High hopes for Dong Nai to soon achieve its infrastructure development goals

With the vision of building Dong Nai into a “green, prosperous, civilised and modern” province, the development of transport infrastructure has been identified as one of the three strategic breakthroughs of the Provincial Party Organization for the 2025-2030 tenure. On this basis, the province is accelerating key projects, mobilising resources, and implementing synchronised, decisive measures.

Local residents have high expectations that Dong Nai’s infrastructure development goals will soon be achieved, enabling the province to thrive within the Southeast region.

Major infrastructure projects are underway

Several key national works and large-scale transportation projects are being vigorously implemented across Dong Nai Province. Among them, Long Thanh International Airport (Phase 1) stands as the largest infrastructure project in the country, currently under construction using a "three-shift, four-team" approach. It is targeted for basic completion by the end of 2025 and for commercial operation in early 2026. Once operational, the airport will become a hub for regional aviation transit, opening up tremendous opportunities for the development of Dong Nai and the Southern Key Economic Region.

The Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway connects Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City and is expected to open to traffic by late 2025. Photo: Pham Tung

The Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway is regarded as a strategic project linking Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City, establishing a direct trade corridor between industrial zones, logistics centers, seaports, airports, and tourist areas. The expressway is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, the elevated road project along National Highway 51, stretching from the Vung Tau T-junction to the intersection of Vo Nguyen Giap Road and the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, has been approved in principle by the Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee and authorised by the Provincial People’s Committee for the investor to prepare the proposal dossier. The project is expected to commence construction by the end of 2025.

In addition, several public-private partnership (PPP) projects, including the Cat Lai bridge, the Long Hung bridge, and numerous provincial roads (such as Routes 769, 770B, and 773), are in the process of mobilising investment capital amounting to tens of trillions of dong.

Notably, regarding the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh section of the western North-South Expressway, the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee has launched a 90-day campaign for land acquisition, compensation, support, and resettlement. The provincial authorities aim to basically complete compensation and site clearance, handing over the land to the investor by December 2025, thereby ensuring the disbursement of allocated public investment capital. The expressway, stretching nearly 129 kilometres, of which more than 100 kilometres run through Dong Nai, has a total investment of over VND 25.5 trillion.

According to Ho Van Ha, member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, this is a national key project of strategic significance for socio-economic development and national defence security, not only in Dong Nai but also across the Southeast and Central Highlands regions. Once completed, the route will form a new economic corridor connecting raw material areas and industrial zones, promoting trade, logistics, and improving people’s livelihoods.

These milestones demonstrate that the province is entering a more decisive implementation phase, from planning and procedures to public mobilisation and land clearance, in order to achieve the goal of enhanced connectivity and strengthen the competitiveness of both the province and the region amid new socio-economic demands.

Transport projects are expected to become operational as soon as possible

The vigorous developments of infrastructure investment have raised high expectations among the people of Dong Nai for a new look for their homeland in the near future.

Le Song Kim, a resident of Long Thanh commune, shared: "Since the airport construction began, the surrounding roads have been widened, and traffic has become smoother. We hope the province will soon complete the connecting roads to make travel and livelihoods more convenient. Everyone is eagerly waiting for the day Long Thanh Airport becomes operational."

A resident from Nha Bich commune, Vo Thanh Phuong expressed: "My house is subject to clearance for the Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh section of the western North–South Expressway. When local officers explained the compensation and support policies clearly, we agreed right away. We hope the project will be completed soon so that the new road will facilitate trade and goods transportation for the people."

The Resolution of the First Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress for the term 2025-2030 identifies the core task of completing a strategic, synchronised, and multi-modal infrastructure system. The province focuses on addressing traffic bottlenecks and expanding development space, while coordinating the implementation of railway lines, including the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau line, the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh International Airport line, and the North-South High-Speed Railway. Dong Nai also plans to build new roads connecting economic zones, urban areas, ports, and airports; upgrade ports and waterways; develop high-quality logistics and commercial service centres; and establish a smart, inter-regional, and international logistics network.

For the business community, improved transportation infrastructure will serve as a "golden lever" for attracting investment.

Nguyen Van Hai, owner of a transport enterprise in Nhon Trach commune, remarked: “If the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway and Cat Lai bridge are completed, our logistics costs will drop by at least 20-30%. This will speed up goods circulation and create a significant competitive advantage for the area.”

Transport infrastructure development is now viewed as a strategic move and a “lever” for Dong Nai’s rapid and sustainable growth. With strong political determination, close guidance from the provincial leadership, and public consensus and support, the province’s key infrastructure projects are certain to be completed on schedule, supporting socio-economic development in the new phase.

By Kim Lieu – Translated by My Le, Thu Ha