In the context that administrative reform becoming an increasingly important task to improve the effectiveness of state management and improve the investment environment, 2024 witnessed many remarkable results in administrative procedure reform (AP) at state agencies, ministries, branches and localities. These efforts not only help simplify processes, reduce inconvenience for people and businesses, but also contribute to improving the quality of legal regulations.
Control and appraisal of administrative procedures
One of the first steps in the administrative reform process is to control and appraise administrative procedures in projects and draft legal documents. According to statistics, in 2024, ministries, agencies, and localities conducted impact assessments on 1,746 administrative procedures in 247 draft legal documents, and appraised 1,938 administrative procedures in 362 legal documents. The Government Office reviewed 571 administrative procedures and 118 business regulations in 56 draft legal documents, with notable results being the proposal not to regulate 28 administrative procedures and 5 business regulations, and to amend and supplement 338 administrative procedures and 43 business regulations, accounting for 60% of the total. This change not only reflects efforts to streamline administrative procedures but also ensures rationality and efficiency in state management. Specifically, 359 new administrative procedures were issued, 1,448 administrative procedures were amended and supplemented, and 504 administrative procedures were abolished. In particular, the national data on administrative procedures has made public 6,273 procedures, helping people and businesses easily access information and minimize risks during implementation.
Reducing and simplifying administrative procedures
Reforming administrative procedures does not only stop at controlling, but also focuses on reducing and simplifying legal regulations to create a favorable environment for people and businesses. One of the important tools in this work is implementing the Government's Resolutions on reducing and simplifying administrative procedures. In 2024, the Government approved a plan to reduce and simplify 125 business regulations in 47 legal documents. Ministries and agencies have proactively implemented the reduction of 420 administrative procedures in 36 legal documents, bringing the total number of administrative procedures reduced and simplified from 2021 to present to 3,195 in 281 legal documents, reaching a rate of 20.2%, exceeding the target set for the period 2020 - 2025. Some ministries and agencies have actively implemented this, such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Health. In particular, the decentralization in handling administrative procedures has also achieved many positive results. In 2024, 14 ministries and agencies implemented the decentralization plan of 191 administrative procedures in 33 legal documents, bringing the total number of administrative procedures decentralized from 2022 to 350 procedures, reaching 49%. Some ministries have implemented high levels of decentralization, such as the Ministry of Public Security, the State Bank, the Government Inspectorate, and the Ethnic Committee.
Simplifying internal administrative procedures and implementing the Resolution on population management
In addition to efforts to reform public administrative procedures, the simplification of internal administrative procedures between state administrative agencies has also made many important strides. In 2024, ministries and branches announced 664 additional internal administrative procedures, bringing the total number of announced internal administrative procedures to 1,968. Some ministries such as Finance, Information and Communications, and Culture, Sports and Tourism have implemented plans to simplify internal administrative procedures, helping to reduce procedures and shorten work processing time. Especially, ministries and branches have also actively implemented plans to simplify administrative procedures related to citizen papers, especially in population management. There are 13 ministries and branches that have implemented the plan to simplify 313 administrative procedures and citizen papers, reaching a rate of 83%. Of which, some ministries have completed 100% such as the Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank.
Limitations and tasks in the coming time
Although many achievements have been made in reforming administrative procedures, there are still some tasks that need to be continued to be implemented drastically. Some ministries and agencies have not fully implemented the plans to decentralize and simplify administrative procedures. In addition, completing the national data system on administrative procedures is also an important factor to ensure transparency and minimize risks in administrative transactions.
In 2025 and the following years, continuing to promote administrative procedure reform, cutting and simplifying internal regulations and administrative procedures is a priority task. The Government needs to maintain strict control measures, while maximizing information technology to manage and process administrative procedures quickly and effectively, creating favorable conditions for people and businesses. In addition, agencies and ministries need to step up the dissemination and popularization of new policies to ensure consensus and participation.