Coordinating efforts in reviewing and conducting in-depth surveys of border areas to provide advice for provincial planning

On the afternoon of January 6, Comrade Ton Ngoc Hanh, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, and Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Council, chaired a working session with members of Task Force 142 (the Provincial Party Committee’s task force assigned to survey border areas in support of provincial planning) to hear reports on post-survey results.

Also attending the working session were Nguyen Tuan Anh, member of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, along with delegates and members of Task Force 142.

Ton Ngoc Hanh, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, and Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Council, chairs the working session. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Dong Nai Province has a 258.939-km border adjoining three provinces of the Kingdom of Cambodia: Mondulkiri, Kratie and Tbong Khmum. According to Government Decree No. 299/2025/ND-CP dated November 17, 2025, the province’s border area comprises eight communes: Loc Thanh, Loc Thach, Loc Tan, Tan Tien, Thien Hung, Hung Phuoc, Dak O and Bu Gia Map. The total natural area of these eight border communes is 4,619.11 km2, accounting for 3.62% of the province’s total area. These communes’ population exceeds 146,900 people, representing 3.27% of the provincial population. Of this figure, about 39,800 are ethnic minority people, making up nearly 27.09% of the population in the eight communes.

Regarding socio-economic conditions and border-area infrastructure development, in 2025, total budget revenue of the eight border communes was estimated at more than 1.8 trillion VND. All communes adjacent to the border have road access to their commune centers. The province has invested in and upgraded transportation infrastructure connecting to Hoa Lu International Border Gate via the main corridor along National Highway 13; Hoang Dieu Border Gate via the main corridor along Provincial Road 759B; and Loc Thinh Border Gate via the main route to Tan Thanh Border Guard Post along Provincial Road 759 to Tan Tien commune. The Loc Tan–Tuan Lung border crossing point is connected via the border patrol road.

Many roads connecting to border gates and crossing points have been and are being invested in for upgrading and expansion to facilitate connectivity and trade. These include the western road of National Highway 13, the Loc Hung–Loc Thanh district road, and the Loc Thai–Loc Thien district road.

Nguyen Tuan Anh, Member of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee and Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, presents a report at the meeting. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Cross-border import and export activities are mainly conducted through official channels, with the largest volume of goods traded via the Hoa Lu International Border Gate. However, in recent years, the province’s border trade activities have not achieved the expected results. In the first nine months of 2025, total import-export turnover through Dong Nai’s border gates reached 1,037 million USD, up 28.5% compared with the same period in 2024.

Representatives of Task Force 142 members and local authorities exchange views at the meeting. Photo: Nguyet Ha

There are 12 residential clusters adjacent to border militia posts and border guard stations, comprising 238 households with 860 people. Most households do not have stable employment; a small number of them work as teachers, members of the armed forces, or rubber plantation workers, while the remainder are engaged in informal occupations. Across the eight border communes, there are 69 educational institutions. Their facilities and equipment basically meet teaching and learning needs, with 63.46% of schools meeting national standards at Level 1.

The dissemination and implementation of directives from the central and provincial levels on the two-tier local government model have been carried out seriously, promptly and in a coordinated manner. Working regulations have been issued, with specific assignments clearly defined for commune chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of the commune People’s Committees, ensuring unified and effective administration without disruption following the transition to the new model.

The master plan for border gates along the Vietnam–Cambodia land border for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, was approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 1200/QD-TTg. Accordingly, during the period up to 2030, several border gates in Dong Nai province are expected to be newly opened or upgraded. The border area plays an important role in building a strong defensive posture while promoting local socio-economic development, improving living standards, strengthening national unity, and enhancing national defense capacity. These efforts contribute to firmly safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintaining political stability and a peaceful environment for national development. This will be achieved through the development of national defense–economic zones and the close integration of armed forces with economic, cultural and social development in the border area, thereby providing inputs for provincial planning.

After hearing the preliminary survey report conducted over two days (December 27, 2025, and January 3, 2026) by Task Force 142, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Ton Ngoc Hanh requested that departments and agencies, already organized into groups responsible for surveying economics, culture, society, defense, security, foreign affairs, and other areas, continue their coordination on in-depth surveys. They must clearly assess the current situation and potential, and report to the Provincial Party Standing Committee by January 15. During the survey and discussions, they are to consult further with expert advisors to clarify each professional field, accurately evaluate the current status and development potential, and provide recommendations to support the province’s planning efforts.

Comrade Ton Ngoc Hanh emphasized that regarding certain proposals for planning in border-area localities, the departments must coordinate to review issues previously planned by Binh Phuoc province. Issues that remain relevant should continue to be proposed for implementation, while those no longer suitable should be recommended for removal or adjustment. Departments should also propose additions and make recommendations to ensure effective planning and utilization of the border area.

The Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee requested that during the review process for adjusting and supplementing the planning, experiences from neighboring provinces and cities such as Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, and the border provinces of the Kingdom of Cambodia should be studied. This will ensure that border gate areas are efficiently utilized while safeguarding national defense and security, and maintaining sovereignty over the border territory.

Regarding the survey proposal to open a new border gate in the Dak O area and certain suggestions from the border guard forces, Comrade Ton Ngoc Hanh requested that the provincial Military Command, the Provincial Border Guard Command, and the Department of Finance carefully study the matter and advise the province on supporting the initiative to open a new border gate in this area, as well as other proposals that align with planning and ensure defense and security responsibilities.

By Nguyet Ha – Translated by Huyen Trang, Thu Ha