level administrative units into 54 units (including 30 wards, 22 communes, and 2 special zones), reducing 117 units — a 66.7% decrease — in accordance with the requirements of the Central Government.
At the same time, the province established the Party Committee of the Provincial People’s Committee and the Party Committee of Provincial Party Agencies, while also consolidating 54 commune-, ward-, and special-zone-level Party Committees, ensuring comprehensive and unified leadership of the Party throughout the political system. Specialized agencies and public service units were reorganized synchronously, cutting hundreds of intermediate departments and improving management and operational efficiency.
In parallel with organizational restructuring, Quang Ninh has also strengthened decentralization and delegation of authority, granting more autonomy to the grassroots level with clear accountability mechanisms, gradually building a contingent of officials who are “fewer but more capable,” working professionally and efficiently.
One of the most remarkable highlights is Quang Ninh’s pilot model of a one-tier Public Administrative Service Center under the Provincial People’s Committee, replacing the previous network of district-level Administrative Centers and commune-level One-Stop Service units.
This model allows citizens and businesses to submit administrative dossiers at any point across the province, regardless of administrative boundaries, thereby shortening processing times, reducing travel costs, and ensuring 100% transparency of procedures for public monitoring.
The province has also simultaneously established 54 Public Administrative Service Centers across its communes, wards, and special zones, forming a unified network of “one tier – one door – one shared database.” As a result, citizens receive better services, while officials and civil servants are empowered to perform effectively in a professional and modern working environment.
Effectiveness Confirmed in Practice
Quang Ninh’s efforts in innovation have yielded comprehensive results. For many consecutive years, the province has led the nation in the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX), and the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS).
This serves as a clear demonstration of the spirit of innovation, creativity, boldness in thinking and action, and accountability of Quang Ninh’s cadre and Party members in the journey toward building a service-oriented administration.
Staff of the Quang Ninh Provincial Public Administrative Service Center guiding citizens and businesses in using online public services.
The two-tier local government model also helps shorten the decision-making process, strengthen unity and management effectiveness, and ensure smooth, interconnected operations of administrative agencies from the provincial level to the grassroots, without interruptions or omissions during the transition.
Quang Ninh being entrusted by the Central Government to pilot the two-tier government model clearly demonstrates the province’s pioneering position and organizational and managerial capacity. This is not merely a mechanical change in structure, but a comprehensive reform of state governance thinking, aiming toward the goal of “Proactive – Service-oriented – Integrity – Action for the People” government.
Practical experience in Quang Ninh shows that when the entire political system engages, consensus flows from top to bottom, actions are decisive, and approaches are innovative, all major Party directives can be effectively implemented, bringing tangible benefits to the people.
Based on these achievements, the two-tier government model in Quang Ninh is becoming a valuable experience for the entire country in restructuring and streamlining the administrative apparatus. Through this, Quang Ninh not only affirms its role as a “reform leader” but also contributes to realizing the aspiration of building a modern, professional, people-centered administration that serves sustainable development.
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