Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Tran Van Lau held an online meeting with 103 communes and wards to remove difficulties and obstacles in organizing and operating commune-level government - Photo: VGP/LS
"Three into one" - Choice for development
On July 1, 2025, the administrative merger of three localities of Can Tho, Soc Trang and Hau Giang into one city. The expanded Can Tho marked an unprecedented turning point in the history of the Mekong Delta. From a centrally-run city, Can Tho became a "super city" with an area of nearly 6,360 km², a population of more than 4.2 million people, with 103 communes and wards stretching from the central urban area to the core area to the countryside.
There were concerns at first. From officials to citizens, many people worried about whether the administrative apparatus would be overloaded? Would the reception and processing of documents be delayed? Would the administrative database be seamlessly connected? But after just one month, many people had the answer: the results exceeded expectations.
Speaking with the Government Electronic Newspaper, Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City Tran Van Lau shared: "Unifying three localities to promote the strengths of each region, creating a large, synchronous development space, thereby developing quickly and sustainably. But to do so, first of all, the apparatus must operate smoothly and effectively. We especially value the role of the commune and ward levels where they directly contact people and businesses, especially the Public Administration Service Center at the grassroots level must truly be a place to support and guide people, not a place to cause trouble".
From city to base: Fast, friendly
Nga Nam Ward is one of the localities rearranged after merging from 3 wards and communes of the old Nga Nam town (formerly Soc Trang province).
Vice Chairman of Nga Nam Ward People's Committee, Ms. Trinh Anh Nguyet said: After one month of operating the commune-level government, Nga Nam Ward Public Administration Service Center basically met the requirements of the assigned tasks. The activities of receiving, processing and returning results of documents were carried out relatively smoothly and synchronously, the staff working at the Center had a high sense of responsibility, friendliness and enthusiasm.
As a result, the Nga Nam Ward Public Administration Service Center received and processed 1,088 records of all kinds, with a timely resolution rate of 99.72%. Common administrative procedures such as authentication; birth registration, marriage registration, marital status confirmation; residence management registration; land procedures; social security procedures, funeral support; business establishment and operation; construction activities... were all processed using the electronic one-stop service and 100% of the procedures were completed on time.
The owner of a traditional Pia cake production facility in Phu Tam commune shared: I have never found paperwork as easy as it is now. I submitted my online public service application at the commune's Public Administration Service Center and waited for the results to be processed quickly. Officials no longer sit 'high up' but are very close to the people.
Not only communes and wards, Can Tho City Public Administration Service Center seriously implements the slogan "5 know": Know how to listen, know how to guide, know how to explain, know how to apologize, know how to thank. At the same time, thoroughly grasp the spirit and working attitude of cadres and civil servants as "respectful, civilized, friendly, professional, responsible" when handling work for the people.
Ms. Le Xuan Hoa, Director of the Public Administration Service Center of Can Tho City, said: After one month of operating the two-level government of Can Tho, there have been a number of good models and new initiatives that have satisfied people when coming to the Public Administration Service Center of communes and wards in the city.
In July 2025, the Can Tho City Public Administration Service Center and the commune level received 75,285 records, of which 52,514 records were received online on the National Public Service Portal. Departments and People's Committees at the commune level processed 58,713 records, of which 57,343 records were processed ahead of schedule, 175 records were processed on schedule, the rate of processing before and on schedule reached 72.47%, 5.07% were overdue, and the rest were within the processing deadline.
The My Huong commune government has deployed a new model of "mobile public administration" associated with the school opening season to support parents and students in carrying out public administrative procedures quickly and conveniently such as issuing birth certificates, confirming household registration, social security, school health care, etc. Thereby, people do not have to travel, creating convenience for parents and students in remote areas and ethnic minorities where travel still has many difficulties.
Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Vuong Quoc Nam (in blue shirt) inspects the reception and return of results at Phu Tam commune - Photo: VGP/LS
Connected technology, action engine
As the head of the Department of Science and Technology of Can Tho City, Dr. Ngo Anh Tin pointed out: The two main factors that create the smooth operation of Can Tho's two-level administrative apparatus are the interconnected information technology platform and the initiative and creativity from the localities themselves.
Accordingly, the administrative procedure settlement system is connected to the National Public Service Portal seamlessly, so that people can carry out administrative procedures "without boundaries" in any commune, ward or one-stop department of the city.
Up to now, the Department of Science and Technology of Can Tho City has organized 16 training courses for 103 communes and wards in the city and 14 departments and branches with 1,615 cadres and civil servants, including Saturdays and Sundays.
"From the first day of the merger, we have built a plan to integrate 17 shared databases of departments and branches into the new Can Tho City database system. The city's public service portal has been seamlessly connected to the national public service portal, creating favorable conditions for people to carry out administrative procedures "without boundaries", Mr. Ngo Anh Tin told the Government Electronic Newspaper.
The positive atmosphere also spread among the business community when Can Tho was the first locality in the country to organize a meeting and dialogue with the local business community to resolve difficulties and obstacles, and committed to accompanying and sharing with businesses to contribute to the city's development.
Mr. Pham Thai Binh, General Director of Trung An High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company, excitedly said: Less than a month after the merger, we had a frank discussion with the Secretary of the City Party Committee, the City Chairman and relevant agencies about the city's development orientation, issues that businesses are interested in and have problems with such as policies and institutions, land procedures, financial resources, and human resource search.
"I believe that with the determination, enthusiasm and impartiality of the city's leaders in directing and operating, Can Tho will certainly have new developments as expected by businesses and people," Mr. Binh expressed.
Mr. Vo Tan Dung, Director of Mekong Clean Sand Technology Joint Stock Company, a pioneer in cleaning sea sand into clean sand, said: "The city is bigger, administrative services are also more modern. City leaders always listen to the opinions of businesses with a receptive spirit, such as Chairman Tran Van Lau calling on people and businesses to "give advice" on flood prevention, inspecting the slow-progressing Oncology Hospital, going to the grassroots to see staff work and listen to people's suggestions... Those things give us confidence in a new apparatus, a new generation of enthusiastic leaders, truly serving the people."
Leaders of Can Tho City Public Administration Service Center inspect at Thot Not Ward Public Administration Service Center - Photo: VGP/LS
Developed from service administration
Can Tho city leaders clearly identified: the success of the two-level government model after the merger does not stop at quickly handling procedures, but also must build a truly service-oriented administration.
Chairman Tran Van Lau emphasized: People and businesses must be considered the center in the process of building a new government. Creating favorable conditions for people to access and use administrative services is the best way to unleash all development resources. When communes and wards operate well, the city will develop faster and more sustainably.
Although it is only the first stage of the merger journey, the results that Can Tho has achieved in the first month have overcome many concerns and worries. Communes and wards are not only not "congested" but also proactively change to adapt and serve better. People are no longer unfamiliar but have begun to see specific, practical benefits. Businesses are beginning to see a more friendly and effective administrative environment.
The two-tier government model after the merger is not simply a matter of changing names and administrative boundaries, but a change in management, service and development thinking. With a favorable start, Can Tho is proving that merger is not just an administrative solution, but a strategic choice to break through and move forward, from the grassroots.
Le Son
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/can-tho-hop-nhat-mot-thang-van-hanh-thong-suot-dan-tin-tuong-doanh-nghiep-mung-102250803165710353.htm
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