Key drivers for Dong Nai's double-digit growth

Besides relying on traditional growth drivers such as boosting public investment disbursement, production, consumption, and exports, Dong Nai province has also identified additional key drivers to promote socio-economic development, aiming to achieve double-digit growth targets in 2026 and throughout the 2026-2030 period.

Long Thanh Airport urban area serves as one of the main and important drivers of Dong Nai province's growth. Photo: Pham Tung

Transport infrastructure, Dong Nai River corridor, and border gate economic zone

According to the Action Program of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee on achieving double-digit growth in 2026 and throughout the 2026–2030 period, the Long Thanh International Airport urban area, the Dong Nai River urban corridor, the Hoa Lu Border Economic Zone, as well as the network of expressways and urban railways (metro) will serve as major drivers for the province’s socio-economic development in the coming years.

Long Thanh International Airport is one of the largest transport infrastructure projects nationwide, currently under construction in Dong Nai Province. In recent years, even during its investment and construction phase, the project has already made a significant contribution to the province’s growth. In 2026, when Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport is scheduled to begin commercial operations, the project is expected to generate new driving forces for economic development, marking an important turning point for growth and international integration.

At a working session on January 10 between a working delegation from the Party Central Committee's Commission for Policies and Strategies and Standing Board of the Steering Committee for the development of the Project on “Strategic solutions to promote double-digit economic growth in the new era - the era of Vietnam’s rise” with the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, Truong Thi Huong Binh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Director of the Department of Finance expected that once officially operational, Long Thanh Airport will drive the formation of a chain of value-added services surrounding the airport, such as aviation logistics, distribution centers, free trade activities, finance and banking services, hotels, conference facilities, and smart urban development.

Alongside Long Thanh Airport, expressways, and metro networks are also transport infrastructure components that are expected to create significant momentum for Dong Nai’s growth.

Speaking at a meeting on January 9 to prepare for the construction commencement, groundbreaking and technical traffic opening of several projects, Ho Van Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee, emphasized that 2026 will continue to be identified as a “year of transport infrastructure” for Dong Nai. In addition to accelerating the completion of key transport projects, the province will also launch a number of other projects to gradually complete a synchronized, modern, and regionally connected transport network to meet development needs.

Regarding the area of Dong Nai River corridor, the province also aims to develop it into an urban development corridor along the Dong Nai River, linked with high-end services. The Dong Nai River development corridor, with the Dong Nai riverside boulevard and the Long Thanh Airport urban area, will be an important growth pole in the southern part of the province.

Meanwhile, in the northern area, Dong Nai will continue developing the Hoa Lu Border Gate Economic Zone, creating a new growth driver for the region. The specific development goals for this zone include promoting cross-border trade, logistics services, agro-forestry processing, and strengthening international trade connectivity toward the northwest.

“It is expected that once operational, the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) will contribute around USD 11.8 billion (equivalent to approximately VND 312 trillion) to the state budget from land lease revenues, while tax revenue from organizations operating in the zone is estimated to reach about VND 8–10 trillion per year.”

TRUONG THI HUONG BINH, Director of the provincial Department of Finance

Long Thanh Airport – the “nucleus” of growth

Among Dong Nai’s key development drivers in the coming period, Long Thanh Airport holds a particularly important position. Beyond contributing to shaping urban development, the airport is also one of the factors in the formation of the province’s FTZ.

The Long Thanh Airport urban area, spanning 43,000 hectares, will become a center for aviation services, logistics, international trade, finance, conferences, and modern urban areas, contributing to the expansion of urban-industrial-service growth, which is closely linked with Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, Dong Nai’s FTZ, spanning nearly 7,500 hectares, is expected to become a center for international logistics, distribution, as well as trade, financial, and aviation services. The zone is identified as an important driver for promoting the development of high-tech industries, supporting industries, and enhancing Dong Nai’s role in global supply chains.

Further analyzing the positive economic impact of the Dong Nai’s FTZ once it becomes operational, Truong Thi Huong Binh noted that the zone will help form new spearhead economic sectors, contributing an estimated 1.5–2.5% to GRDP growth and promoting positive economic restructuring of the province. Once operational, the FTZ is expected to contribute around 8–10.5% of Dong Nai’s GRDP.

In addition, once operational, the FTZ is expected to attract foreign investment and improve labor productivity not only within the zone but also across other production and business sectors in the province. By 2030, it is expected to attract around 150,000 high-quality employees and train approximately 50,000 engineers and technology experts for key industries. At the same time, the FTZ will become a major contributor to Dong Nai’s state budget revenue.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Thuy Trang, Thu Ha