HANOI—Since assuming the role of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam has announced an ambitious vision for the future of the country. At the heart of this vision is a transformative period, coined as “The Era of Vietnam’s Rise.” This new era entails sweeping institutional changes aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring the well-being of the Vietnamese people.
To Lam’s ambitious reforms include a wide array of structural adjustments designed to streamline government operations, reduce redundancy, and improve public services. Among the most significant changes are a reduction of the number of ministries, a decrease in the overall size of the government and Communist Party workforce, and a restructuring of the police system across the country.
In perhaps the most drastic measure, the government plans to consolidate the nation’s 63 provinces and centrally-governed cities into 34, a move intended to promote more efficient governance.
Observers abroad have taken notice of these monumental shifts within Vietnam’s governing apparatus. Some have made comparisons between Vietnam’s institutional overhaul and the simultaneous dismantling of government institutions currently underway in the United States under the leadership of Elon Musk and the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).
While surface-level comparisons might suggest some initial similarities, a deeper look reveals that the objectives and methods of these restructuring efforts could not be more different.
The most glaring difference lies in the intended beneficiaries of these reforms. In Vietnam, the Communist Party’s reforms are explicitly designed to benefit the Vietnamese people by improving government efficiency, reallocating resources to social welfare programs, and ensuring continued economic growth.
Conversely, the changes being implemented by DOGE in the United States are overwhelmingly aimed at dismantling public institutions to the detriment of the American public, serving only the interests of the wealthiest segments of society.
In Vietnam, the government has been transparent about the motivations behind its reforms. According to official statements, the money saved from downsizing the government apparatus and streamlining operations will be redirected toward critical public welfare programs. Most notably, the Vietnamese government recently announced that, starting with the upcoming school year, public education will be tuition-free for all students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This groundbreaking policy is intended to improve educational access, ensure equal opportunities for all citizens, and foster a more educated and capable workforce.
Such measures stand in stark contrast to the changes in the United States, where the Trump-Musk administration recently initiated the complete dissolution of the Department of Education. While Vietnam is actively expanding educational access and investing in the future of its young people, the United States is moving in the opposite direction, depriving its population of essential services and opportunities in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy and increased privatization.
Furthermore, the Communist Party of Vietnam has declared that funds saved through this institutional “revolution” will be invested in affordable housing projects aimed at addressing the nation’s urban housing shortage. This shows that even with these changes, Vietnam remains committed to ensuring that the country’s economic growth goes hand in hand with social progress.
Meanwhile, the United States is witnessing a profoundly different scenario. Under the direction of DOGE, essential social safety nets such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are facing severe funding cuts. The administration’s focus on austerity measures disproportionately harms the most vulnerable segments of U.S. society, while redirecting resources toward corporate interests and the wealthiest citizens.
While the results of Vietnam’s ambitious reforms remain to be seen, the government has been forthright about the challenges ahead. General Secretary To Lam has cautioned that if the reforms associated with “The Era of Vietnam’s Rise” fail, the nation risks stagnating economically and falling into the so-called “middle-income trap.” This transparency is intended to encourage public support for the party’s agenda and the government’s policies, while also fostering a sense of collective responsibility for the nation’s future.
The Communist Party of Vietnam has set a clear goal that by 2045 the nation will achieve high-income, developed status and continue progressing toward the construction of socialism. Achieving this objective requires not only institutional reforms but also a deep commitment to the welfare of the Vietnamese people, economic modernization, and technological advancement.
In stark contrast to Vietnam’s socialist, people-centered reforms, the structural changes being enacted by DOGE in the United States serve only to deepen existing inequalities. By dismantling public institutions, slashing welfare programs, and prioritizing corporate profits over human well-being, the Trump-Musk administration is actively undermining the quality of life for the vast majority of Americans.
Ultimately, the differences between these two approaches to governance reflect fundamentally different political ideologies. While the Communist Party of Vietnam pursues structural reform with the goal of improving the lives of its citizens and advancing the country’s development, DOGE’s agenda is rooted in the neoliberal impulse to dismantle public institutions for private gain.
Only time will reveal the full impact of Vietnam’s sweeping reforms. However, the intent behind them is clear—building a more prosperous and forward-looking society, which is in stark contrast to DOGE’s chainsaw approach, which only serves the billionaire capitalist class. In the end, while both countries may be restructuring and reducing the number of government institutions, the intentions and consequences could not be more different. One strives to uplift the people, while the other risks abandoning them altogether.
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