Thủ Đức Ward’s Public Administrative Service Centre in HCM City. The city has successfully cut processing times for many procedures by up to 50 per cent. — VNA/VNS Photo Mạnh Linh

HCM CITY — HCM City has set a target to join the country’s top five localities in the Public Administration Reform (PAR) Index, after successfully slashing processing times for various procedures by 30 to 50 per cent. 

Speaking at a city-wide conference last week to deploy key administrative reform tasks for 2026, municipal People's Committee vice chairman Nguyễn Mạnh Cường said the city is determined to enhance state management efficiency and elevate service quality for both citizens and businesses.

The ambitious target is backed by a massive digital transformation drive and the implementation of a comprehensive "one-stop-shop" mechanism across 168 localities.

According to data released by the municipal Department of Internal Affairs, the city has processed an enormous volume of over four million applications since July 1, maintaining a stellar on-time completion rate of approximately 99 per cent.

In the first five months of 2026 alone, the city issued 161 decisions standardising 1,329 administrative procedures.

Currently, 100 per cent of eligible procedures – totaling 2,065 – can be processed completely independent of residential or administrative boundaries, allowing citizens to submit and receive results from any centre or right from their homes.

Furthermore, out of 2,171 active administrative procedures, 93.3 per cent (2,042 procedures) are available online, with fully end-to-end digital services making up over 80 per cent.

Notably, 100 per cent of business-related procedures (1,301 procedures) are now entirely digitised.

Deep cuts in processing times

The city’s aggressive review of 643 procedures resulted in 157 being decentralised, 234 abolished, and 250 simplified.

In specific sectors such as maritime affairs, inland waterway transport, social welfare, and international trade, processing times were heavily cut by 50 to 59 per cent.

For 578 other procedures managed across 14 municipal agencies, time frames were reduced by 30 to 50 per cent.

To achieve these breakthroughs, the city poured over VNĐ2.9 trillion (US$110 million) into network infrastructure and IT equipment.

Over 4,500 public servants have been trained to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to automate workflows and analyse data.

Local wards are showcasing significant turnarounds.

In Phú Nhuận Ward, a specialised "Digital Guidance Hub" has assisted over 31,000 residents with online public services and digital payments, pushing the electronic data reuse rate past 80 per cent and securing a 98 per cent satisfaction rate.

Meanwhile, Tân Mỹ Ward has eliminated repetitive paperwork through a strict "submit once" data-sharing policy managed by its new Intelligent Operations Centre (IOC). 

To maintain momentum, the city People’s Committee has officially launched the 2026 Administrative Reform Innovation Contest.

The competition encourages public servants, businesses, and tech associations to develop breakthrough solutions – specifically focusing on document digitisation, big data utilisation, and AI virtual assistants – to build a smarter, more transparent government.

Competitors are required to submit their projects before July 15. — VNS