 (Photo: quochoi.vn) |
A draft of the constitutional amendments was made publicly available on May 6. The amendments are an institutional reform effort aligned with Vietnam’s development needs.
Broad accessibility, easy participation
Although only eight out of 120 constitutional articles are being amended, the revisions are important. The changes will pave the way for comprehensive administrative reform, a shift to a two-tier local government model, streamlining of the governmental apparatus, restructuring of socio-political organizations, and institutionalizing the people's mastery.
The amendment process has been carried out transparently and with broad public engagement. Diverse consultation channels were established – through the National Assembly, Government portals, and relevant agencies. According to the Government, more than 280,000 conferences, seminars, and forums have been organized nationwide to gather public feedback. Many localities have set up designated addresses to receive citizen input in multiple formats.
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Some provinces created online feedback sections, allowing citizens to contribute via Google Forms and email. Questionnaires were distributed to union members, association members, and citizens visiting administrative offices for public services.
Public input was also collected through the VNeID application, which allowed citizens ample time to study the proposed changes and conveniently submit feedback. In less than a month 20 million citizens expressed their views via the app.
A resident of Quang Ninh province said: “All the content was pre-programmed. I just had to tick the relevant boxes after filling in my information. It was quick and easy. We considered this an important political duty. The majority of people use smartphones, so there's no need to travel. Everything can be done right there on the device.”
Unity, determination in advancing institutional reform
Public opinions extended far beyond administrative and legal frameworks. Opinions were contributed on the structure of the state apparatus, citizens’ rights and obligations, economic institutions, environmental policies, digital transformation, and the two-tier local government model.
Mr. Nguyễn Minh Hòa of Đắk Lắk province said: “This round of amendments to the 2013 Constitution has drawn much attention from me and other local people, especially the plan to merge provinces, eliminate district-level administrations, and merge wards and communes to streamline governance. I strongly support it.”
These contributions from the public have been compiled to serve as a basis for the final draft submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hoàng Công Thủy, said: “Most opinions expressed strong agreement on amending the 2013 Constitution. People expressed hope that the new draft will effectively support a two-tier system of local government.”
The initiative to amend the 2013 Constitution enjoys overwhelming consensus, reflecting unity and determination to push forward institutional reform and advance national development. It sets a precedent for Vietnam to keep promoting democracy by encouraging public participation in policymaking and legislation.