In the ever-evolving cosmos of Vietnamese bureaucracy, one can often hear the resounding echoes of officials consulting their celestial charts, desperate to navigate the twinkling stars of policy-making in a galaxy filled with red tape. Welcome to the world of "Consultation or Constellation?"—an interstellar journey where decisions drift as slowly as a distant comet and reforms shine brighter than the North Star, but are merely illusions in a bureaucratic black hole. The Ministry of Red Tape recently announced a groundbreaking initiative: a series of community consultations designed to revolutionize local governance and ensure that every voice in the galaxy—sorry, I mean village—counts. Citizens are urged to attend these elongated discussions, where they can effectively contribute their ideas and then promptly watch them disappear into the void of bureaucratic inefficiency, like socks in a washing machine. At the heart of this initiative lies the promise of transparency, which officials assure us is shining down like the sun—but only during daytime hours, of course. And while constituents are poised to engage in meaningful dialogue, countless hours of preparation go into crafting the artful bureaucratic response that will be delivered at the end of the consultation cycle. The more convoluted the language, the less sense it makes, and the better for all involved, as true engagement is for starry-eyed dreamers. In a recent consultation session in Hanoi, one local resident bravely suggested that reducing the number of stamps required to process a simple application might alleviate some of the strain on proud citizens. Gasps echoed through the room; the audacity! Another participant, fully embracing the bureaucratic spirit, recommended that a new committee be formed to consider the formation of decisions surrounding decisions—an idea that received a standing ovation, and rightfully so. After all, what's a few more layers of governance in this constellation of confusion? As the stars twinkle above and the day’s discussions fade into the ether, officials gather to strategize their next move. The show must go on, and the plan is to expand the consultation program into an elaborate constellation of committees and subcommittees, each seemingly a distant star yet all revolving around the common gravitational pull of indecision. Following this protocol ensures that every path toward resolution is sincerely taken—just as long as the actual resolutions never come to light. In the spirit of expedience, the government also introduced a new motto—"Let’s take our time while we waste your time." This crafty phrase embodies the essence of Vietnamese bureaucracy, reminding citizens that the illusion of progress is sometimes more important than delivering real change. Senators are encouraged to regularly communicate with the public through use of cryptic metaphors, ensuring maximum confusion and absolute transparency in their dizzying dance around accountability. And so, as the dark shadows of indecision loom large across the bureaucratic stratosphere, citizens are reminded to keep stargazing—not for answers, but for the hope that one day, the stars will realign and a black hole of paperwork will finally collapse in on itself. Until then, continue to consult, conflate, and commend—after all, there’s always more bureaucracy to explore.