Loc Ninh strives to become a modern commercial and service hub

Loc Ninh must vigorously develop trade and services in close connection with urban planning – this was the direction given by Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Le Truong Son, at the first Congress of the Loc Ninh Commune Party Committee for the 2025–2030 tenure.

National Highway 13, linking Ho Chi Minh City with the Hoa Lu International Border Gate, passes through Loc Ninh, creating major advantages for the locality in developing transportation business services

Thanks to its favourable geographical position and its inter-regional and international transport links, Loc Ninh has been translating the provincial leadership’s guidance into concrete actions, gradually shaping itself into a dynamic commercial and service centre in the border area.

Advantages leveraged

Loc Ninh commune stretches along National Highway 13, a vital trade axis connecting the southeastern provinces of Vietnam with neighbouring Cambodia. The commune also lies close to the Hoa Lu International Border Gate, which plays a crucial role in economic development, tourism, and import–export activities. These conditions offer significant advantages for the commune to expand transport services, border trade, and goods-supply chains.

In practice, Loc Ninh has already been zoned for a spacious bus station in the commune centre, where 24 enterprises are registered to operate a total fleet of 89 vehicles of various types, serving thousands of passengers and handling large volumes of goods each day.

Tran Thi Thanh Phuong, Director of the Loc Ninh Commune General Service Centre, said: “Loc Ninh benefits from National Highway 13 running through the locality, adjacent to Binh Long – a dynamic and bustling urban area, and the large volume of goods cleared daily through the Hoa Lu International Border Gate. It is also the central area for neighbouring communes of the former Loc Ninh District. For this reason, trade activities here have grown strongly, and the bus station has become increasingly busy. With recent upgrades and expansion, the station has attracted more enterprises, meeting demand for passenger travel and goods transport.”

Loc Ninh is home to residents from many parts of the country, with a population exceeding 32,000. Combined with the large number of travellers passing through, demand for consumption and shopping continues to rise, providing ample room for the rapid development of commercial and service activities.

“To implement the direction of the provincial leadership at the first Congress of the Loc Ninh Commune Party Committee for the 2025–2030 tenure, which emphasises investing in trade, services, and urban development in the border area to improve living standards, the People’s Committee of Loc Ninh Commune has set out the following orientations: First, continue investing in technical infrastructure, especially roads, markets, and commercial centres. Second, call for investment in residential areas and commercial urban projects already approved in the commune's zoning plans. Third, attract enterprises to establish factories and production facilities, thereby creating jobs and drawing more residents to live and work in the locality. Fourth, request the provincial authorities to expedite the development projects of the Hoa Lu Border Gate Economic Zone, in which many areas are located in Loc Ninh Commune. Fifth, receive the transfer of local historical sites from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism so that Loc Ninh can promote historical and ecological tourism.”

NGUYEN VAN TRONG, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Loc Ninh Commune

Beyond the upgraded traditional market, the commune has more than 2,000 retail and service establishments, including food, beverage, and lodging services. Notably, the presence of the Go supermarket chain has added a new highlight to Loc Ninh’s emerging urban centre. The mini Go Loc Ninh supermarket covers 5,784 square metres, with a 1,850-square-metre shopping area that opened in December 2024. It currently serves 800 to 1,000 customers per day from across the region. In addition, an increasing number of convenience-store chains, such as Bach Hoa Xanh, Dien May Xanh, and The Gioi Di Dong, have been invested in and put into operation in Loc Ninh, marking a significant step forward in modern retail infrastructure. These developments offer local residents and visitors more spacious, diverse, and convenient shopping options.

Pham Thai Binh, Manager of Bach Hoa Xanh Ninh Thinh in Loc Ninh Commune, shared: “Loc Ninh has a large and stable population, ensuring a steady customer base. This allows Bach Hoa Xanh to thrive here. Local authorities also provide strong support with security, utilities, and administrative procedures, creating very favourable conditions for our operations.”

Prioritising trade and service development

Loc Ninh commune was formed by merging Loc Ninh township, Loc Thuan commune, and Loc Thai commune, with a total natural area of over 73.42 square kilometres. Although these areas were mainly agricultural, after the merger, trade and services still accounted for 24% of the local economic structure. The sector has maintained stable growth, with services expanding widely. Goods supplies remain stable, fully meeting the consumption and production needs of residents within the commune and neighbouring areas.

The Resolution of the first Congress of the Loc Ninh Commune Party Committee for the 2025–2030 tenure sets a clear priority on significantly increasing the share of trade and services in the commune’s economic structure. In 2025 alone, Loc Ninh aims to achieve retail service revenues of 2.265 trillion VND. This goal is being implemented through a series of programmes and plans already underway.

Loc Ninh is a land rich in revolutionary history, having served as the resistance capital during the anti-US resistance war. In addition to its strategic location, the area hosts several major provincial projects that have been zoned and are now being implemented. With its inherent strengths and favourable investment policies, Loc Ninh will undoubtedly become a border urban area and a bright spot for trade, services, and tourism in Dong Nai province in the near future.

Le Thanh Lam - Translated by My Le, Thu Ha