Vietnam now runs a two-tier local government system, with only provincial and commune levels. The Ministry of Home Affairs says the focus must go beyond staff numbers, to whether people are in the right jobs. Commune offices now handle complex work such as land, construction, finance and justice, but skills vary widely. Only about 53% of provincial staff and 30% of commune staff fully meet job requirements.
In 2026, the ministry plans to standardise job positions and set staffing levels based on population, area and workload. Officials will be assessed on performance, results and how satisfied people and businesses are. The ministry will also expand training for commune staff from 2026 to 2031. Decentralisation, or giving more power to local authorities, will be judged by real outcomes, not the number of tasks transferred.