Trade and services maintain growth momentum

Dong Nai is among the country's most economically dynamic localities, home to a large number of enterprises involved in production, business, import-export, and the development of trade and services.

Consumers shop at Co.opmart Bien Hoa supermarket.

Boosting consumption stimulus, promoting local products

During the 2020–2025 term, despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, global economic fluctuations, and shifting consumer preferences, the province's trade and service sector has made strong efforts to overcome challenges and has recorded positive results, maintaining its growth momentum.

According to statistics, in 2020, Dong Nai's total retail sales of goods and service revenue reached over 183 trillion VND. In 2021, although the COVID-19 pandemic led to negative growth across many economic indicators, total retail sales of goods and services still rose by nearly 3 percent compared to 2020.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, Dong Nai province currently has 194 traditional markets, 9 shopping malls and 19 supermarkets, along with convenience store chains and mini supermarkets that are continuously expanding…

In 2022, the province’s total retail sales and service revenue saw a strong recovery, reaching nearly 234.2 trillion VND, up more than 24 percent compared to 2021. By 2023, total retail sales of goods and services rose to over 262.6 trillion VND, an increase of nearly 12.2 percent year-on-year. In 2024, trade and service activities continued to grow, with total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue increasing by around 13 percent compared to 2023.

Similarly, in Binh Phuoc province in 2020, total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue reached about 48.4 trillion VND. In 2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, total retail sales and consumer service revenue were affected. In the 2022-2024 period, statistics showed that total retail sales and consumer service revenue continuously maintained high and stable growth. In 2022, it reached more than 65 trillion VND, an increase of about 35.7% compared to the previous year, showing the recovery of this sector after the pandemic. In 2023, total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue continued to grow nearly 18.3% compared to the previous year. By 2024, this sector grew 15.3% compared to 2023.

Following the merger of Binh Phuoc province and the former Dong Nai, the new Dong Nai province holds strategic advantages in terms of area and population. Since then, it has emerged as a major industrial hub of the Southeast region, bordering Ho Chi Minh City. The province both benefits from and contributes to the development momentum of the southern key economic region, while serving as a gateway that connects to the other areas, creating favorable conditions for the development of modern, diversified trade and services. In addition, with a long border and an international border-gate economic zone, Dong Nai has a strong foundation for expanding cross-border trade, services, and investment.

According to statistics from Dong Nai province, in the first eight months of 2025, total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue were estimated at more than 299.8 trillion VND, up 18.16 percent compared to the same period last year. In the early months of the year, retail and service activities in the province were vibrant, particularly during holidays and Tet, as many supermarkets and shopping centers launched large-scale promotions and consumption stimulus programs to attract customers.

Deputy Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade) Le Hoang Tai:

The new Dong Nai province holds significant potential for economic development. In the current context, trade promotion activities, fairs, and exhibitions not only create opportunities for business networking but also contribute to strengthening local linkages, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable development in the new phase. These activities serve as an effective bridge for the business community to access and tap into the province’s new potential following the merger.

Dr. Tran Du Lich, Member of the National Monetary Policy Advisory Council, Member of the Economic - Social Advisory Group of Dong Nai province:

Dong Nai now possesses the conditions, advantages, and strengths to develop into a free trade zone. At this time, establishing a free trade zone in Dong Nai, designed to integrate into the global supply chain and maximize the efficiency of Long Thanh International Airport and Phuoc An Port, is entirely appropriate.

To develop the free trade zone, Dong Nai needs to focus on promoting regional linkages and establishing appropriate mechanisms to attract investors into the free trade zone with comprehensive, modern services in finance, innovation…

Vu Thanh Tan, Representative of Central Retail Corporation Joint Stock Company’s Communications Department in Vietnam, stated: Over the past year, along with the GO! Supermarket system nationwide, the GO! Dong Nai and GO! Tan Hiep supermarkets in Dong Nai have regularly implemented major promotional programs to stimulate consumption, especially consumption promotion chains for Vietnamese goods… Most recently, on the occasion of Vietnamese National Day (September 2), GO! Tan Hiep, GO! Dong Nai, GO! Nhon Trach… launched the program Proud of Vietnamese specialties 2025 with many promotional and advertising activities for Vietnamese agricultural products and specialties.

Along with consumption stimulus activities, many supermarkets and trade centers in the province have also promoted the application of technology in business activities, diversified types of services and products, and strengthened the connection and promotion of local strong products and OCOP products (One Commune One Product program).

Representative of Co.opmart Dong Phu supermarket (Dong Phu commune, Dong Nai province) said: Co.opmart Dong Phu has been maintaining the OCOP product stall to introduce and distribute outstanding specialties that reflect local culture and identity to consumers with products such as: cashew with skin, peeled cashew under the brand Ba Tu Binh Phuoc, salted roasted cashew with skin, cheese cashew, garlic chili cashew, Cashew Pie under the brand Vinahe… In the coming time, Co.opmart Dong Phu will continue to prioritize connecting and consuming OCOP products as one of its strategic focuses, accompanying local authorities in promoting the consumption of local agricultural products…

Expanding connection, promoting digital transformation, and green growth

Dong Nai is one of the country’s most dynamic localities in economic development, with a strategically important position. This advantage fosters the growth of the digital technology ecosystem, drives innovation, and supports the development of green and sustainable growth models. It also boosts e-commerce and digital services to meet the growing demands of the population. In terms of e-commerce development, the province has maintained its position among the top 10 leading localities nationwide for nine consecutive years in the e-commerce index.

Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Import-Export Association Nguyen Duy Hung said: The development of e-commerce has led to many new areas in logistics such as last-mile delivery and green transition... Therefore, to enhance competitiveness in the context of integration, logistics, export-import service enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises, need to focus on applying information technology, digital transformation, managing logistics in e-commerce, and developing green and sustainable logistics.

In the new 2025-2030 term, Dong Nai province will focus on new key areas to maximize its potential and advantages in industry, logistics, trade, services, tourism, agriculture, forestry, and mineral resources.

According to the draft political report of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee’s Executive Committee presented at the 1st Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030, one of the province’s key tasks in the new term is to implement synchronously two driving forces.

First is industrial development, with a focus on attracting strategic, next-generation investors, fully utilizing existing industrial zones, and continuing to draw investment into potential new zones. Priority is given to high-tech industries, green industries, and supporting industries.

Second is the development of the service sector, with its core being the integrated service urban area surrounding Long Thanh International Airport. This undertaking includes a free trade center and an ecosystem of aviation, logistics, trade, and tourism services. The focus is on addressing bottlenecks, unlocking all available resources, and ensuring stability and sustainable development. Efforts will be made to fully leverage the spillover effects of Long Thanh International Airport on infrastructure investment, transport connectivity, urban development, and overall economic value. Industrial development will be oriented toward high technology and environmental sustainability; agricultural restructuring will be linked with building advanced and modern new-style rural areas; and modern service sectors will be expanded, particularly in logistics, trade, tourism, and finance.

By Hai Quan – Translated by Minh Hanh, Minho