Access to local land use plans remains limited on a national scale despite the provisions of the 2013 Land Law and the 2016 Law on Access to Information which mandate the posting of local land use master plans and annual land use plans for public view in various forms, including on digital platforms. According to the 2021 PAPI survey, only one-fifth of respondents nationwide said they were aware of local land use plans since 2011.

This article is the second excerpt from the 2021 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) Report. It presents key findings from the 2021 PAPI citizen surveys on how local governments performed in delivering on their mandates and public services across the eight PAPI dimensions.

The 2021 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) Report, released on May 10, shows improvements in basic infrastructure as citizens experienced better roads, water supply and sanitation, while many respondents reported less crime as lockdowns and travel restrictions may have helped improve law and order. There were, however, gaps in the national pandemic response with increasing governance challenges, concerning shifts in indicators tied to COVID-19, and a deterioration in household economic confidence.

UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen has highlighted the importance of the findings from the 2021 PAPI Report for deepening the understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on democratic governance that can help support the governments in preparing for future economic and health crises.