Vietnam proposes merging four national target programs

Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has proposed a plan to consolidate four existing national target programs into a single, comprehensive program titled ‘National Target Program for Socio-Cultural, Rural, Ethnic, and Mountainous Development’ for the 2026–2035 period.

Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan stated that the integration aims to eliminate overlapping objectives, reduce administrative procedures, and streamline management to improve state budget efficiency. The four programs to be merged include those focused on culture, education and training, new rural development/poverty reduction/ethnic minority development, and healthcare/population/development.

The drug prevention and control program through 2030 will remain separate due to its unique nature. The proposal includes establishing a unified framework for policies, criteria, and responsibilities, alongside a mechanism for monitoring and capital reallocation. The plan is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for decision-making during the second session of the first extraordinary meeting of the 16th National Assembly.