The Foreign Affairs Committee will be dissolved, and several other committees will merge to optimize responsibilities. The NA Standing Committee has confirmed that the restructuring plans are ready for submission and will be reviewed in the upcoming parliamentary session.

Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA) is set to streamline its organizational structure by reducing the number of committees from ten to eight. The new structure will retain the Ethnic Council alongside seven key committees, consolidating existing ones to enhance efficiency and governance.

No fixed number or names for National Assembly committees

On February 6, the NA Standing Committee discussed key points in the draft amendment to the Law on Organization of the National Assembly and proposed resolutions on restructuring its internal bodies.

Hoang Thanh Tung, Chairman of the NA's Legal Committee, stated that most members support restructuring the assembly’s internal organization. After the adjustments, the NA will consist of the Ethnic Council and seven committees.

According to the Central Committee’s resolution, the Foreign Affairs Committee will be dissolved, with its responsibilities transferred to the National Defense, Security, and Foreign Affairs Committee, the NA Office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consequently, the National Defense and Security Committee will be renamed the National Defense, Security, and Foreign Affairs Committee.

Additionally, several other committees will merge or be restructured:

The Legal and Judiciary Committees will combine into the Legal and Judicial Committee.

The Economic and Finance Committees will merge into the Economic and Financial Committee.

The Social and Cultural Committees will consolidate into the Culture and Social Committee.

The People’s Petitions Committee will be upgraded and renamed as the People’s Petitions and Oversight Committee.

The Deputies’ Affairs Committee will be upgraded and renamed as the Deputies’ Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.

The Ethnic Council and the Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment will remain unchanged.

After restructuring, the NA’s eight key bodies will be:

Ethnic Council

Legal and Judicial Committee

Economic and Financial Committee

Culture and Social Committee

National Defense, Security, and Foreign Affairs Committee

Science, Technology, and Environment Committee

People’s Petitions and Oversight Committee

Deputies’ Affairs Committee

The new structure eliminates two committees, making the NA’s framework more streamlined and effective.

Maintaining flexibility in committee organization

Some lawmakers suggested that the Law on the Organization of the National Assembly should explicitly define the number and names of committees to ensure legal clarity.

However, the drafting committee argued that keeping flexibility in the law would allow the NA to adjust its structure as needed, ensuring better alignment between functions and mandates.

Hoang Thanh Tung emphasized that this approach was endorsed by the Politburo, which approved the proposed laws on governmental structure.

The draft amendment also outlines the composition of the NA’s committees:

The Ethnic Council will consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and Members.

Each NA committee will include a Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and Members.

The NA elects Committee Chairmen, while the Standing Committee approves the Vice Chairmen and Members.

Additionally, the NA Office will continue as the administrative body supporting NA activities. The Secretary-General of the NA, who also serves as the Chairman of the NA Office, will be responsible for overall operations and official communications.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the importance of defining clear responsibilities between the NA, the government, and local authorities. He noted that laws should focus on broad principles, while sector-specific regulations should guide detailed operations.

NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac Dinh concluded that the Standing Committee supports the proposed restructuring, while certain responsibilities, such as religious affairs and treaty reviews, will remain with their current managing bodies to avoid disruption. The NA will maintain stability during the transition phase, ensuring seamless governance and oversight.

The NA Standing Committee has confirmed that the law revision proposals and draft resolutions are ready for submission to the NA for final approval.

Thu Hang