Significance of 28 decrees on decentralization and delegation of authority

This June marks a rare move in the history of Viet Nam's public governance as the Government has issued 28 decrees on decentralization and delegation of authority.

These decrees clarify the authority of the central Government and local administrations, indicating the country's strong innovation in public governance.

The promulgation of these decrees came as a result of the great efforts by ministries, agencies and localities in reviewing legal documents and identifying tasks that should be delegated to local administrations.

Under these decrees, the Government has decided to delegate 2,718 out of 6,738 tasks to local administrations, including 1,470 tasks delegated to provincial-level administrations and 1,248 tasks to communal levels.

The above figures show that the Government does not only delegate authority to provincial-level administrations but also communal-level administrations. However, this process requires comprehensive measures to enhance the capacity of grassroots-level cadres and civil servants as authority should not be delegated to incompetent ones.

The Government needs to improve financial-budget institutions for local administrations to mobilize resources in a transparent manner while strengthening supervision and evaluation of the performance of local administrations for further improvements.

Empowering local administrations is a consistent effort to put an end to long-lasting "ask-give" mechanism, reduce intermediate management levels, increase their autonomy and accountability, and lay foundation for creating a modern and effective public governance system.

Comment

LatestMost Read
Panamanian President wraps up official visit to Viet Nam

Panamanian President wraps up official visit to Viet Nam

The two sides expressed their delight at the positive developments in the bilateral relations in recent years, noting that there remains significant room for greater cooperation and complementarity, particularly in trade, investment and economic ties. They also held extensive discussions on strategic directions to further deepen and strengthen bilateral relations in a more substantive and practical manner.
44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting   

44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting   

On 7 October 2026, the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM 44) was held in Manila, the Philippines, under the chairmanship of Sharon S. Garin, Secretary of the Department of Energy of the Philippines. The meeting brought together energy ministers from ASEAN Member States, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, the ASEAN Centre for Energy, and representatives of ASEAN energy sector bodies and specialised networks. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Viet Son led the Vietnamese delegati