Multiplying aspiration to accelerate development

The dynamic momentum in investment in transport infrastructure projects across Dong Nai province continues to be maintained, with a series of projects being inaugurated and launched. Strategic transport infrastructure works that have been, are being and will be implemented serve as a powerful “driving force” multiplying Dong Nai’s aspiration for development.

The Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway project, a key transport axis connecting Long Thanh International Airport, is scheduled for completion in 2026. Photo: Pham Tung

Strong breakthroughs in transport infrastructure

After more than four years under construction, on January 15, 2026, the Dong Nai Riverside Road Project (Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province) was officially opened to technical traffic, marking an important milestone toward completion and commercial operation. Stretching over five kilometers along the Dong Nai river through Tran Bien ward, the route not only serves as a transport link but also functions as a main axis shaping the riverside urban landscape, thereby creating advantages for socio-economic development.

The technical opening of the Dong Nai riverside road represents a striking highlight in the vibrant overall picture of transport infrastructure development in Dong Nai in recent years. Prior to this project, Component Project 3 of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project, running through Dong Nai province, was also opened to technical traffic in December 2025.

Component Project 3 of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project and Component Project 1 of the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway project are among the nationally important transport infrastructure projects being implemented in the province. Not only do they serve as “backbone” transport corridors connecting the Southeast region and linking the Southeast with the Southwest, the Ring Road 3 and the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway are also vital arterial routes facilitating access to Long Thanh International Airport once it becomes operational.

Following the technical opening of Component Project 3 of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, during an on-site inspection of Component Project 1 of the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway in January 2026, Member of the Provincial Party Committee (PPC) and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Ho Van Ha requested that Component Project 1 be opened to technical traffic before the Lunar New Year 2026.

From the investor’s side, Dinh Tien Hai, Director of the Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board, said that with the current progress, contractors are making every effort to meet the target of opening Component Project 1 of the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway to technical traffic before the Lunar New Year 2026. At the same time, they aim to complete this project as well as Component Project 3 of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 in the first half of 2026.

According to the Provincial People’s Committee, Dong Nai currently has seven national highways running through the province, with a total length of about 480 kilometers. In addition, there are 10 expressway routes that have been, are being and will be implemented, contributing to making Dong Nai one of the leading localities nationwide in terms of the number of expressway projects passing through its territory, accounting for 10 out of 86 projects, or 11.6 percent of the number of the projects nationwide. Meanwhile, the total length of expressways in the province is about 393.4 kilometers, equivalent to 7.6 percent of the total length of national expressway network.

A driver for double-digit growth

In the early days of 2026, as the atmosphere of a new spring draws near, Dong Nai residents welcomed another piece of good news. The Cat Lai Bridge project, a long-awaited transport infrastructure project connecting Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City, was officially launched on January 15. At the same time, ground was broken for another transport project linking Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City—the Long Hung Bridge construction project.

In Dong Nai’s strategy to create breakthroughs in transport infrastructure, investing in routes connecting Dong Nai and Long Thanh International Airport with Ho Chi Minh City is identified as one of its top priorities. The groundbreaking of the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects stands as clear evidence of this orientation.

To achieve the target of double-digit economic growth in 2026 and during the 2026–2030 period, Dong Nai has identified a synchronized and modern transport system as one of the key growth drivers.

According to Truong Thi Huong Binh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Director of Department of Finance, Dong Nai has the distinctive feature of having almost its entire western boundary adjacent to the “mega” metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City. This represents a special advantage, opening up major opportunities for transport connectivity, trade, industry and services, while strongly facilitating the spillover of investment capital, human resources and technology from the country’s largest economic center.

In addition, Dong Nai possesses a synchronized transport infrastructure system encompassing all five modes of transport: road, railway, maritime, inland waterway and aviation, with Long Thanh International Airport being one of the largest-scale projects in Southeast Asia. Therefore, continued investment toward completing a comprehensive, multimodal transport infrastructure system will create a powerful impetus for Dong Nai to accelerate its development.

To realize this goal, alongside road transport infrastructure projects, Dong Nai is coordinating with relevant agencies to implement railway projects passing through the province. Specifically, the province will work on site clearance for the North–South high-speed railway and the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railway, while also coordinating investment in the project to extend the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro line to the provincial Administrative Center and Long Thanh International Airport.

Deputy Secretary of the PPC and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Standing affirmed that throughout its development process, Dong Nai has always attached great importance to transport infrastructure connectivity. Without such connectivity, development would not be possible, especially connectivity linked to Long Thanh International Airport.

By Pham Tung – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha