Long Thanh Commune on threshold of becoming a ward

At the first session of the 11th Dong Nai Provincial People's Council, 2026-2031 term, the Provincial People's Council voted to approve a resolution endorsing the policy of establishing 10 wards under the provincial administration, including the establishment of Long Thanh ward based on its existing natural area and population size.

As "home" to the "mega" airport project, Long Thanh, upon becoming a ward, is facing great opportunities to become one of the "core" urban areas of Dong Nai city directly under the Central government in the near future.

Long Thanh is located in the center of the Long Thanh Airport urban area. Photo: Pham Tung

At the heart of the airport urban area

Formed through the merger of Binh Son, Loc An, Long An communes and Long Thanh township, Long Thanh commune now spans more than 130 square kilometers and is home to nearly 96,000 residents.

Strategically located at the heart of the Southern Key Economic Region, about 40 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City center, Long Thanh sits adjacent to the dynamic industrial hub of Nhon Trach and the industrial-sea port complex of Ba Ria – Vung Tau. This prime location positions it as a crucial gateway and connectivity hub for regional urban development.

A defining feature of the locality is the Long Thanh International Airport project, currently under construction. As Vietnam’s largest airport, it is expected to serve as a powerful growth engine for both the country and Dong Nai Province, while opening up “golden” opportunities for Long Thanh to achieve a developmental breakthrough.

Perspective model of Long Thanh Airport urban area.

According to Le Hoang Son, Chairman of Long Thanh Commune People's Committee, the establishment of Long Thanh ward is a major policy of historic significance for the locality’s development. At the same time, it has also received very high public consensus. "This is reflected in  the overwhelmingly high approval rate in the public consultation on the project to establish Long Thanh ward," Le Hoang Son said.

Also according to Le Hoang Son, to go one step ahead, Long Thanh is currently developing a project and developmental plan until 2030, with a vision to 2050. Priorities are given to consolidating the management apparatus and rapidly converting administrative documents to serve the people. At the same time, it is promoting digital transformation, focusing on completing a synchronous technical infrastructure system with radial traffic axes, and developing social infrastructure through the construction of standard schools and healthcare facilities to realize the goal of becoming a central urban area.

Accordingly, once becoming a ward, Long Thanh will focus on synchronously investing in a modern technical infrastructure system, especially traffic axes connecting to the airport, lighting, power supply, water supply, and smart urban areas to create a foundation for sustainable development. Along with that, the locality prioritizes the strong development of high-quality social and commercial-service infrastructure such as: commercial centers, entertainment areas, chains of restaurants, hotels rated 4-5 stars and above, associated with the logistics ecosystem and aviation services.

The "mega" Long Thanh Airport Project is currently under construction in Long Thanh commune.

A gateway to global connectivity

To maximize the potential of Long Thanh International Airport, Dong Nai Province is planning to develop an airport urban model combined with a free trade zone (FTZ).

Among these, the Long Thanh Airport urban area, covering approximately 43,000 hectares and being aligned with the Dong Nai River development corridor, is envisioned as a major growth pole in the Southern part of the province. This area will host aviation services, logistics, international trade, finance, conference centers, and modern urban zones, contributing to an expanded industrial, urban, and service space while strengthening links with Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Long Thanh Airport urban area and the Dong Nai River corridor have been identified as two new key growth drivers in the provincial master plan.

Situated at the center of the Long Thanh Airport urban area, Long Thanh is poised to become an international “gateway” for Vietnam. At the same time, new spearhead economic sectors will be formed in the area, contributing to the GRDP growth of the province as well as the whole country. This is also a solid premise for the locality to attract foreign investment and experience, while enhancing labor productivity.

Master of Urban Management Phan Thi An, Deputy Director of the Center for Architecture and Rural Planning, Vietnam Institute of Architecture under the Ministry of Construction assessed that the emergence of the Long Thanh Airport urban area could create an opportunity to form a “mega-urban region” with the highest economic competitiveness, not only in Southeast Asia but globally.

In Notice No. 420-TB/VPTW dated November 17, 2025, of the Party Central Committee’s Office regarding the conclusion of Party General Secretary To Lam at his visit to work with agencies and units at the Long Thanh Airport Project construction site in November 2025, Party General Secretary To Lam approved Dong Nai province's proposal to research and adjust the planning to increase the population size of Long Thanh and Nhon Trach urban areas to 2.5 million people.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha