Hanoi today started the trial of the urban administration model at 12 districts and Son Tay Town.

Under the pilot administration model, Hanoi will abolish the people’s council in 177 wards of 12 districts and Son Tay Town. As such, the metropolitan area will have only two levels of people’s representation: city and district. Rural areas still retain the model of three levels of people’s representation (city, district, and commune).

At present, administrative units, districts, and Son Tay Town have completed the necessary preparation process under instruction from the Hanoi People’s Committee and stand ready to carry out the pilot model as planned. The Hanoi Times talked with some representatives of localities about this issue.

Chairman of Quang Trung Ward People’s Committee (Dong Da District) Nguyen Anh Tuan: Ready for urban administration model trial

In Quang Trung Ward, we have been focusing on raising awareness of public staff and Party members on the pilot urban administration model right after the National Assembly adopted a resolution approving its adoption in Hanoi.

Another priority is to review the current organization to make personnel reshuffle in line with the new model as people’s councils at ward-level are now abolished. The main goal is to ensure a streamlined and efficient operation of ward-level apparatus that is capable of providing quality public services for the people and ensuring strong governance of State agencies at the locality.

We also look after the interests of public staff that are now under the administration of district-level people’s committee, instead of the ward-level.

The Quang Trung Ward People’s Committee has also issued a new working mechanism since July 1 for the smooth operation of all units afterward. The entire political system and locals in the ward are ready for the urban administration model.

Chairman of the Bach Khoa Ward People’s Committee (Hai Ba Trung District) Nguyen Van Khang: Expecting more expeditious administrative procedures

As of June 30, we have rearranged staff previously working in Bach Khoa Ward People's Council into different working positions in the People's Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front of Bach Khoa Ward. On July 1, leaders from the Hai Ba Trung District would announce a decision to admit 15 public servants of the ward-level People's Council as district’s employees. 

From my perspective, there would be no significant change in current operation at wards. While the ward-level people’s committees are no longer operational, State apparatus at the ward-level are still under the supervision of the district-level people’s councils. However, by moving to a two-level administrative tier from the previous three-level, there is no doubt that the processing of administrative procedures would be faster and create more convenience for the people. With greater decentralization within the local apparatus, there would be more concrete assignment and responsibility for each staff, which translates into a better quality of public services.

Secretary of the Party Committee at Neighborhood No.3, Kim Giang Ward (Thanh Xuan District) Pham Song Thao: Making positive changes

I believe the urban administration model would make positive changes from the city’s leaders to every staff in Government agencies. As of July 1, Hanoi will start piloting the urban administration model in 12 districts and Son Tay Town – a new model for Vietnam that many may have not heard of.

Most of the people want their requests to be processed expeditiously regardless of the administration model. I expect the public staff at the ward level when adopting this new model would change their mindset, be more responsible, professional, and dedicated to serving the people.

Moreover, a close link between the authorities and political systems in every neighborhood would help enhance efficiency in State governance. There would no longer be ward-level people’s councils in the pilot urban administration model, which means no organizations specialized in supervising State agencies in local budget management and implementation of social policies.

In this regard, the role of social-political organizations from the neighborhood to ward-level would be promoted, especially the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in each ward, in supervising and questioning the decision-making process of local authorities.