Dong Nai accelerates expansion of key transport routes

Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport is expected to begin commercial operations by late 2026. Concurrently, many new industrial parks are under construction, driving up demand for passenger and freight transport. Therefore, Dong Nai City needs to promptly expand expressways, ring roads, and national highways to meet development needs in the new phase.

It has been proposed that the Dau Giay–Long Thanh expressway section be expanded to 10 lanes to ensure coordinated operation with the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh Expressway expansion project currently under construction.

Upgrading critical transport infrastructure

In August 2025, construction officially commenced on the project to upgrade and expand the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh section of the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway. Investment in expanding this section is a critical requirement to facilitate traffic once Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport becomes operational, as it will be the main route between Long Thanh Airport and Ho Chi Minh City during the initial phase of operations.

Officially completed and opened to traffic in 2015, the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway has played a vital role in connecting Dong Nai City with Ho Chi Minh City and the broader southeastern region. However, due to rapidly increasing traffic volumes, the four-lane expressway became overloaded shortly after it opened.

In the southern part of Dong Nai City, in addition to the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway, the Phan Thiet–Dau Giay Expressway has been in operation since 2023. Furthermore, the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway, Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway, and Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 are all scheduled to become fully operational in 2026. A common characteristic of all these projects is that they are being developed with a four-lane capacity.

In addition to expressways and ring roads, the national highway system, particularly the section of National Highway 1 passing through Dong Nai City, has long been congested.

Given this situation, plans to expand expressways, ring roads, and national highways in Dong Nai City, especially in the southern area, must be accelerated.

According to Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai City Party Committee Vo Tan Duc, central authorities are currently proposing investment for Phase 2 of the Long Thanh Airport project. Consequently, municipal authorities must also prepare plans to expand the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway and Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 to create vital transport arteries as Long Thanh Airport enters operation in successive phases.

Planning expansions of key expressway sections

In early June 2026, the Ministry of Construction sent a document to 11 localities, including Dong Nai City, seeking feedback on the pre-feasibility study report for expanding sections of the Eastern North–South Expressway.

According to the Ministry of Construction, in line with the medium-term public investment plan for 2026-2030, the ministry has organized the preparation of a pre-feasibility study report for the Eastern North–South Expressway expansion project, which aims to expand sections from four to six lanes.

The Eastern North–South Expressway passing through Dong Nai City consists of three sections: Phan Thiet–Dau Giay, Dau Giay–Long Thanh (part of the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway), and Long Thanh–Ben Luc. These sections have now been completed and are operating as four-lane expressways.

In addition to expressways and ring roads, Dong Nai City has also requested that central authorities consider expanding the National Highway 1 section through the city to six to eight lanes.

Previously, during a working session between the Central delegation and the Standing Board of the Dong Nai City Party Committee, the city requested that the Central Government prioritize investment in regional infrastructure projects connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Long Thanh Airport. Specifically, Dong Nai proposed expanding the Long Thanh–Dau Giay expressway section to 10 lanes to ensure coordinated operation with the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh Expressway expansion project currently under construction. At the same time, the city proposed expanding the Phan Thiet–Dau Giay Expressway in accordance with the plan for six to eight lanes and expanding the section of Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 passing through the city to eight lanes.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho