Home to the country's first industrial park established over 60 years ago, Dong Nai has grown into one of Vietnam's leading provinces in both the number and scale of industrial parks (IPs).
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| A panoramic view of Chien You Vietnam JSC's factory in Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park. |
From the nation’s first IP to a leading industrial hub
Established in 1963 and operational by 1964, the Bien Hoa Industrial Zone (formerly known as the Bien Hoa Industrial Complex, now located in Tran Bien Ward) was the first industrial park in Vietnam and in Dong Nai province. Having fulfilled its historical role, the province has decided to convert the area's land use from industrial to urban-commercial-service, with a focus on environmental restoration. In the near future, this site is expected to become a premier hub for administration, commerce, and services in the province, exerting vast regional influence.
Building on its experience with the country's first industrial park, Dong Nai steadily expanded its network of industrial parks following national reunification, and especially after the launch of economic reforms. In the early stages, only state-owned enterprises were involved in investing in, managing, and operating industrial park infrastructure. Over time, private investors and international partners, primarily from Thailand and Japan, also entered the market. Pioneering state-owned infrastructure developers included Sonadezi and Tin Nghia, followed by major Thai, Japanese, and domestic private corporations that have continued to expand the province's industrial park system.
Early establishment and rapid expansion of IPs made Dong Nai an attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), drawing major global corporations such as Cargill (USA), Vedan, Tripod, Formosa (Taiwan), Nestlé (Switzerland), Hyosung, Changshin (South Korea), Ajinomoto, Lixil (Japan), and C.P., Amata (Thailand). Many of these companies used Dong Nai as their launching pad before expanding across other provinces and cities nationwide.
A notable high-tech investor is Germany's Bosch Group, which operates a CVT belt manufacturing plant for automobiles in Long Thanh Industrial Park. Covering over 16 hectares, the Bosch plant is among Dong Nai's top FDI contributors in terms of both revenue and tax payments.
Brendan Sunderland, Vice Chairman and Technical Director of Bosch Vietnam, emphasized the company's long-term commitment to investing in high-tech in Vietnam. "Bosch will continue collaborating and contributing to digitalization, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing in Vietnam, as well as supporting the aspirations of local communities," he stated.
A new chapter after the provincial merger
As of July 2025, Dong Nai has officially merged with Binh Phuoc Province to form the new, unified Dong Nai Province. This merger has significantly enhanced the province's development potential by combining resources and advantages from both former provinces, including industrial zones previously located in Binh Phuoc.
As a result, Dong Nai now boasts 81 planned industrial parks spanning more than 39,000 hectares, with 59 having been established, covering a total of 21,700 hectares. In late 2025 and early 2026, several new IPs are expected to commence development, including Phuoc An, Bau Can – Tan Hiep, Xuan Que, and Song Nhan.
Simultaneously, numerous infrastructure investors are exploring opportunities to expand the IP network. For instance, Techtra Infrastructure Investment and Development JSC (based in Binh Phuoc Ward) is conducting feasibility studies for the Southeast Dong Phu Industrial Park, which would cover approximately 2,000 hectares.
Tran Quoc Nguyen, Chairman of Techtra, confirmed that the company has secured the necessary financial resources and is now ready to move forward. "We hope the province will facilitate our registration and approval process as soon as the regional master plan is finalized," he said.
Developing modern and eco-industrial parks
For years, Dong Nai has adopted a selective approach to investment attraction, particularly for industrial projects. As one of the earliest provinces in Vietnam to develop industrial parks and attract foreign direct investment (FDI), Dong Nai has also faced environmental challenges alongside its economic growth. To address these issues, the province has prioritized high-tech, low-land-use, and high-value-added industries, aiming to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainable development.
Beyond selective project-level investment, Dong Nai is now actively promoting the development of eco-industrial parks (EIPs). Amata Industrial Park is the province's pioneering model in this direction.
Pham Anh Tuan, Senior Director of Water and Environment Management at Amata Bien Hoa Urban JSC, the park's investor, explained: "Sustainable development and circular economy models generate both economic and environmental benefits. At Amata, we are building industrial symbiosis systems that help reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency. These practices not only improve environmental outcomes but also meet export standards. Future Amata industrial parks, such as those in Quang Ninh or the Long Thanh High-Tech Park, are also being developed with an ecological orientation."
Building on the Amata model, Dong Nai plans to expand its eco-industrial initiatives in other parks, including Long Duc, Phuoc An, and Bau Can - Tan Hiep. These developments aim to establish green, closed-loop industrial zones that attract sector-focused investments, enabling integrated supply chains and industrial symbiosis.
In recent years, Dong Nai has attracted significant investor interest due to major infrastructure projects, including the Long Thanh International Airport, Phuoc An Seaport, and a growing network of expressways, railways, and highways. However, the current land availability within existing industrial parks is insufficient to meet demand. In response, the province is accelerating administrative procedures to develop new industrial parks.
According to Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc, Dong Nai has set out a roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with industry identified as one of seven priority sectors. In addition to measures such as greening existing industrial parks and factories, selectively attracting new investment, requiring clear roadmaps, and implementing emissions reduction, the province is also focused on developing green, ecological industrial parks that meet net-zero standards. Dong Nai has called on industrial park infrastructure investors and local businesses to accelerate green transformation in the industrial sector, aligning economic growth with environmental protection.
By: Vuong The
Translated by: Hong Van - Minho
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