TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sipping green tea in his rose garden, former communist party official Nguyen Van Cuong said he is "unemployed but happy" after Vietnam laid off 80,000 state roles this week.
However, feeling anxious at home after leaving a public job that was once seen as a lifetime position, Nguyen Thi Thu said she felt "empty" about a future no longer certain.
Vietnam is currently in the midst of a dramatic restructuring of its civil servants, with 100,000 positions scheduled to be eliminated. The government in Hanoi justifies this move to streamline the bureaucracy and boost the economy.
On Monday, 80,000 roles were cut as most provinces and cities in the Southeast Asian country were merged.
Mixed feelings are among the newly unemployed officials -- communist party officials whose jobs were once guaranteed.
"It truly is a waste for the country to lose people like me," said 56-year-old Cuong, who served in the Bac Giang province outside Hanoi as reported by France24 on Sunday. Bac Giang was merged into the neighboring province's government.
The government stated that those involved in the reorganization will either be dismissed or offered early retirement.
Cuong revealed that he could have remained in his position -- or even been promoted -- but chose to accept a $75,000 payment for the remaining six years after 30 years of service in the state.
"It's time to get rid of so much political intricacy in the country," he said.
The sweeping reorganization overseen by Vietnam's top leader, To Lam, echoes the steps taken by US President Donald Trump and Argentine leader Javier Milei to cut government spending towards "efficiency".
Former district-level secretary Thu admitted she may not have been able to manage the workload as management prioritized performance.
The 50-year-old woman felt she had no choice but to resign when her office was relocated to the Mekong Delta province in An Giang, over 70 kilometers from her home.
"I resigned, not because I wanted to quit my job," Thu said. "It's better to resign than wait for a dismissal order."
Vietnam -- a global manufacturing hub -- recorded an economic growth of 7.1 percent last year. Hanoi targets an eight percent growth for this year as it competes to achieve "middle-income country" status by 2030.
However, the country faces obstacles from its major trading partner, the United States.
Trump threatened a 46 percent tariff before settling for a 20 percent tariff in a deal announced on Wednesday -- five times the duty before he took office for the second time.
Vietnam's deputy finance minister said the new administrative structure will bring "strong scales to connect strong businesses and economic infrastructure" and create "greater socio-economic development".
Lam, the general secretary of the Communist Party, stated on Monday that "the decision to reshape the state is a historic milestone with strategic significance" aimed "to continue on our socialist path for the happiness of the people".
However, for Thu, the future is now unclear. "I don't know what to do next," she said.
While busily playing with his phone and chatting with friends online, Cuong said he has no regrets about his voluntary layoff.
He feels that Vietnam may be the only country that will lose what he can offer. "I can still contribute more to the state sector," he said.
Editor's Choice: Indonesia Seeks Lower Tariffs Than Vietnam in Ongoing U.S. Negotiations
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Elon Musk Creates 'America Party' After Split with Trump
35 menit lalu
Elon Musk stated that he has 'formed' his new political party named 'America Party.'
Ukraine Strikes Russian Electronic Weapons Facility as Putin and Trump Speak on Phone
4 jam lalu
Ukraine targets a Russian military facility in Cheboksary, a day after Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the invasion began.
Trump, Netanyahu to Discuss 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire in Washington
13 jam lalu
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to meet in Washington on Monday, July 7, 2025. They will discuss a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza.
South Korea to Distribute Cash Aid to Citizens in Effort to Boost Economy
1 hari lalu
South Korea's Cabinet has approved an additional budget of about Rp 378.5 trillion for direct cash assistance.
Trump to Expand Residence Permits for Migrant Farmworkers
1 hari lalu
President Donald Trump is willing to allow migrant workers to remain in the United States as long as they are guaranteed by farmers or employers who hire them.
U.S. Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran's Oil Trade, Hezbollah
1 hari lalu
The U.S. government has announced new sanctions targeting Iran and Hezbollah to pressure them to return to nuclear negotiations.
Today's Top 3 News: Indonesia Seeks Lower Tariffs Than Vietnam in Ongoing U.S. Negotiations
2 hari lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Microsoft's Another Wave of Layoffs: Over 9,000 Employees Affected
2 hari lalu
The Microsoft Gaming Division, including Xbox, has become one of the units most affected by the recent wave of layoffs.
Hamas Weighs New Ceasefire Offer, Urges End to Gaza War
2 hari lalu
Hamas has announced that it is currently reviewing a new proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
Indonesia Seeks Lower Tariffs Than Vietnam in Ongoing U.S. Negotiations
3 hari lalu
Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto hopes for better tariff terms with the U.S. than Vietnam secured.
