Streamlining the administrative apparatus and building an honest government

According to Le Thanh Do, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Dien Bien Province, one of the most remarkable achievements is the completion of administrative restructuring. The province consolidated 129 commune-level units into 45 communes and wards, showing strong political resolve to implement the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 18-NQ/TW on streamlining the organizational structure. After the restructuring, the two-tier administrative system has operated stably, with clearly defined functions and authority. Decentralization and accountability mechanisms have been strengthened, leading to tangible improvements in public administration and service delivery.

The province also focuses on building a professional, disciplined, and dedicated team of civil servants and public employees. Training, evaluation, and human resource allocation are now closely linked to administrative streamlining, creating a more efficient and citizen-centered public service.

Despite being a mountainous border province with many challenges, Dien Bien has made strong progress, entering the “Good” group in several national rankings. In 2023, the province ranked 20th out of 63 in the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) and 31st in the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), its highest positions to date. Although rankings slightly declined in 2024 (35th for the PAR Index and 32nd for the PCI), they still show steady and genuine improvements in public governance.

Dien Bien considers digital transformation a core pillar of administrative reform. The province has upgraded its electronic one-stop system and online public service portal, ensuring smooth interconnection across departments and levels. Hundreds of administrative procedures have been simplified or shortened, enabling residents and businesses to access public services online from home, saving time and costs. This represents a major shift in governance from a “management” model to a “service” model, helping reduce the gap between remote areas and urban centers in access to public services.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the introduction of a book about General Vo Nguyen Giap and the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Dien Bien Province, April 2024

Efforts to build a clean and action-oriented government are reflected in focused inspection and anti-corruption activities. These are implemented in a way that maintains administrative discipline without disrupting legitimate business operations. Sensitive sectors are closely monitored, while regular dialogues and legal guidance are provided to help citizens and enterprises comply with the law.

In the judicial sector, Dien Bien continues to promote administrative reform and expand free legal aid for ethnic minorities, enabling easier access to justice and strengthening public trust in the rule of law.

Located in a special geopolitical area as the only Vietnamese province bordering both Laos and China, Dien Bien prioritizes political stability, public order, and national defense. The Provincial People’s Committee directs Border Guard, Military, and Police forces to work closely together to safeguard the area, prevent crime, especially drug trafficking and cybercrime, and promote legal awareness to stop violations at their source. These efforts uphold the principles of justice, legality, and humanity.

Dien Bien Airport is an effective gateway connecting tourists and investors to the Northwestern region

Building the foundation for sustainable development

According to Le Thanh Do, the province has defined the model of an “enabling, transparent, and action-oriented government” as its guiding principle for development. The government does not merely issue policies but also actively works to remove obstacles, accompany enterprises and citizens, and ensure that every decision serves the goal of rapid, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

For the 2025-2030 period, Dien Bien has set four key development directions: developing integrated infrastructure in transportation, energy, and digital connectivity; attracting investment in renewable energy, tourism, and high-tech agriculture; improving human resource quality in line with labor market needs; maintaining national defense and security to ensure a stable environment for development.

Groundbreaking ceremony of the new urban area and Muong Thanh airport’s walking street in Dien Bien Phu ward, selected to mark the 15th Dien Bien Provincial Party Congress 

Today, Dien Bien is not only home to the proud legacy of the historic Dien Bien Phu victory but also a land rich in development potential, from its unspoiled natural landscapes and unique cultural identity to its strategic position as a hub for international trade. By leveraging its internal strengths and fostering the aspiration to advance, the province is steadily turning potential into momentum and advantages into resources, aiming to become a new growth driver in Vietnam’s Northwestern region.

Looking back, the province’s progress in governance reform, administrative modernization, digital transformation, and security and defense reflects unified leadership and decisive, flexible management across all levels of government. It also demonstrates a spirit of innovation, determination, and collective effort throughout the political system, laying a solid foundation for sustainable socio-economic development.

Challenges remain, but with unity, ambition, and a governance model focused on facilitation, integrity, and action, Dien Bien is well-positioned to turn its development aspirations into reality, affirming its role as a dynamic and forward-looking province rooted in a proud historical tradition.