Tô Lâm, leading Vietnam’s Central Steering Committee for Institutional Perfection and Law Enforcement, has mandated a deadline of 2026 for significant advancements in institutional reform, administrative simplification, and legal modernization. He emphasized the need for government bodies to achieve substantial outcomes, moving beyond mere symbolic actions. During the committee’s inaugural meeting in Hanoi, attended by senior officials including Lê Minh Hưng and Trần Thanh Mẫn, Tô Lâm underscored the importance of tangible progress, which should be reflected in finalized legal documents, streamlined administrative procedures, and the resolution of legal hurdles, alongside clear leadership accountability.
To ensure immediate action, Tô Lâm directed ministries and agencies to start implementing the committee’s resolutions promptly. He also called for the creation of monitoring systems and regular reporting channels to track task completion, delays, and issues that may require intervention from higher authorities. The committee focused on several priority sectors such as enhancing the state economy, fostering favorable conditions for foreign investment, reducing bureaucratic obstacles, tackling urban air pollution, and amending the criminal procedure framework.
In terms of foreign investment, the committee highlighted the necessity for competitive policies that promote technology transfer, research and development, workforce training, green transformation, and digital innovation. It stressed enhanced oversight of strategic investors and better regional coordination to attract foreign capital. Additionally, to combat air pollution in major urban areas, officials recommended a shift to outcome-based air quality management. This approach should be supported by modern environmental monitoring systems, stronger early-warning mechanisms, and clearer accountability for pollution sources.
The committee also advocated for making administrative reform a continuous responsibility of government bodies, rather than a temporary initiative. This involves greater reliance on post-inspection oversight and risk-based governance methods, instead of excessive pre-approval requirements. In relation to judicial reforms, officials are examining revisions to the Criminal Procedure Code to strike a balance between efficient crime prevention, fairness, asset recovery, and support for socio-economic development.