Snail-Paced Progress: 10 Provinces and Cities Grappling with Surplus Public Assets

Delays in Asset Handover Leave Hundreds of Communes Without Vehicles

Regarding the handling of surplus assets following the implementation of the two-tier local government system, the Department of Public Asset Management under the Ministry of Finance reported that, as of September 30, over 14,050 land and property facilities have been processed. An additional 13,759 facilities across 34 provinces and cities still require processing.

Periodic statistics indicate a positive implementation pace, with the number of facilities needing processing gradually decreasing.

However, the Ministry of Finance noted that several localities have yet to finalize asset allocation decisions, despite having complete or partial handover records. These include Nghệ An, Hưng Yên, Đắk Lắk, Tây Ninh, Vĩnh Long, An Giang, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Ho Chi Minh City, and Đồng Tháp.

The Ministry of Finance has issued an official dispatch requiring these localities to review, update, and finalize their public asset handling plans by October 15.

According to reports from local authorities, 263 communes in provinces such as Sơn La, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Đà Nẵng, Hưng Yên, Gia Lai, Lâm Đồng, Ho Chi Minh City, Đồng Tháp, and Vĩnh Long still lack vehicles for general operations.

The Ministry of Finance has requested the Chairpersons of Provincial People’s Committees to direct the transfer or procurement of new vehicles to equip these communes, ensuring each has at least one vehicle according to public vehicle standards. This must be completed by October 2025.

In cases where communes are not eligible for general-purpose vehicles under current regulations, localities must clearly notify and remove them from the reporting list to ensure accurate and compliant statistics.

Additionally, 467 communes in provinces like Sơn La, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Bắc Ninh, Hưng Yên, Gia Lai, Ho Chi Minh City, Đồng Tháp, and Vĩnh Long still lack adequate machinery, equipment, and communication lines for operations.

The Ministry of Finance has urged the Chairpersons of Provincial People’s Committees to review and identify specific deficiencies, implementing solutions by October 2025. For new purchases or equipment upgrades, localities are required to allocate budgets proactively, combining central government support with other legal funding sources to ensure adequate infrastructure for reorganized agencies.

National Public Asset Inventory

The Ministry of Finance has issued a dispatch to all ministries, sectors, and localities nationwide, guiding the implementation of Directive No. 23 by the Prime Minister on leveraging the results of the national public asset inventory and enhancing public asset management and utilization.

The Ministry emphasizes that ministries, sectors, and localities must urgently review and issue necessary documents within their jurisdiction, covering expense allocation, usage standards, and authority delegation for public asset exploitation and handling. Special attention should be given to infrastructure assets such as transportation, irrigation, markets, and cultural and sports facilities at the commune level.

Determining the value of unaccounted assets is a key focus. The Ministry of Finance has issued several circulars guiding the determination of original and residual values for various infrastructure assets, including roads, railways, inland waterways, and irrigation systems. Assets not yet eligible for valuation will be temporarily recorded at a nominal value (1 VND) but must have complete information for effective management, investment, and exploitation.

The Ministry requires that investment, procurement, and repair budgets for public assets be closely aligned with actual usage. Projects and expenditures related to public assets must undergo rigorous appraisal to ensure necessity and compliance with approved standards.

The Ministry of Finance also mandates enhanced inspection and supervision of public asset management and usage compliance. Regular inspections must be conducted, with clear accountability for leaders and penalties for waste or violations.