Digital transformation has been identified as a breakthrough tool that enables comprehensive reorganization of the government system - making it leaner yet ensuring seamless, efficient operations - built on digital platforms, data, and interaction.

On June 19, Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu, also Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation, signed Plan 02-KH/BCDTW.

The plan aims to promote fast, integrated, and effective digital transformation to support the reorganization of Vietnam’s political system. It reflects urgent, decisive action, with a clear two-phase roadmap, concrete tasks, and assigned responsibilities across all levels and sectors.

Comprehensive digitalization post-restructuring

At the ongoing ninth session of the National Assembly, key decisions were approved, including amendments to the 2013 Constitution, revisions to the Law on Local Government Organization, and a resolution on restructuring provincial-level administrative units.

These historic moves not only aim to streamline government operations and improve public services but also open new development pathways to support rapid and sustainable national progress.

The challenge lies in ensuring that the newly streamlined system functions effectively from July 1, 2025. Digital transformation has thus been designated as a pivotal solution, enabling the entire administrative structure to operate via digitized systems and data.

Plan 02-KH/BCDTW is more than a technical fix - it is a sweeping political and administrative reform strategy requiring coordinated and determined action across the political system.

The plan emphasizes that digital transformation cannot simply mean installing new software over old procedures. It demands a shift in mindset, work processes, and management structures, with citizens and businesses placed at the core. Their satisfaction is the highest priority.

Two-phase implementation

Urgent phase (until June 30, 2025): Focus on removing bottlenecks in regulations, infrastructure, and data to ensure uninterrupted and effective operation of merged local governments starting July 1, 2025. Administrative services must continue seamlessly for citizens and businesses.

Breakthrough phase (until December 31, 2025): Address entrenched weaknesses in digital transformation, develop shared digital platforms, standardize and connect vital databases, and improve the quality of online public services - laying a strong foundation for future advancement.

From July 1 to year-end 2025, the plan mandates centralized online service delivery via the National Public Service Portal for all eligible procedures. It will gradually replace isolated provincial platforms. The goal includes maintaining 25 integrated end-to-end services, offering 982 online services with at least 1,000 transactions per year per province, and replacing paperwork for 1,139 procedures with digital records - cutting costs and complexity.

Three guiding breakthrough solutions

To achieve its objectives, the plan outlines three core breakthrough solutions:

First, unify the digital experience through a dual-component model: VNeID will serve as a digital ID key for authentication, document access, and official notifications, while the National Public Service Portal will act as the single gateway for all administrative procedures. A new interactive e-form platform will reuse data and minimize paperwork.

Second, modernize political system operations via real-time data oversight and digital transparency, allowing public monitoring and feedback.

Third, establish a unified document system for the Party, Government, and Fatherland Front, ensuring secure, seamless electronic communication - including classified materials - across all agencies.

The plan details 67 tasks across six pillars: institutions, infrastructure, data, platforms, human resources, and funding, divided by phase.

It defines a streamlined architecture focused on core digital governance functions, guided by the principle of “One system – One data source – Seamless service.” The Central Steering Committee acts as commander-in-chief; ministries handle data governance and standardization; provincial steering committees manage local implementation; and commune-level units provide frontline services and generate clean, standardized, interoperable data.

Citizens and businesses will engage with the system through the single gateway of the National Public Service Portal and VNeID app.

The plan calls for urgent, synchronized, results-oriented implementation, with specific outputs and clear deadlines. Tasks are tied to leadership accountability, with citizen and business satisfaction as the ultimate metric.

Execution must avoid superficiality and fragmentation, ensuring full connectivity across levels and sectors. Information security and safety are top priorities, strictly regulated and monitored.

Plan 02-KH/BCDTW is a timely and strategic step to concretize organizational restructuring alongside operational reform in the digital era. Its overarching goal is not only to ensure seamless system integration, but also to build a modern, effective national governance model - where citizens and businesses are truly at the heart of every service.

Hai Phong