Keeping up the growth momentum for 2026

Thanks to tremendous efforts to overcome challenges, Dong Nai’s socio-economic “picture” in 2025 has nearly reached completion, with many remarkable highlights. In the fourth quarter, the province’s GRDP grew by 10.73 percent, ranking fourth nationwide and contributing to an annual growth rate of 9.63 percent, 1.13 percentage points higher than the Government’s assigned target of 8.5 percent. The year 2025 also marks Dong Nai’s highest growth rate in many years.

Long Thanh International Airport during the busy days leading up to its first flight on December 19. Photo: Cong Nghia

The province’s socio-economic development results and efforts to ensure national defence and security in 2025 are truly encouraging. These achievements provide both the foundation and the momentum for the province to aim for even stronger growth, confidently targeting a double-digit rate in 2026.

Achievements driven by determination

After several years of stagnation due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global economic downturn, Dong Nai’s economy made a strong comeback in 2025. The entire provincial political system overcame numerous challenges and pressures as it simultaneously restructured and streamlined its administrative apparatus, focusing on socio-economic development, safeguarding national defense and security, and maintaining operational efficiency, discipline, and effectiveness. Many previous shortcomings within the administrative system, particularly the tendency to shift responsibility, avoid accountability, and the fear of making mistakes among a segment of officials, especially those in leadership positions, have been addressed through the streamlining process and the rational selection and arrangement of personnel.

Though retired, Nguyen Van Phuong from quarter 1, Trang Dai ward, remains closely informed about the province’s socio-economic development through newspapers, radio, and social media. He shared that he was very pleased to see Dong Nai achieve a growth rate of 9.63 percent in 2025, especially as the target had initially been considered highly challenging given the dual tasks of reorganizing the administrative system and promoting economic development. Phuong expressed confidence: "With its current position and strength, if the province continues to build on its momentum, I’m certain that 2026 will yield even better results, especially as a series of national key projects will soon come into operation, alongside the start of many new constructions."

Doan Thi Thu Thao, owner of a freight transport business in Long Thanh commune, expressed her excitement, noting that Dong Nai’s transport infrastructure has never before received such substantial central government investment. In particular, 2025 has seen rapid and clearly visible developments across the province’s various modes of transport. Notably, Long Thanh International Airport is preparing to welcome its first flight; the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway, after years of difficulties in site clearance, is now progressing swiftly toward completion; and transport enterprises are especially pleased that several infrastructure projects connecting Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City will soon be completed.

Do Huy Khanh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Phuoc An commune, and a National Assembly deputy of Dong Nai, said that when the two-tier local government model was officially implemented, the administrative apparatus initially encountered specific challenges, and some officials experienced hesitation. However, after more than five months of operating under the new model, the commune’s system has been functioning smoothly, with high efficiency and effectiveness. Tasks once considered new and challenging have now become routine, and most officials have overcome the initial psychological pressure.

Seizing new opportunities

According to experts from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, who are currently advising Dong Nai on socio-economic development policy, 2026 is projected to be another year of strong new growth momentum for the province. This forecast is considered highly feasible, as one of the most critical “bottlenecks”, high-quality transport infrastructure, has now taken shape more clearly than ever before. Transport infrastructure is regarded as a key “plus point” that will enable Dong Nai to step up investment attraction activities in the coming period.

A prime example is the mega-project Long Thanh International Airport, which is set to welcome its first flight on December 19 and could move directly into phase two. The Ring Road No. 3 of Ho Chi Minh City and the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway are preparing for technical opening, while the Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway is expected to open its entire route in 2026, once the Phuoc Khanh cable-stayed bridge, the final component linking Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, is completed. By the end of 2026, the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway is also expected to be largely completed.

Ho Van Ha, member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, stated that 2025 marked exceptional efforts in land clearance for key projects, especially the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway, which had long encountered significant challenges. In 2026, the province will continue to intensify land clearance efforts for a series of new projects, including Ring Road No. 4 of Ho Chi Minh City, which traverses Dong Nai, and several provincial roads linking to Long Thanh International Airport. The province has also prepared clean land sites to enable the early commencement of major bridge projects linking to Ho Chi Minh City, such as the Dong Nai 2 Bridge, Phu My 2 Bridge, Cat Lai Bridge, and several urban railway lines.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha:

Dong Nai must be ready to welcome a new generation of investors

Once a series of key infrastructure projects in Dong Nai and those connecting with Ho Chi Minh City are completed, the province will embrace numerous breakthrough development opportunities. Infrastructure will also serve as a vital driver enabling Dong Nai to sustain double-digit growth over the coming years, making a significant contribution to the country’s overall development. To seize these opportunities, Dong Nai must be fully prepared, with available land resources, appropriate mechanisms and policies, streamlined administrative procedures, and substantial digital transformation, to attract a new generation of investors focused on high technology and high added value.

Dong Nai’s 2026 plan for socio-economic development, national defence, and security has been meticulously prepared by the Provincial People’s Committee for submission to the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Council at the year-end session of 2025. A key highlight of the plan is a set of eight economic targets, including the critical goal of achieving a GRDP growth rate of 10 percent at constant prices; GRDP at current prices reaching approximately VND 750.6 trillion; and per capita GRDP at current prices reaching VND 179.2 million. In 2026, Dong Nai aims for the digital economy to contribute 15-17 percent of the GRDP and to establish an additional 7,200 new enterprises.

By Cong Nghia - Translated by Thuc Oanh, Minho