Dong Xoai through multiple makeovers

As preparations for the 2026 New Year are underway, the streets of Dong Xoai ward in Dong Nai province are adorned with colorful flags and banners, celebrating the 51st anniversary of Dong Xoai’s liberation on December 26.

Aerial view of Dong Xoai ward. Photo: Phu Quy

For those who were in the “land of fire” during the early days of Binh Phuoc province’s re-establishment, and witnessed Dong Xoai’s name tied to successive new administrative units, the place stirs nostalgia and affection, deepening their love for the land.

From a remote village

Twenty-eight years have passed, yet I still remember the emptiness I felt the first time I set foot on the “land of fire,” Dong Xoai, in 1997. Back then, it was still a small township, and Binh Phuoc province had just been re-established. Days of relentless rain turned the road from a humble eatery on Provincial Road 741 to my lodging into a mud-soaked red track. Houses were sparse and dilapidated across the township. A few households had to stretch tangled wires from afar just to get a dim reddish light, while most relied on oil lamps. It was peak dry season, and the sun scorched fiercely under the influence of El Nino. Withered orchards suffered from water shortages, and dusty red roads coated leaves in grime. Traveling those streets, by evening, dipping your clothes in a basin of water would turn the fabric red. Dust got into eyes, nose, ears, and hair. As a result, everyone covered their faces to protect against the sun, wind, and dust.

And rainy season arrived. The rains in the Southeast region were unlike those anywhere else, bringing sudden, heavy downpours. Early showers washed away thick layers of dust from branches and leaves, revealing fresh, vibrant cashew, rubber, and pepper foliage. Dense plantations quickly covered the hillsides, promising abundant harvests and creating a sense of peace with endless green connecting the countryside - a hallmark of the Southern landscape. Once the economic and political center of Binh Phuoc province, Dong Xoai still lagged behind district centers such as Binh Long, Phuoc Long, and Loc Ninh. In the early days of the province’s re-establishment, provincial officials worked in temporary offices at the township’s People’s Committee building. Staff shortages and low pay made the workload intense, and everything had to be built from scratch. In these difficult conditions, the empathy, support, and encouragement from provincial leadership during modest communal meals helped retain those committed to serving and developing the region.

Through multiple transformations

On January 1, 2000, just three years after Binh Phuoc province was re-established,  Dong Xoai was officially upgraded from a townlet to a town. For local residents, who spent long days working under the sun in their fields, the new status brought a sense of pride and a fresh identity.

Residents gradually adapted to urban life, familiarizing themselves with numbered houses and named streets. With improvements in transport and electricity infrastructure, alongside the construction of the provincial administrative center and urban development projects, Dong Xoai quickly transformed into a bustling hub. Cashew farms and fruit orchards gave way to eateries, shops, and budget guesthouses, followed by restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers catering to officials, locals, and tourists.

The Dong Xoai Ward Veterans’ Association launches a solar-powered street lighting project in Tan Thanh 2

Eighteen years later, this locality took on a new title - Dong Xoai City. Honestly, I could never have imagined that one day this small town would grow into a city, given the unique challenges it faced. Even with the most optimistic outlook, it required a long period of sustained effort from the Party committee, local authorities, and every resident along with support from central ministries and agencies, for Dong Xoai to overcome these difficulties and achieve city status.

Amid the nationwide efforts to streamline the administrative apparatus and merge provinces, Dong Xoai once again underwent significant changes. On July 1, 2025, Dong Xoai Ward was formed by merging Tien Thanh Ward and Tan Thanh Commune, covering 81.33 square kilometers with a population of over 35,800. Strategically located, the ward is connected to the Be River, Phuoc Hoa Lake, the Suoi Cam terraced lakes, and about 700 hectares of public land. Planned road networks link it to National Highway 14, Provincial Road 741, the expressway, and neighboring communes, making Dong Xoai a key transport hub that connects northern Dong Nai to Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, and the Central Highlands, while boosting regional integration.

Building a smart and sustainable Dong Xoai

Starting from Tien Thanh Ward (recently upgraded from a commune) and Tan Thanh Commune - areas still largely agricultural - the local authorities have outlined a practical roadmap to transform Dong Xoai into a smart and sustainable city.

The 2025–2030 Party Congress of Dong Xoai Ward aims to position the ward as a key driver of provincial development. The Party Committee has laid out a clear roadmap to transform Dong Xoai into a smart, sustainable city worthy of its historic heritage. By 2030, per capita income is expected to rise by 60% from 2025, with all households connected to the national power grid and provided with safe, clean water.

Dong Xoai is set to become a modern, eco-friendly city by 2030, with rising per capita income and trade and services serving as the main economic drivers, gradually establishing itself as a hub for services and tourism in Dong Nai Province. Industry and construction account for 54.8% of the economy, trade and services 35.6%, and agriculture 9.6%, with a shift toward high-tech and value-chain production. The city expects 50 new enterprises and 200 newly registered businesses.

Driving slowly through the morning mist along streets lined with royal poinciana and bougainvillea, Dong Xoai takes on a serene, almost magical atmosphere under the streetlights. Twenty-eight years since I chose this place as my home, I have witnessed its multiple transformations The titles of townlet, town, and then city have all been associated with the name Dong Xoai, and now it is Dong Xoai Ward. Regardless of its title, the pride and attachment felt by those who were born, raised, and worked here through challenging times reflect the profound changes and achievements the ward has made today.

By Linh Tam - Translated by Tam Binh, Thu Ha