Cooperation to create breakthroughs in transportation infrastructure development

One of the key tasks set forth by the Resolution of the First Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress, for the 2025-2030 term, is to achieve a breakthrough in infrastructure development, particularly in transport infrastructure.

To implement the aforementioned breakthrough task, immediately after the successful First Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress, the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee recently organized a conference between the Standing Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and the Standing Board of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee to discuss solutions for connecting transport infrastructure between the two localities.

NATIONAL KEY PROJECTS PASSING THROUGH 2 LOCALITIES

Dong Nai holds significant potential and development advantages, particularly with Long Thanh International Airport, a national strategic infrastructure project that serves not only as an international aviation gateway but also as a regional connectivity hub, driving growth across the Southeast region and the entire country.

Comrade Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Dong Nai Provincial National Assembly Delegation, speaks at the conference on transport infrastructure connectivity solutions between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province. Photo: Huy Anh

Currently, to serve the connection to Long Thanh Airport, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City have coordinated with the Ministry of Construction to implement the following expressway projects: Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, Ben Luc - Long Thanh, Dau Giay - Tan Phu, Tan Phu - Bao Loc, expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, Phan Thiet - Dau Giay; Ring Road 3, Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City.

When Long Thanh Airport is put into operation, in addition to the above-mentioned connection routes, there is a need to invest in additional projects such as: Cat Lai Bridge, Phu My 2 Bridge, Long Hung Bridge (Dong Nai 2 Bridge) and strategic railway lines such as extending the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to the new Dong Nai Provincial Administrative Center and to Long Thanh Airport...

Providing an update on the current state of transport infrastructure connectivity between Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City, Provincial Party Committee Member and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha stated: In terms of rail and road transport, based on regional railway and roadway network planning schemes, there are currently five railway lines connecting the two localities (including two urban railway lines and three national railway lines), along with 45 road connection points (comprising 14 existing routes, 13 under investment implementation, and 18 planned routes not yet under implementation).

Dong Nai province acknowledges that without synchronized connectivity, opportunities will be lost; and with delays, it risks falling behind. Therefore, Dong Nai seeks to work with Ho Chi Minh City on establishing a clear roadmap for aligning transport infrastructure between the two localities, while also adding specific connection routes with a long-term vision for shared development.

Comrade Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Dong Nai Provincial National Assembly Delegation

Regarding waterways, this includes waterway routes and 12 cross-river ferry terminals that connect transportation between the two localities.

For public passenger transport and fixed routes, 118 vehicles are operating on 9 inter-provincial bus routes, with 504 trips/day, and 79 inter-provincial passenger coach trips.

The transport connection system between Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City primarily relies on three modes: road, rail, and waterway, with road transport being the main form.

However, with rising vehicle density, existing road routes have become overloaded, causing persistent congestion on routes such as National Highway 1 and National Highway 51. While efforts have been made in recent years to develop connection routes between the two provinces, such as ring roads, expressways, and regional linkages, they still fall short of expectations and actual transport connectivity needs, especially with the official operation of Long Thanh Airport.

The need for connectivity between Long Thanh Airport and Tan Son Nhat Airport is urgent to ensure their parallel operation, as Long Thanh Airport will take on part of the passenger and cargo load from Tan Son Nhat Airport once it becomes operational. Therefore, early research and implementation of additional transport connection projects, such as high-speed rail and connecting bridges on inter-regional roads, are critically important to meet transport connectivity needs, reduce travel time, and, in particular, help shorten the distance and travel time between Tan Son Nhat Airport and Long Thanh Airport.

NOT ONLY INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTION BUT ALSO CONNECTION OF AFFECTION AND COMRADESHIP

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, key national-level projects in the region, including those involving the two localities, have been effectively coordinated and implemented, such as Ring Road 3, Ring Road 4, and expressways including Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay, Ho Chi Minh City - Chon Thanh - Hoa Lu, Ben Luc - Long Thanh, and Phuoc An Bridge.

At the same time, studies have been conducted and submitted to the Prime Minister to supplement provincial and city planning, unify the governing bodies, competent authorities, and investment methods for major bridge projects connecting the two localities, such as Cat Lai Bridge, Phu My 2 Bridge, and Long Hung Bridge.

Coordination is also underway to study investment in extending Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Line 1 beyond S0 Station through Dong Nai province, connecting to the new administrative center and Long Thanh Airport.

At the recent conference on transport infrastructure connectivity with Dong Nai province on October 21, Comrade Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the Central Party Committee and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, emphasized: This meeting is not only about transport connectivity, but more importantly about fostering bonds of sentiment and comradeship, and engaging in substantive dialogue. Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai are “neighbors” who are exceptionally close and connected.

Following the merger, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province now have a larger scale, greater potential, and more pronounced advantages, along with increased responsibilities. As a result, there is much to share and cooperate on in pursuit of the common development of both localities.

The Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee stated that, first and foremost, the two localities must be genuine close friends, like family, before they can become strategic partners. Therefore, the two localities need to share specific plans outlining what needs to be done, especially regarding major bottlenecks, and develop clear orientations for resolving them. This undertaking involves site clearance for transport projects, specifically addressing and resolving discrepancies in compensation prices between the two localities.

By Phuong Hang - Translated by Diec Quyen, Minho