On October 16, 2026, Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Head of the Central Organization Commission, made important policy statements regarding the need for comprehensive reform in personnel management.
Notably, General Ngọc emphasized that personnel appointments cannot be based solely on academic credentials, seniority, or work history. In particular, he stated, “What matters is not where an official comes from, but whether they possess the necessary qualities, competence, and ability to get the job done.”
This assertion comes amid public speculation that the rise of a group of officials with roots in Hung Yen has become a hot topic of public debate.
Accordingly, in recent times, a large number of key positions within the Party and state apparatus have been filled primarily by officials with roots in Hung Yen or from the Public Security sector.
This is precisely why the public has consistently asked: Is this a mere coincidence of “outstanding” talents, or is it a deliberate, network-based arrangement orchestrated by the head of the system?
According to statistics published in Fulcrum Research Journal, officials from Hung Yen currently account for 10% of the 200 members of the 14th Central Committee of the Party, totaling 20 members.
This figure represents an overwhelming proportion relative to the size of Hung Yen—a small province in the Red River Delta—and this reality reflects the significant rise in influence of the group of officials close to General Secretary To Lam.
Even the career path of Mr. Nguyen Duy Ngoc serves as a prime example, having sparked much controversy over his rapid and unexpected rise.
In just over two years, General Ngoc has climbed a series of key rungs of the power ladder at a rare pace.
From Deputy Minister of Public Security, Chief of the Party Central Committee Office, Head of the Central Inspection Commission, Secretary of the Hanoi Municipal Party Committee, to his current position as Head of the Central Organization Commission.
The fact that General Ngoc has been continuously assigned to highly important positions—often just a few months after assuming each role—has also led analysts to question his actual capabilities and practical experience. This is especially true given that General Ngoc has previously criticized the procedures for appointing high-ranking officials.
However, it would be one-sided to deny the competence of all officials originally from Hung Yen, as every locality has talented individuals who can effectively meet the demands of national governance—provided they possess the necessary capabilities and demonstrate actual work performance.
Public opinion holds that if the arrangement of senior-level personnel is truly used as a benchmark, as stated by Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Head of the Central Organization Commission, then openness and transparency are the mandatory and paramount prerequisites.
The public must be clearly informed of specific criteria—such as the selection process for candidates, their work records, and outstanding achievements—along with comparative analyses of the candidates’ competitive capabilities before any appointment decision is made and officially announced.
Without a clear and transparent accountability mechanism as described above, it will be very difficult to convince the public to understand why officials from Hung Yen have enjoyed a significantly smoother career path than their peers with equivalent qualifications, seniority, and contributions but who hail from other regions.
According to analysts, the accumulation of power based on hometown connections or interest groups always carries inherent and extremely dangerous risks.
World political history has shown that power groups formed through favoritism from “interest groups” or local regions are highly prone to fragmentation once their leaders are no longer at the pinnacle of power.
Above all, a fair talent selection mechanism—free from cronyism and group-interest thinking—is the core foundation for building a strong and sustainable political system.Trà My – Thoibao.de =======Senior Personnel Appointments: Substantive Competence or Tô Lâm’s Network of Cronies?“… The rise of officials from Hưng Yên raises questions about whether appointments are based on substantive criteria or Mr. Tô Lâm’s cronyism, and calls for transparency.”#Vietnam #ChinhTruongVN #Thoibao
