Hà Nội's bold governance shift puts power back in local hands

A new local governance model has transformed how officials work in Hà Nội. For the past year, the two-tier system has moved decision-making closer to communities, with staff now addressing issues directly at the ward and commune level. The model shifts responsibility from administrative tasks to hands-on problem-solving. In Minh Châu Commune, officials now visit homes in the evenings to assist residents. This change has cleared longstanding backlogs and improved both service delivery and staff skills.

Other areas have also seen results. Tây Hồ Ward has tied the ward head’s role to task completion, ensuring accountability. Ô Chợ Dừa Ward used public dialogue to clear land for the Ring Road 1 project. Quang Minh Commune even reclaimed nearly 5,000 square metres of encroached pond land under the new approach.

By making local offices the centre of governance, the model has cut red tape. It has also brought government officials closer to the people they serve. The system has been running for a year across Hà Nội. It has resolved local issues faster and narrowed the gap between authorities and residents. More communes and wards are expected to adopt the approach after its early success.