“Solution” for traffic infrastructure investment resource problem

In recent times, a number of investors have proposed participating in transport infrastructure projects in the province through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. As Dong Nai faces a substantial need for capital to fund its transport initiatives, the involvement of private investors is seen as a potential solution to the province’s resource challenges, helping to gradually build a modern, well-connected transport infrastructure system that meets development demands.

Dong Nai has approved the consortium of investors proposing elevated road projects along National Highway 51.

The attractiveness of transport projects

In early September 2025, Construction Corporation No. 1 Joint Stock Company(CC1) had a meeting with the Provincial People's Committee to propose investment plans for 2 transport infrastructure projects in the province, including the bridge replacing the Cat Lai ferry (Cat Lai Bridge) and Long Hung Bridge (Dong Nai 2 Bridge) under the PPP method.

At the meeting, CC1 representatives presented investment plans for the two projects with BOT (build-operate-transfer) and BT (build-transfer) contract types, with payment from the budget or land fund.

Le Bao Anh, General Director of CC1, assessed: Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge projects are important regional transport infrastructure projects for Dong Nai province in particular and the entire Southeast region in general. With the desire to participate in implementing the projects as quickly as possible, the investor has thoroughly researched the plans to propose to the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee.

Speaking on behalf of Dong Nai province, Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha stated that the Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge projects are essential for completing the region's transport infrastructure network. Regarding the Cat Lai Bridge project specifically, in addition to CC1, another investor has also submitted a proposal to undertake the project.

Earlier, in early August 2025, the Provincial People's Committee received a proposal from Dai Quang Minh Real Estate Investment Joint Stock Company requesting approval to prepare a project dossier for the construction of a road connecting Dong Xoai to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City via Provincial Road 753, Ma Da Bridge, and the connecting route from Ma Da Bridge to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City. As part of this, for the section under Component Project 1 (proposed by the investor), which involves building approximately 13 kilometers of elevated roadway over the Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve, the company proposed to carry out the project under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, in the form of a build-transfer (BT) contract.

In addition to the above projects, the Provincial People's Committee has also approved the consortium of investors proposing elevated road projects along National Highway 51, extending the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to Tran Bien, Long Thanh International Airport (airport) and developing the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) urban model under the PPP method.

On September 11, 2025, the Government issued Decree No. 243/2025/ND-CP detailing several provisions of the Law on Investment in the form of public-private partnership (PPP). The decree outlines procedures for approving investment policies for PPP projects, as well as the authority and process for project approval, in accordance with the updated regulations on the decentralization of authority under the PPP Investment Law.

Maximize resource mobilization

Investing in the synchronous construction of a transport infrastructure system, especially transport infrastructure connecting Long Thanh Airport, regional and inter-regional connections, is one of the breakthrough development tasks of Dong Nai province.

With that motto, in recent times, Dong Nai has allocated many resources from public investment capital to participate in key national transport infrastructure projects implemented in the province, as well as projects invested by the locality.

Dong Nai province is currently working with neighboring localities to implement a range of regional transport infrastructure projects, including the construction of key road bridges such as Cat Lai, Ma Da, and the connecting route to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Hieu Liem, Thanh Hoi, Xom La, Tan An, and Tan Hien. At the same time, the province is carrying out investment projects to build, upgrade, and expand a series of transport routes aimed at improving connectivity between local areas and Long Thanh Airport. Completing these projects will require a massive investment, estimated in the hundreds of trillions of VND.

According to the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, the province has allocated several thousand billion VND from its public investment capital to support key national infrastructure projects being implemented locally. These include the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh, and Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressways; Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City; and the upgrade and expansion of the Dong Xoai - Chon Thanh section of National Highway 14.

According to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha, given the substantial resources required to invest in transport infrastructure projects across the province, relying solely on public investment is not sufficient to meet demand. Therefore, it is essential to diversify investment models and maximize the mobilization of social resources to accelerate the development of a comprehensive transport infrastructure system that meets growth needs.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho