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A new draft of the Capital Law presented to government officials this week proposes giving authorities in Hanoi more power; citizens of the capital receive more benefits accompanied by more stringent standards; and violators will be penalized more severely. As reported by Tuoi Tre, the proposal states that laws in Hanoi could differ from that of the central government but would be confined by the boundaries of the national constitution. Some officials believe that allowing more autonomy will assist in the city’s breakthrough in development and ascertain its position as the brain trust, capital and heart of the country.

If the newly drafted Capital Law is approved, it could be interpreted that the central government has taken a step toward sharing its power with local authorities. Local authorities will likely have local knowledge that more effectively promote innovation and progress, which can be incorporated into laws when addressing each locality’s needs. While local authorities have the autonomy to change the laws, the central government has the ability to monitor progress and retract power at will, thereby providing a check and balance mechanism to ensure that local authorities are on the right track. If local authorities fulfill their duty to jump-start development in Hanoi, the central government can focus its attention on other pressing issues.

Given that Hanoi is the capital and is granted special treatments, the future success of such power sharing strategies should similarly be replicated in other cities to promote widespread progress throughout the country. As Hanoi is the heart of Vietnam, other cities represent the various body parts, and all body parts need to be healthy in order for the body as a whole to function properly.

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