Vietnam’s Ongoing Reform to Streamline the State Administrative Apparatus

10Apr2025

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Vietnam is undergoing a strategic transformation of its political system aimed at streamlining the government apparatus, enhancing administrative efficiency, and reinforcing transparency. This reform initiative is part of a broader vision to modernize the government functions and adapt to new economic and global realities. As Vietnam strengthens its institutional framework, the country is positioning itself as a stable and attractive destination for long-term investment.

Overview of Vietnam’s Political System

Currently, Vietnam has five main state-governing bodies: the National Assembly, the President, the Government, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuracy. Among these, the National Assembly holds the highest level of authority, followed by the Government and the remaining institutions.

Vietnam’s Government Organizational Structure for the 2021–2026 Term

Institution	Head of Institution	Title
National Assembly	Trần Thanh Mẫn	Chairman
State President	Lương Cường	President
Government	Phạm Minh Chính	Prime Minister
Supreme People’s Court	Lê Minh Trí	Chief Justice
Supreme People’s Procuracy	Nguyễn Huy Tiến	Prosecutor General

Source: Thuvienphapluat

In addition to the main governing bodies, Vietnam’s central government structure consists of 22 ministries and ministry-level agencies, along with 8 other entities that report directly to the government. While responsible for managing national activities, this large number of agencies, often with overlapping regulations, created significant problems for both citizens and businesses[1].

Government Moves to Streamline the Political System

In the Sixth Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee of Vietnam in 2017, the government presented a proposal for the first time with the goal of streamlining state apparatuses from the government to province levels. This initiative aims to enhance the management, operation, and development of the country. At the same time, the session also introduced the directive, Resolution No. 18 – NQ/TW, which sets the objective for the period from 2021 to 2030 for Vietnam to streamline the political system’s structure[2].

At the ministry level, on December 6th, 2024, the Vietnamese government issued Plan No. 141/KH-BCĐTKNQ18: Orientation for arranging and streamlining the organizational structure of the government. The plan aims to reduce the structure to 14 ministries and 3 ministry-level agencies (reduction of 5 entities) and 5 agencies attached to the Government (a reduction of 3 such agencies). It also mandates significant personnel adjustments, targeting a downsizing of the state workforce by over 22,000 positions. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2025, the plan has eliminated 13 general departments and equivalent organizations, 519 departments and equivalent organizations, 219 divisions and equivalent units, and 3,303 sub-departments and similar entities[3].

The regular Government meeting in October 2024

Source: The government news

Furthermore, since March 1st, 2025, the government has gradually introduced a series of decrees aimed at refining the specific functions and responsibilities of each ministry and agency while also initiating the streamlining of the administrative apparatus across all levels of government.

Changes in the revised political system apparatus after streamlining

	Agency	Resulting Structure / Status	Functions and Responsibilities[4]
Ministries and Ministry-Level Agencies	Ministry of Home Affairs	Merged from Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social	State management of labor and social affairs sectors.
	Ministry of Finance	Incorporated from Ministry of Planning & Investment and Vietnam Social Security	State management of finance, currency, and investment sectors.
	Ministry of Agriculture and Environment	Merged from Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment and Ministry of Agriculture	State management of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, resource management, environment, and disaster prevention.
	Ministry of Construction	Merged from Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Construction	Planning, construction, and development of urban infrastructure and transportation.
	Ministry of Science & Technology	Merged from Ministry of Information & Communications and Ministry of Science & Technology	Scientific research, technology development, innovation, development of IT and digital technology.
	Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs	Merged from the Ethnic Committee and part of the Ministry of Home Affairs	State management of ethnic minority affairs, beliefs, and religion.
Agencies Attached to the Government	National Financial Supervisory Commission	Removed	Functions transferred to the Ministry of Finance and Investment or the Ministry of Economic Development.
	Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board	Removed	Functions transferred to the Ministry of National Defense.
	Vietnam Social Security	Removed	Functions transferred to the Ministry of Finance and Investment or the Ministry of Economic Development.

Source: Vietnam Government Portal

At the province level, as part of the general directive outlined in Resolution No. 18 – NQ/TW, by 2025, the 63 provinces and cities will have reduced 343 specialized agencies and equivalent units under the provincial People’s Committees, achieving a reduction rate of 29%. Subsequently, 1,454 specialized agencies under the district-level People’s Committees have been reduced, representing a 17.5% decrease[5]. In addition, starting in April 2025, government agencies will be tasked with researching the potential merger of provinces, the elimination of district-level administration, and the development of a two-tier local government model. This initiative aims to create a more streamlined, efficient, and high-performing government structure. The plan is expected to reduce the number of provinces from 63 to 34, remove district-level administrative bodies, and establish approximately 5,000 administrative units at the commune and ward level[6].

Prospects for Foreign Investors Entering the Vietnam Market

In the past, Vietnam’s complex network of ministries and agencies posed major challenges for both citizens and investors. According to the 2024 JETRO Survey, over 62% of Japanese businesses in Vietnam found administrative procedures – especially those involving permits and licenses – excessively time-consuming, while nearly 58% pointed to an underdeveloped and unclear legal system[7]. In some cases, securing paperwork for land-related investment projects could take over a year, requiring 30 to 40 official approvals from various agencies[8].

Conversely, Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to streamline its political and administrative systems will offer tangible benefits for foreign investors. By reducing cumbersome procedures and minimizing the need to visit multiple agencies for approvals, these reforms aim to speed up document processing and improve overall efficiency. Clearly defined agency responsibilities also help prevent the shifting of accountability, enabling quicker decision-making and lowering the risk of informal costs. This simplification enhances government effectiveness, strengthens policy implementation, and increases regulatory predictability, allowing investors to better understand legal requirements and reduce operational risks. Though, in the short term, Vietnam is likely to encounter difficulties as both public institutions and citizens adjust to new processes. At the same time, the current legal framework, which has not yet been fully updated to align with the streamlined system, may continue to pose challenges for both the public and investors alike.

Conclusion

By tackling internal inefficiencies, the government is working to strengthen the foundations for long-term political stability and a reliable investment climate. While streamlining for every department in the country is an ongoing process, the clear direction towards greater efficiency, accountability, and predictability significantly enhances Vietnam’s attractiveness as a compelling destination for foreign investment.

[1] https://www.sggp.org.vn/phan-hoi-loat-bai-lang-phi-giac-noi-xam-xoa-bo-thu-tuc-hanh-chinh-ruom-ra-post765784.html

[2] Nghị quyết 18-NQ/TW 2017 sắp xếp tổ chức bộ máy của hệ thống chính trị tinh gọn hoạt động hiệu lực

[3] https://baochinhphu.vn/dau-an-cuoc-cach-mang-tinh-gon-bo-may-102250318165651097.htm

[4] Effective starting from March 1st, 2025

[5] Giảm 343 cơ quan cấp tỉnh, 1.454 cơ quan huyện khi tinh gọn

[6] https://vov.vn/chinh-tri/trung-uong-xem-xet-de-an-sap-nhap-tinh-bo-cap-huyen-trong-thang-42025-post1188509.vov

[7] https://www.jetro.go.jp/ext_images/en/reports/survey/pdf/2024/EN_Asia_and_Oceania_2024_r4.pdf

[8] https://www.tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn/310-ngay-de-lam-thu-tuc-hanh-chinh-voi-du-an-dau-tu-co-su-dung-dat-con-qua-nhanh-thuc-te-dai-hon-rat-nhieu-post355525.html

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