Chairman of the Dien Bien People’s Committee Le Thanh Do welcomed the delegation, affirming the province’s commitment to deepening friendship and cooperation with northern Lao provinces, particularly Oudomxay, which shares many similarities in natural conditions, population, and development orientation.

Presenting an overview of socio-economic performance, he said Dien Bien’s GRDP reached an estimated over VND12.28 trillion (over US$466 million) in the first nine months of 2025, up 6.76% year-on-year, with stable growth across agriculture, industry, and services.

Dien Bien shared lessons learned from implementing its two-tier local government model, officially launched on July 1, 2025, following administrative streamlining that reduced the number of communes and wards by 65%. The reform eliminated the district level, cut costs, improved efficiency, and empowered grassroots authorities.

The province has also advanced decentralisation, strengthened accountability, and applied digital solutions. Its Public Administration Service Centre is now connected from provincial to commune level, handling 100% of procedures online, reducing costs and time for citizens while enhancing transparency.

Both sides agreed to continue implementing their memorandum of understanding signed in December 2024, expanding cooperation in personnel training, public administration, infrastructure development, border trade, tourism, and culture. They also pledged closer coordination in combating cross-border crime, especially drug trafficking, to safeguard stability and security.

Do stressed the importance of strengthening practical cooperation and fostering people-to-people exchanges, particularly among the youth, to consolidate the Vietnam–Laos special friendship.

Governor Vongsavanh Saynhavong praised Dien Bien’s socio-economic progress and governance reforms. He said the province’s experience in administrative restructuring, decentralisation, and digitalisation is valuable for Oudomxay’s own process.

PM Chinh demands cohesive, responsive two-tier local governance

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged immediate institutional and digital infrastructure reforms to ensure seamless two-tier local governance, while chairing a July 28 conference in Hanoi reviewing the internal restructuring of ministries and sectors and assessing the first month of operations under the new model.