Proposal for socio-economic regions in Dong Nai Province

To leverage and promote its development potentials and advantages, the consulting unit preparing the Adjustment Plan of the Dong Nai Provincial Master Plan for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, has proposed a scheme to divide Dong Nai Province into socio-economic regions.

Dong Nai directs its spatial development by dividing the province into socio-economic regions. In the photo: A corner of Binh Phuoc ward urban area, Dong Nai Province. Photo: Collaborator

Support to promote economic development

At the end of December 2025, the consulting unit held a briefing with the leadership of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee on the progress of preparing the Adjustment Plan of the Dong Nai Provincial Master Plan for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision toward 2050.

Notably, regarding the province’s socio-economic spatial development orientation, the consulting unit proposed dividing Dong Nai into five socio-economic regions.

Among them, Region 1 is focused on becoming a center for innovation, aviation, and high technology. It will focus on developing green and high-tech production clusters, a logistics hub, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism, all connected to Long Thanh International Airport and a future Free Trade Zone (FTZ). It will also promote the development of knowledge-based service areas supporting R&D (research and development), the digital economy, and business support activities such as trade and finance. In addition, urban services including entertainment, education, and healthcare will be developed along the Dong Nai riverside, creating a vibrant riverside economy.

Region 2, envisioned as a border gate and ecological industrial zone, is oriented toward the development of cross-border logistics and trade services. Industrial development will focus on strategic manufacturing (electronic equipment and components), agro-forestry processing, and ecological industrial zones powered by green energy. Urban services will be centered around Dong Xoai City.

Region 3, the high-tech agricultural center, will focus on developing high-tech agriculture and deep processing of agricultural products and food, as well as heritage and eco-tourism.

Region 4, designated as a nature and eco-recreation area, will focus on developing recreational activities that integrate with the natural landscape of Tri An Lake, conserving Cat Tien National Park and its surrounding ecological corridors, and promoting eco-tourism, environmentally friendly accommodation services, and community-based tourism.

Region 5, the agricultural processing industry zone, will prioritize high-tech agricultural product processing, urban services, and industrial tourism.

In addition, the consulting unit proposed 16 specialized clusters to support economic development across the five socio-economic regions, including: riverside urban areas, FTZs, high-tech production clusters, and knowledge-based service clusters in Region 1; cross-border agricultural trade and logistics gateways, strategic manufacturing and agro-forestry processing clusters, supporting satellite urban areas, ecological industrial clusters, and satellite urban areas with spillover effects in Region 2; high-tech agricultural zones and nature-integrated recreation clusters in Region 3; eco-tourism and healthcare clusters, and clean energy clusters in Region 4; and high-tech agricultural zones, key urban areas, and agro-ecological tourism clusters in Region 5.

The consulting unit proposes a plan to define the five socio-economic regions of Dong Nai Province. In the photo: A corner of Tran Bien ward urban area, Dong Nai Province.

Ensuring synchronization and harmony across all sectors

Speaking at the aforementioned working session, Ho Van Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee, stated that for the Adjustment Plan of the Dong Nai Provincial Master Plan for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, the first and core issue to consider is the province’s population size in the context of the newly merged province and its new development space.

“Forecasting population size and identifying the factors driving population growth is a core issue that affects multiple sectors, including urban development. The Resolution of the 1st Congress of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee for the 2025–2030 term sets a goal of meeting the basic standards of a centrally governed city by 2030. So, what population size would be appropriate?” posed Ho Van Ha, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee.

In addition to the population issue, Vice Chairman Ho Van Ha also requested the consulting unit to clarify what other potential development-driving areas, beyond the already identified Long Thanh Airport urban area and the Dong Nai River, the province could incorporate within the context of the newly envisioned development space.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, requested the consulting unit to fully update the Adjustment Plan with the contents of Notice No. 420-TB/VPTW dated November 17, 2025, from the Office of the Party Central Committee regarding the conclusions of General Secretary To Lam during his visit and working session at the Long Thanh Airport Project site.

Basically agreeing with the proposed five socio-economic regions, Nguyen Van Ut suggested that each region should specify which communes and wards of the province it includes. Localities should base their calculations of development potential on the development orientation of each respective area.

“The approach is to continue refining the plan based on careful calculations, ensuring that the new master plan is consistent and harmoniously integrates all sectors,” Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Ut recommended.

According to the consulting unit, Dong Nai Province’s economic growth should be structured around six main development axes: the North–South central axis; the North Dong Nai–Ho Chi Minh City axis; the Dong Nai River axis; the Northeast–Northwest axis; the Southeast–Southwest axis; and the Ho Chi Minh City–Bien Hoa–Vung Tau axis.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Dang Huyen, Minho