‘Friendly government’ serving citizens

Getting closer to the people

In August 2026, after office hours, when many government offices had already closed, officials from the Public Administration Service Center of Kinh Mon Ward still went to the homes of elderly people, people with disabilities and those facing difficulties with mobility to assist them with administrative procedures.

Nguyen Van Tan in Kinh Ha residential quarter, Kinh Mon Ward, has been bedridden for years and is unable to go to a government office himself to complete procedures authorizing the receipt of monthly support for poor households. When officials came to his home and helped him complete the procedures, joy was evident on the face of the man who had spent many years confined to his bed. Tan was moved that he would now receive VND 2 million in monthly support from the city, but more than anything, he appreciated the feeling of being cared for and supported by the authorities.

The closeness of the authorities is reflected not only in handling administrative procedures but also in meaningful moments in people’s lives. On a Saturday morning in early August 2026, the People’s Committee of Le Chan Ward was filled with joy as the “Happy Saturday” model, launched in July 2026, was implemented. Couples coming to register their marriages were presented with certificates, flowers and congratulatory letters.

For bride Nguyen Thi Phuong Anh and groom Tran Manh Cuong, it was a beautiful memory on one of the most important days of their lives. A bouquet of flowers and a simple congratulatory message made their joy more complete, while helping people feel more clearly the closeness and warmth of the authorities.

Building an innovative, action-oriented administration

What the “friendly government” models have in common is a shift in the mindset of public service: the authorities do not simply wait for people to come to them but proactively reach out, listen and share in their specific needs and difficulties.

This is also the core spirit of Resolution No. 05 of the City Party Committee on building and implementing a number of models of socialism associated with socialist people in Hai Phong in the 2026 – 2030 period and subsequent years.

According to Hoang Van Duc, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs, the city began implementing the “friendly government” model in 2024 and has continued to step up its implementation while operating the two-tier local government model.

In 2026, the city applied, for the first time, a set of criteria with four core requirements: openness and transparency; friendliness and service to the people; professional and responsible officials; and green, civilized and modern government offices. This has helped make the model more substantive and effective.

The city aims to have 80% of communes and wards meet the “friendly government” standards by the end of 2026 and reach 100% in 2027. However, behind these figures is a greater goal: building an administration that is truly developmental, incorruptible and action-oriented in serving the people.

When ‘friendly government’ becomes a daily practice in every commune, ward and special zone, changes from the grassroots level will contribute to building a civilized and happy Hai Phong City, where every citizen is respected, listened to and served with responsibility and dedication.

MY ANH