Modern Governance for Citizens and Businesses: The Case of Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City's Administrative Transformation (2010 - 2020)

Since the 9th Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee in 2010, administrative reform has been identified as one of the three strategic breakthrough areas, playing a pivotal role in the process of building a modern, efficient, and effective urban governance model, with a focus on achieving sustainable development. This policy reflects the timely and accurate approach of the City Party Committee in the context of accelerating industrialization, modernization, and international integration. Throughout the period from the 9th to the 11th Congress, the leadership and direction of administrative reform were implemented systematically, consistently, and increasingly in-depth. Ho Chi Minh City has issued numerous specific programs, plans, and policies, clearly demonstrating the political commitment to renewing the administrative system towards democracy, transparency, and professionalism, with a focus on serving the people and businesses. As a result, many positive outcomes have been recorded, particularly in institutional reform, streamlining the apparatus, enhancing the quality of the staff, applying information technology, and improving the investment and business environment. This article focuses on clarifying the leadership role of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City in the process of administrative reform during the period of 2010 - 2020. Based on the analysis of documents, resolutions, plans, and summary reports from the City People's Committee, the article evaluates the outstanding achievements, identifies existing challenges and limitations, and proposes several feasible solutions to continue advancing administrative reform in the next phase, contributing to the realization of the goal of building a modern urban government that serves and fosters development.