Vietnam's communist government plans to radically streamline its bureaucracy in the coming months, reducing the number of government bodies from 30 to 21 in what has been described as an institutional "revolution."

The proposed reforms will merge several major ministries, including finance and investment, while dissolving commissions run by the ruling Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) and state-owned media organizations.

On November 25, the party's Central Committee approved the plan. The reforms are expected to be finalized by April next year, leaving Vietnam with 13 government ministries, four ministerial-level agencies and four additional government bodies.

One of the most significant changes involves the Ministry of Finance merging with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to form a new "super ministry" called the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.

Additionally, Vietnamese state media has reported that the Ministry of Transport will merge with the Ministry of Construction, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Communist Party and the rubber-stamp National Assembly will also undergo restructuring. For instance, the party's Central Commission for External Affairs and the National Assembly's Committee for Foreign Relations will be absorbed into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Further down the hierarchy, several state-run media outlets, chiefly radio stations, will be dissolved, with their staff redirected to larger news organizations.

While specific figures have not been disclosed, the........

© Deutsche Welle