An official guides residents in using digital technology at the Public Administrative Service Centre of Khánh Hội Commune, Ninh Bình Province. VNA/VNS Photo Thùy Dung

NINH BÌNH — Ninh Bình Province is stepping up digital transformation in its communes and wards under Resolution 57-NQ/TW to improve management efficiency and streamline administrative procedures. The effort is making local government more effective and public services more convenient for residents and businesses, as the province moves towards a smart, modern society.

From resolution to action

The Public Administrative Service Centre of Lai Thành Commune began operating on July 1, 2025, as the two-tier local government model took effect and a large number of administrative procedures were transferred to the commune level.

The centre handles an average of 60–80 applications a day. Without technology, long queues, missing information, errors in paperwork and repeated trips to submit additional documents would be common, discouraging people from using public services and eroding trust in local government.

Phan Thị Nhàn, who handles judicial affairs at the centre, said technology had made the biggest difference in online application submission and information look-up. With fewer manual tasks, staff have more time to guide residents through procedures, helping them avoid mistakes and reducing the need to resubmit documents.

Lai Thành scored 94.04 points on the 2025 index of service to residents and businesses, showing that reform has moved beyond slogans to measurable results. The index helps the local government identify its strengths and weaknesses, while residents can see real improvements in service quality.

Nguyễn Văn Bắc, deputy director of the centre, said digital technology had brought clear changes to administrative reform at the grassroots level. Records are now digitised and stored centrally, making them easy to retrieve and less prone to errors.

Residents can complete procedures online, saving time and money, tracking progress and receiving results with ease. Thanks to integrated population data, they also need to submit fewer documents.

In Khánh Hội Commune, digital technology is seen not as a passing trend but as a long-term solution to ease workloads, standardise procedures and improve efficiency.

The commune’s Public Administrative Service Centre has expanded online public services, introduced an automatic queuing system, and adopted digital signatures and electronic record storage. It has also created QR codes listing the procedures under its authority, allowing residents to look them up and prepare their documents in advance.

Lê Quang Huy, an official at the centre, said digitising procedures and publicising processes, deadlines and fees had made transactions more transparent, as residents can easily check and monitor their applications. Digital transformation not only shortens processing times but also strengthens administrative discipline, reduces mistakes and makes guidance clearer.

Khánh Hội plans to adopt more easy-to-use smart technology solutions suited to local conditions, helping staff guide residents, speed up service, reduce errors and delays, and improve the overall experience.

Local resident Mai Thị Dung said digital transformation had made administrative procedures faster and more convenient. With records updated online, clear and transparent procedures and shorter waiting times, residents now feel more confident handling their paperwork.

Towards digital government

In implementing the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW of December 22, 2024, Ninh Bình has stepped up efforts to raise awareness and build strong commitment to breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation across society.

The province has actively developed science, technology and innovation, as well as digital infrastructure, digital government, digital society, digital citizens and digital data. Digital transformation has also been widely applied in the operations of agencies and organisations in the political system and the two-tier local government.

All of the province’s communes and wards have now met all 16 criteria for promoting digital transformation in Phase 1, as monitored under the system implementing Resolution 57, laying a solid foundation for breakthroughs in 2026–2030.

At the provincial level, Ninh Bình has achieved “green” status, meaning excellent completion, on the monitoring map for science, innovation and digital transformation. It has also significantly improved its Provincial Innovation Index score, ranking 14th out of 34 provinces and cities nationwide.

The province has markedly improved administrative procedures, enhancing public services and driving socio-economic development. Online applications now account for 98.1 per cent of the total.

Tạ Quang Phương, deputy director of the provincial Department of Science and Technology, said digital transformation was not just about moving administrative processes online but about comprehensively changing how leadership and management work, with the aim of building a transparent, data-driven government.

The department has organised training courses to help agencies and units, especially at the commune level, use the administrative procedure information system effectively, while closely monitoring progress and promptly resolving problems as they arise.

Đinh Thị Lụa, Standing Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, said the province would focus on turning central policies and guidelines into programmes and plans suited to local conditions.

In the short term, Ninh Bình will improve institutions, mechanisms, and policies to boost digital transformation across its three pillars, the digital economy, digital government, and digital society, linked to smart urban development. It will also improve human resource quality and expand the application of science and technology across all areas of life to drive rapid, sustainable socio-economic development.

Administrative reform and digital transformation at the grassroots level are helping turn Resolution 57 into reality in Ninh Bình. Starting at the commune and ward levels, digital transformation is becoming a powerful driving force, helping the province build a modern government, improve public services, and offer residents an increasingly convenient and transparent experience. — VNS