During the ongoing 10th session of the National Assembly, deputies on October 29 discussed the socio-economic situation, evaluated 2025 results, reviewed the plan for 2026 along with the 2021-2025 period and proposed raising the base salary for civil servants.

Tran Quoc Tuan, a NA deputy from southern Vinh Long province, highlighted that despite global economic and political uncertainties, Vietnam remains “a calm sea amid the storm” and a “bright spot going against global trends,” as noted by reputable international organizations.

Economic indicators so far in 2025 include GDP growth of around 7.85%, inflation controlled at 3.27%, exports up more than 16%, and state budget revenue rising 30.5% compared with the same nine-month period in 2024. These figures show the government’s steady economic management, effective leadership of the Party, and close supervision by the National Assembly.

Since implementing the two-tier local government model nearly four months ago, the administrative apparatus has been streamlined but staff workloads have increased.

Civil servants, especially at the grassroots level, now travel farther and handle more responsibilities, yet their income has not improved accordingly. According to reports from voters in Quang Tri, Binh Thuan, and Vinh Long provinces, after administrative unit mergers, some commune officials must travel 10-15 km to reach new offices, while allowances for travel and official duties remain unchanged.

Increased living costs and housing expenses have effectively reduced real income by 10-12% compared with previous levels, thus affecting staff morale, motivation, and work efficiency.

Tran Quoc Tuan noted that the current base salary of VND 2.34 million per month, applied since July 1, 2024, is no longer adequate given the cost of living. For many young civil servants, income covers only the first 20 days of the month, leaving the remainder dependent on “faith and instant noodles.”

He proposed that the government raise the base salary from January 1, 2026, rather than mid-year, as in previous periods. The adjustment, he emphasized, goes beyond financial considerations, reflecting public expectations and the need to sustain the morale of the administrative system. Adequate income would allow civil servants to focus on their duties without financial burdens, t thereby ensuring their commitment and effectiveness in public service, he emphasized.

Over 90% of citizens report no difficulties from civil servants

The Satisfaction Index of Public Administrative Services (SIPAS) in 2024 increased by 1.28% as compared to the previous year, reaching an average of 83.94%, with more than 90% of surveyed citizens reporting no inconvenience or unnecessary complications when working with civil servants.