Investing in infrastructure for modern new rural construction

As the leading province nationwide in new rural construction (NRC), localities in Dong Nai province are very focused on investing in technical infrastructure. In particular, concentrated agricultural production areas and specialized farming areas are prioritized for investment in transportation, irrigation, and electricity systems to meet production needs.

Xuan Phu commune receives attention for investing in spacious and clean transportation infrastructure. Photo: Binh Nguyen

For NRC in the 2021-2025 period, Dong Nai continues to focus on investing in the synchronous and modern development of rural infrastructure, linked with the development of high-quality agricultural zones, cultivation areas, and large-scale, modern livestock farming areas.

Impressive achievements

In NRC, localities in the province prioritize investment in rural transportation infrastructure, electricity, and water for daily life and production. In addition, educational and medical facilities also receive attention for upgrading, contributing to improving the quality of life for residents.

During the process of NRC, Dong Nai province always pays attention to investing in the development of remote, disadvantaged areas and ethnic minority communities, contributing to changing the face of rural regions and gradually narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas.

The border commune of Bu Gia Map began building new-style rural areas from a low starting point and faced numerous challenges, including low population density, a predominantly ethnic minority population, and a vast geographic area. During the 2020–2025 term, the commune has implemented 82 projects and works with a total capital of more than 83.7 billion VND, contributing to improved infrastructure and meeting residents' needs across various sectors.

As a result of this investment, 98% of households now have access to electricity. Waste is collected centrally, and cemeteries are planned in accordance with regulations.

Notably, the commune has effectively mobilized capital contributions from residents in the locality. Since 2021, the commune has invested in 16 kilometers of public lighting systems funded entirely by the community. Residents have also contributed more than 2 billion VND to asphalt rural roads under a specific local mechanism, and have participated in repairing and upgrading damaged rural roads.

In addition, the commune has met all other criteria related to investment in irrigation, electricity, housing, education, healthcare, and cultural infrastructure.

Xuan Loc is a leading locality in building advanced and model new-style rural areas in the province. This impressive achievement stems from the fact that, from the very beginning of the program, the commune clearly identified agricultural production development as a strategic breakthrough. A key condition for this was focusing on the coordinated development of economic, cultural, and social infrastructure, prioritizing investment in low-voltage electricity for production zones, upgrading irrigation systems, and paving inter-commune and commune-level roads with asphalt.

In the 2019–2024 period alone, total local resources mobilized for investment in the New-Style Rural Development Program reached tens of thousands of billions of VND, drawn from the state budget, business investments, and community contributions. As a result, transportation, urban, and service infrastructure have seen breakthrough developments. Rural transport systems have received significant investment, particularly in roads connecting communes, reaching hamlets, and concentrated production zones. Key infrastructure supporting production, such as in-field roads, rural electricity, irrigation canals, and weirs, has also been developed in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

 According to Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Van Thang, in the 2021-2025 period, agricultural production in the province developed well, and NRC achieved outstanding results. The agricultural sector structure shifted in the right direction, promoting the development of clean agriculture, organic agriculture, and high-tech agriculture. The province leads the country in the number of communes meeting model NRC standards, ranks second in the number of communes meeting advanced NRC standards, and has completed the pilot project for building Xuan Loc district to meet model NRC standards. To date, the provincial average is 18.66 criteria/commune. Among these, investment in rural transportation infrastructure, irrigation, and electricity for daily life, production has achieved many impressive results.

The draft Political Report of the Executive Committee of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, submitted to the 1st Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term (8th session), outlines key solutions for advancing agricultural production and sustaining the province's strong progress in new-style rural development.

Notably, the report emphasizes accelerating the restructuring of the agricultural sector; developing high-quality agricultural zones, large-scale cultivation and livestock areas using modern techniques; promoting rural industries; and expanding specialized farming zones. These efforts form the foundation for building a smart agricultural production system and positioning the province as a hub for agricultural product preservation and processing, as well as a center for plant varieties in the Southeast and Central Highlands regions. Among these, increased investment in infrastructure continues to be identified as a strategic breakthrough.

Le Cam Tu, Vice Chairman of Tan Loi Commune People's Committee (Dong Nai province), said: Tan Loi Commune is the gateway bordering the former Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai provinces, with many advantages in attracting concentrated livestock development. The commune's orientation in the coming time is to develop large-scale farm livestock, applying high technology. Therefore, it is hoped that the Provincial People's Committee and departments will provide policies and development orientations for the commune's land use, pay attention to allocating funds and creating conditions for the locality in preparing land use plans, especially prioritizing investment in electricity and transport infrastructure to attract investors.

In the time ahead, localities across the province will continue to aggressively implement the New-Style Rural Development Program, promote sustainable poverty reduction, and eliminate temporary and substandard housing. The Department of Agriculture and Environment must work closely with the Central Coordination Office for New Rural Development to proactively develop an implementation plan for the next phase of the program. A key target is to raise the proportion of rural households using clean water to 79%, with at least 43% supplied by centralized systems. These are core indicators directly tied to residents' quality of life.

Provincial Party Committee Member, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang

Sharing the same view, Nguyen Thi Dung, Chair of the Tri An Commune People's Committee (Dong Nai province), stated that the commune has strong potential for developing agricultural and eco-tourism. She proposed that the Provincial People's Committee prioritize investment in transport infrastructure, particularly key projects such as the Ma Da bridge, Provincial Road 761, and Provincial Road 742. She also expressed hope that the province would support efforts to attract investment in agricultural processing and deep processing industries linked to tourism development.

By: Binh Nguyen

Translated by: Mai Nga - Minho