Transport infrastructure is the foundation for economic and trade growth

Transport infrastructure is the foundation for economic and trade growth. This was emphasized by Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee, in an interview with reporters from the Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television, as a number of key projects within the province’s multimodal transport infrastructure network are being accelerated toward completion.

Construction of Phuoc Khanh Bridge on the Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway. Photo: Thanh Hai

Dong Nai possesses a multimodal transport system

Could you provide an overview of the current state of Dong Nai’s transport infrastructure network?

Dong Nai is a province endowed with a highly convenient transport system, traversed by several major national routes. These routes have created favourable conditions for regional economic activities, facilitated trade across the country, and strengthened connectivity between the Southeast region and the Central Highlands.

The North–South high-speed railway, the North–South expressway, the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway, and the Ring Road 3 of the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area all pass through Dong Nai. The province currently operates expressways, such as the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay and Dau Giay – Phan Thiet routes. Several others, including Ben Luc – Long Thanh and Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressways, are under construction and nearing completion. In the future, additional routes such as the western North–South expressway, Chon Thanh – Hoa Lu, and Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh are expected to take shape. Ring Road 3 is being urgently finalised, while Ring Road 4 has already received approval from the National Assembly for investment.

Dong Nai is also home to national highways 1, 20, 51, 56, 13, 14 (Ho Chi Minh Road) and 14C. Plans up to 2030 include several new routes such as National Highway 13C (connecting Dong Xoai to Bien Hoa), National Route 20B (providing a connection to Long Thanh International Airport), National Highway 51C (connecting National Highway 51 to National Highway 1) and National Route 56B (connecting Long Khanh to Tay Ninh).

Currently, the only railway line passing through Dong Nai is the North–South line, with eight stations located in the province. By 2030, plans envisage the development of the North–South high-speed railway, the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau railway, Trang Bom – Hoa Hung railway, a railway connecting Phuoc An Port, and several urban rail lines such as Thu Thiem – Long Thanh and Bien Hoa – Nhon Trach – Long Thanh – Long Khanh.

The province has two main rivers used for inland waterway transport, including the Be river and the Dong Nai river, along with several tributary routes. Three maritime channels, such as Dong Tranh, Dong Nai, and Cai Mep – Thi Vai, allow vessels of 5,000–15,000 DWT to access the province. Notably, Dong Nai boasts Long Thanh International Airport, rated 4F (the highest level) under ICAO standards, and scheduled to commence operations in 2026.

The province currently has four operational inland ports, including Dong Nai, Phuoc An, and two dry ports (Tan Cang Nhon Trach and Tan Cang Long Binh). Under its planning, Dong Nai will have 11 dry ports in the vicinity of Long Thanh International Airport and the Chon Thanh and Hoa Lu dry ports. The province also manages four border gates (Hoa Lu International border gate, Hoang Dieu and Loc Thinh main border gates, and Tan Tien sub-border gate) along with one open crossing namely Loc Tan.

However, the province still faces certain limitations, including localised congestion, insufficient multimodal integration, and delays in key project implementation, all of which hinder its sustainable development goals.

Transport infrastructure serves as the “backbone” of the economy

How specifically does transport infrastructure contribute to Dong Nai’s economic and trade development?

The development of transport infrastructure serves as the “backbone” supporting Dong Nai’s economy. It facilitates the circulation of goods, attracts investment, and expands the province’s economic space, enabling Dong Nai’s efficient use of land, labor and strategic location advantages. The network of national highways, expressways, and ring roads linking Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City and other major economic zones has contributed to the province’s consistent GRDP growth over the years, particularly achieving double-digit expansion in the third quarter of 2025.

Investment in modernising transport networks has shortened goods delivery times, reduced logistics costs, and enhanced production and business efficiency, creating favourable conditions for enterprises to integrate into global supply chains. The interregional and international transport connectivity has enabled goods produced in Dong Nai's industrial zones to swiftly access both domestic and foreign markets, while enhancing the province's appeal to investors in processing, export, logistics, and commercial services. These advantages underpin Dong Nai's continued role as a growth pole within the Southern Key Economic Region.

The synchronised and modern transport infrastructure has also fostered urban and industrial expansion across the province. Major industrial parks, such as Amata, Long Duc, Giang Dien, and An Phuoc, have developed robustly due to their proximity to major transport arteries.

The Nhon Trach bridge on Ring Road 3 connecting Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City has been open to traffic for several months. Photo: Thanh Hai

Alongside industrial growth, Dong Nai’s trade and service sectors have also seen remarkable progress in recent years, thanks to improved accessibility brought about by transport infrastructure. The establishment and upgrading of arterial roads have paved the way for numerous commercial centres, warehouses, supermarkets, and modern retail outlets, boosting consumer demand and attracting new investments into commerce and services. As free trade agreements (FTAs) continue to expand export opportunities, a modern transport infrastructure is a prerequisite for Dong Nai to strengthen its role in international logistics network, enhance competitiveness in investment, production and business environment.

In addition to its positive contributions, Dong Nai's transport system still has some limitations that can hinder the pace of economic and commercial development. Traffic congestion on regional connecting routes, lack of synchronization between transport modes, and the deterioration of some local routes have increased transportation costs, affecting the competitiveness of goods. Unreasonable planning and the slow progress of key projects are also barriers to effectively exploiting the potential of existing transport infrastructure.

Solutions for developing a modern, integrated transport system

According to you, what is the solution to synchronously and modernly develop the transport infrastructure system to promote Dong Nai's economy and trade to grow faster and stronger?

To become a logistics and transport transit hub of the Southeast region, Dong Nai province needs a strategy to develop a modern, integrated transport infrastructure with high connectivity to key transport nodes, including Long Thanh International Airport, seaports, Inland Container Depots (ICDs), and the Hoa Lu International Border Gate. Priority should be given to constructing routes directly connecting Long Thanh Airport with Ho Chi Minh City, the provincial political-administrative centre, and major industrial and logistics zones. Strategic projects such as the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway, Ring Roads 3 and 4, and National Highway 13C must be expedited to establish a regional spatial linkage corridor linking Dong Nai’s urban, industrial, and logistics areas with neighboring provinces. Investment should also focus on bridges across the Dong Nai River, such as Cat Lai, Dong Nai 2, Xom La, and Thanh Hoi 2, to enhance connectivity with Ho Chi Minh City and seaports like Cat Lai, Hiep Phuoc, and Cai Mep – Thi Vai, thereby facilitating regional trade and the transport of import–export goods.

Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee. Photo: Tran Long Quan

Long Thanh International Airport, the seaport and river port system, ICDs, and international border gates can only reach their full potential when efficiently connected by a comprehensive transport network, making it convenient for transporting and coordinating goods. Solutions such as investing in strategic transportation axes, specialized railway systems, applying smart technology in traffic and logistics management, and enhancing the quality of human resources in the transportation and logistics industry need to be effectively implemented.

Rail transport plays a vital role in handling large cargo volumes and alleviating pressure on road transport. It is therefore crucial to accelerate the construction of rail links connecting ports and border gates, such as Bien Hoa – Vung Tau, Phuoc An Port, Long Thanh – Ho Chi Minh City, and particularly the route linking to the Hoa Lu International Border Gate. These projects will lay the groundwork for an efficient logistics network, lowering transport costs and supporting border economic development and international commerce.

Dong Nai should focus on developing advanced logistics centres equipped with modern technologies and automated warehouse and transportation management systems. The development of river ports, seaports, and ICDs with automated loading and unloading equipment, synchronized with railway, road, and waterway transport networks, will create a competitive advantage in the supply chains and strengthen international trade operations through the province’s gateways.

The province needs to proactively increase the proportion of public investment, allocating around 8–10% of GRDP for transport infrastructure development. At the same time, it should intensify investment attraction efforts through public–private partnerships (PPP) for projects with strong spillover effects such as expressways and railway links connecting ports and airports, ensuring rapid and efficient project implementation while avoiding delays caused by limited state budget resources.

Ultimately, human resources remain a crucial factor in managing modern infrastructure systems. Dong Nai should invest in education and vocational training, focusing on transport, logistics, infrastructure management, and traffic technology to meet the demands for sustainable development and the modernization of the transport sector.

Thank you for your time.

By Thanh Hai – Translated by My Le, Thu Ha