Distorted narratives on social media

Recently, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed a resolution amending several articles of the 2013 Constitution, with a primary focus on regulations regarding the Vietnam Fatherland Front, political-social organisations, and the implementation of a two-tier local government model. This marks the beginning of a historic institutional reform, reflecting innovative thinking in national governance. It lays the constitutional foundation for restructuring and streamlining the political system in line with Party guidelines and State policies aimed at building a lean and efficient apparatus.

However, hostile and reactionary forces have taken advantage of this process to spread false and misleading information online. They insist that the restructuring is driven by personal ambitions or group interests, rather than national goals, and that the reform violates democracy or centralises power in the hands of a few, wastes state budget, or brings no practical benefit for the people.

They amplify isolated issues such as delays in benefits for early-retirement officials or temporary gaps in job assignments to stir public doubt. They also manipulate cultural sentiments by claiming the merger of administrative units “erases village identity” or “destroys national heritage,” using edited images and videos to mislead and manipulate public perception.

Some even use seemingly “academic” platforms like fake research institutes, YouTube channels, and blogs posing as policy think tanks to distort reform goals and incite resistance under the guise of civil society.

These narratives are strategically designed to undermine public trust in Party guidelines and State policies and fuel opposition, even calls for civil disobedience, a tactic rooted in populism in today’s digital age.

Apparatus reform - a must

Throughout every stage of the revolution, the Party has consistently prioritised building and refining an effective political system to support national development, ensure the firm defence of the Fatherland, and successfully carry out key political tasks. Nearly four decades of the Đổi Mới (Renovation) process have brought about profound and historic achievements, creating a strong foundation and momentum for Vietnam to advance into a new era of development.

However, the current structure of the political system remains overly complex and inefficient, making it urgent to carry out a bold and comprehensive “revolution” to build a truly streamlined system. Streamlining the political apparatus is a central and pressing task that is vital to national development in this new era. The goal of this restructuring is to establish a lean, transparent, and resilient political system that operates with greater effectiveness and efficiency, while eliminating overlapping functions and reducing resource waste.

This is an essential step to enhance the performance and responsiveness of state institutions, meeting the demand of building a modern, transparent political system that drives Vietnam’s rapid and sustainable development in the years ahead.

In his recently published article, Party General Secretary To Lam candidly pointed out that many Party committees and leaders lack decisive action or deep understanding of the need for reform. There is insufficient breakthrough in personnel work, and the administrative system consumes up to 70% of the regular state budget.

To address these issues, in a short period of time, the Party has issued numerous directives to reform and restructure the organisation of the political system. Streamlining the state apparatus not only meets internal development needs but also enhances Vietnam’s position on the international stage. A lean, effective, and efficient system not only drives economic growth but also strengthens the country’s overall competitiveness.

The reform policy has received widespread support from the public, as seen through voter meetings, local forums, and media engagement. Experts, scholars, and the business community have shown strong confidence in the reform, while contributing practical ideas to ensure its success.

Vietnamese leaders have also introduced the reform initiative to international partners in diplomatic exchanges, gaining positive recognition and trust from foreign heads of state, global institutions, and media.

Vigilance against false and baseless narratives

What hostile forces have spread is not constructive criticism, but deliberate misinformation. They try to pull the wool over people’s eyes, twisting facts and taking things out of context to fit their narratives. But their argument simply doesn’t hold water, it's full of contradictions and baseless claims.

In light of these malicious and deceptive tactics, people are urged to remain vigilant and discerning, and not to share or spread unverified, harmful information, especially from individuals or organisations that exploit the guise of “democracy” or “public criticism” to sow division and undermine national unity.

Each citizen plays a vital role in defending truth, fostering trust, and strengthening national consensus, contributing to the successful building of a lean, modern, effective state apparatus for a sustainable and prosperous Vietnam in the new era.

New two-tier local government system goes into effect without disruption

VOV.VN - The new two-tier local government system functioned smoothly and without interruption on its first operational day July 1, ensuring effective public service delivery for both citizens and businesses.