Dong Nai to make a breakthrough with modern transportation infrastructure

In the context of increasingly deep integration and competition, transportation infrastructure is considered the “backbone” that helps Dong Nai province become a logistics and industrial center. With Long Thanh International Airport and expressways, the province has great opportunities for extensive connectivity. Therefore, local people expect that a modern transportation system, realized through the determination of the entire political system, will become the driving force for Dong Nai to rise strongly.

National Highway 1 section passing through Vung Tau intersection connects Ho Chi Minh City with the center of Dong Nai province and its industrial zones. Photo: Dang Tung

Expectations for infrastructure linked to people's and businesses' lives

Dong Nai province has long been identified as a locality with a strategic position in the country. Located next to Ho Chi Minh City, bordering many provinces in the Southeast, Central Highlands, and the Mekong Delta regions, and possessing over 258.9km of borderlines, Dong Nai not only plays a key role in national defense and security but also serves as a gateway for cross-border trade expansion. The Hoa Lu Border Gate Economic Zone is expected to become an important transit point linking domestic and international trade.

Over the years, Dong Nai’s transportation infrastructure has been gradually invested and developed into a system comprising road, waterway, maritime, and aviation routes. In particular, many important road projects have been completed and put into use, such as Phan Thiet – Dau Giay Expressway, Nhon Trach Bridge, and Bach Dang 2 Bridge. Meanwhile, several key transportation projects are under construction, including the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, and Ring Ho Chi Minh City’s Road 3 and Ring Road 4.

According to the Department of Construction of Dong Nai province, these projects will create an inter-regional connectivity network, shorten transportation time for goods, and reduce logistics costs for enterprises. Once completed, these routes will not only solve congestion problems but also boost trade between Dong Nai and the Central Highlands, South Central Coast, Mekong Delta, and Cai Mep – Thi Vai seaport cluster.

Nguyen Chinh Tan (Party member of Nhon Trach commune) stated that the expectations of the people and the business community lie not only in growth figures but also in the direct improvement of daily life. A synchronized transportation system will make travel more convenient and safer, reduce traffic congestion, and save time. Workers in industrial zones will be able to commute more easily; agricultural products will reach the market more easily; and commercial and tourism services will flourish. For businesses, lower transportation costs mean increased competitiveness, attraction of foreign investment, and the creation of more jobs and development opportunities.

However, Dong Nai is still facing several “bottlenecks” in its infrastructure system. Expressways connecting the North to Ho Chi Minh City through Dong Nai have not yet been fully completed. Routes from the Southwest passing through Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai often experience heavy congestion, affecting cargo transport. In addition, intra-provincial transportation, especially in urban, rural, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas, still lacks synchronization.

Nguyen Tien Sam (Party member of Tan Trieu ward) said that the people’s biggest expectation is that the province will focus on developing a synchronized and modern infrastructure system. In particular, expanding inland waterway transport to utilize the advantages of the Dong Nai, La Nga, and Thi Vai rivers is an important solution to reduce the load on roads. Developing public transport in conjunction with urban planning and connecting industrial zones with residential areas will create a high-capacity transportation network that both reduces congestion and protects the environment. At the same time, the province should prioritize developing transportation systems in remote areas so that all citizens can benefit from development achievements, leaving no one behind.

Identifying transportation as one of the four breakthrough areas in the 2020-2025 period, Dong Nai province is focusing on investing in expressways, ring roads, and provincial roads in parallel with the Long Thanh International Airport Project to complete the infrastructure system. By the end of 2025, Long Thanh Airport will be basically completed and expected to operate commercially in the first half of 2026. By then, Dong Nai will possess all five modes of transportation - road, railway, air, maritime, and inland waterway — fully connected in a synchronized and modern manner.

Comrade Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee

Taking people's aspirations as the “guiding compass”

Facing new development requirements, the Party Organization, authorities, and people of Dong Nai have demonstrated a high level of political determination in building a modern transportation infrastructure. The consistent direction is to develop transportation in connection with urban, industrial, and service planning, ensuring harmony between economic growth and improved quality of life.

This determination is first reflected in planning work, in which transportation infrastructure is placed at the center. Key projects such as ring roads, expressways, urban railways, inland ports, and airports have all been included in the plan, with close coordination among central ministries and agencies. This serves as the foundation for Dong Nai not only to resolve current limitations but also to proactively anticipate long-term development trends.

A prominent feature in the implementation process is the promotion of the roles of the people and enterprises. The “People know, people discuss, people do, people inspect, people supervise, and people benefit” motto has been thoroughly disseminated. Major transportation projects not only serve economic goals but also meet the legitimate aspirations of the people, taking the happiness and satisfaction of citizens as the measure of success.

Authorities, departments, and functional agencies continue to place people and businesses at the center of every decision, considering social consensus as the key to ensuring success. Every decision must be subject to supervision and accountability before the people. Each expressway, bridge, or airport is not only an infrastructure project but also a symbol of the unity of the entire political system.

The Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway is an important route connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Dong Nai province. Photo: Dang Tung

Dao Minh Tam, Vice Chairman of Nhon Trach Commune People’s Committee, Dong Nai province said that the process of infrastructure development is also associated with the goal of inclusive growth. Investment in transportation will go hand in hand with environmental protection, preservation of cultural identity, and ensuring social security. Priority will be given to routes connecting residential areas and industrial zones to improve living standards and narrow development gaps. This is a clear reflection of the province’s humanistic and fair policy spirit.

The determination of the Party Organization, authorities, and people of the province is not only reflected in their orientation but also concretized through practical actions: accelerating land clearance progress, mobilizing diverse resources, and strengthening coordination between central and local authorities. This is the driving force that turns determination into reality, helping Dong Nai quickly remove infrastructure “bottlenecks” and make strong advances.

Faith – Determination – Action are the core factors that will help Dong Nai overcome challenges and realize the goal of building a synchronized and modern transportation infrastructure system. This is not only the aspiration of the Party Organization and government but also the desire of approximately 4.5 million Dong Nai residents – those who directly benefit from the fruits of development.

By Dang Tung - Translated by Diec Quyen, Thu Ha