Vietnam’s largest-ever government restructuring has been finalized in record time. In just two months, the Ministry of Home Affairs successfully streamlined government agencies, merged ministries, and implemented structural reforms, marking a major milestone ahead of the 14th National Party Congress.

In an exclusive interview with VietNamNet, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra shares the pressures, challenges, and sacrifices behind this historic transformation.

A race against time

Looking back on the process, Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra admits that her team could only breathe a sigh of relief on January 24, 2025, when the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam officially approved the restructuring plan.

“The decision to streamline the government could not be delayed,” she emphasized. “It was a historic necessity before the 14th National Party Congress and key national milestones like the 95th anniversary of the Party, the 50th anniversary of national reunification, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the country.”

For the past two months, the ministry’s staff worked day and night, often until 2–3 AM, sacrificing weekends to complete an unprecedented volume of work.

"I saw my colleagues with dark circles under their eyes, yet their determination never wavered. There were moments when we felt the weight of history on our shoulders, but giving up was never an option," she said emotionally.

The challenges of merging ministries and reducing bureaucracy

The restructuring involved merging 10 ministries into 5 and eliminating redundant departments, including:

Reducing the number of ministries from 22 to 17

Dissolving 13 general departments and 519 administrative units

Cutting over 3,300 local departments and restructuring leadership positions

Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra acknowledges that the biggest challenge was handling human resource transitions, with 100,000 employees affected.

“The question of ‘who stays, who leaves’ is never easy. We cannot simply cut people without fairness and transparency,” she explained.

To support displaced officials, the government introduced three key decrees:

Decree 177: Support for officials not reappointed or opting for early retirement.

Decree 178: Compensation and reassignment plans for affected officials.

Decree 179: Incentives for talented individuals to serve in government roles.

The restructuring is not just about reducing numbers but about building a stronger, more efficient system.

“This is a political revolution, not just an administrative adjustment. It requires sacrifice and a shift in mindset,” Minister Tra noted.

A transformation with long-term impact

Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra also stressed that this reform is not just about cutting bureaucracy but about creating a new governance model based on efficiency, accountability, and decentralization.

“The principle is clear: local governments will have more autonomy - 'local decisions, local actions, and local responsibility’,” she emphasized, echoing General Secretary To Lam’s directive.

As the restructuring takes effect, the Minister urged civil servants across the country to embrace change and see this transition as an opportunity rather than a setback.

"A revolution requires pioneers. Those who step aside are not losing but making way for the future. Their contributions will be remembered," she said.

Quoting Professor Vu Minh Khuong from the National University of Singapore, she added: "Think of this restructuring not as a competition to prove who is better, but as a moment to honor the service of those who have contributed to the nation."

Looking ahead, Vietnam is entering a new governance era, one that prioritizes quality over quantity and aims to position the country as a high-income nation by 2045.

"This is not just about the government - it’s about building a stronger Vietnam for future generations."

Thu Hang