Vice Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee Ho Van Ha: Groundbreakings of Cat Lai and Long Hung bridges represent concrete results of a “historic” working session

On January 15, Dong Nai Province will hold commencement, groundbreaking and technical opening ceremonies for seven projects in the province to celebrate the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. These include the Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge projects, linking Dong Nai to Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking with reporters from Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television, Member of the provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee Ho Van Ha said that the groundbreakings of the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridges represent tangible outcomes of a ‘historic’ meeting held nearly three months ago between the Standing Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and the Standing Committee of Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee.

Ho Van Ha, Member of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee. Photo: Pham Tung

Unlocking resources and development potential

* Of the seven projects scheduled for commencement, groundbreaking, and technical opening on January 15, Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects have attracted considerable public interest. Could you outline how the two localities have worked together to advance these projects, particularly the Cat Lai Bridge?

- Making breakthroughs in infrastructure development is a strategic task in Dong Nai’s growth strategy, including breakthroughs in transport infrastructure development to strengthen connectivity within the Southeast Region and between Dong Nai Province and Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, the groundbreakings of the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects are significant events aimed at unlocking resources, space, and development potential that Dong Nai has yet to fully exploit. In the period ahead, Dong Nai plans to press ahead with transport, urban, seaport and logistics projects to support economic growth in the Southern Key Economic Region and beyond, while leveraging the advantages of Long Thanh International Airport.

Regarding the Cat Lai Bridge project, it has been in the making, long championed by leaders and residents on both localities for more than three decades. On Oct. 21, 2025, the Standing Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and the Standing Committee of Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee held what was described as a ‘historic’ meeting, agreeing on a roadmap for transport links between the two localities. The projects go beyond improving connectivity, reflecting long-standing ties between the neighbouring localities. Apart from these two projects, in the coming period, the two localities will continue to coordinate in rolling out a series of other transport connectivity infrastructure projects under the spirit of deepening cooperation and promoting shared development.

The Cat Lai Bridge, a long-awaited transport project linking Dong Nai province with Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Pham Tung.

* In Notice No. 420-TB/VPTW dated November 17, 2025, issued by the Party Central Committee’s Office on the conclusions of Party General Secretary To Lam during a working session at the construction site of the Long Thanh Airport Project, held in November 2023, the Party General Secretary To Lam had endorsed Dong Nai’s proposal to raise the planned population of the Long Thanh and Nhon Trach urban areas to at least 2.5 million. How do you see the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects influencing this population expansion of these two urban areas?

- In the Conclusion Notice No. 420, Party General Secretary To Lam gave the green light for Dong Nai to explore raising the planned population of the Long Thanh and Nhon Trach urban areas to at least 2.5 million, providing a political basis for factoring the adjustment into the province’s master plan and recalibrating development space for the two urban centres.

Running through the Long Thanh and Nhon Trach urban areas, the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridges are expected to act as powerful catalysts for urban growth, expanding the space available for population redistribution across the region. Once Long Thanh International Airport comes into operation, the development of logistics centres, industrial zones and new urban areas is also expected to gather pace, driving further population inflows. Together, these dynamics are set to ease long-standing bottlenecks in allocation of space for urban and production areas, providing both a major opportunity and a “lodestar” for Dong Nai as it translates Conclusion No. 420 into action.

There is a clear, real demand for social housing across the province

* Three social housing projects are scheduled to break ground on the upcoming January 15. In 2025, Dong Nai also launched a number of social housing schemes. How would you assess the province’s efforts to expand social housing?

- Transport infrastructure and social housing are among the key areas receiving special attention from Dong Nai Province. As Vietnam’s leading industrial hub, Dong Nai province draws a large workforce, creating strong, real demand for affordable housing. As a result, social housing development has received sustained attention from the provincial Party Organization. In 2025, Dong Nai surpassed the Government’s targets for social housing development.

Dong Nai surpassed national targets for social housing development in 2025. Photo: Pham Tung

* What factors have driven Dong Nai’s strong performance in developing social housing?

- The progress achieved owes much to the strong, unified leadership of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, underscored by the issuance of Resolution No. 07-NQ/TU dated August 22, 2022 by the Provincial Party Committee Executive Board on the development of worker housing and social housing for the 2021–2025 period in the province.

In carrying out the programme, the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee has made land availability as one of the most critical factors in the development of social housing. The province has so far allocated around 700 hectares of public land and an additional nearly 300 hectares from the statutory 20% set aside in commercial housing developments for social housing projects.

The Provincial People’s Committee has also instructed the Department of Construction to hold architectural design competitions for social housing projects to enhance amenities and narrow the gap between social housing and commercial housing.

Recognizing the genuine demand for social housing in the province, Dong Nai plans to roll out a series of projects to serve residents, especially workers in industrial zones. This workforce is seen as a vital contributor to the province’s development. Therefore, ensuring stable housing and livelihoods for this workforce is a top priority. The province has stressed that social housing development must proceed without delay – the sooner, the better.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Tam Binh, Thu Ha