Dong Nai: Expectations for iconic architectural projects

Alongside the groundbreaking of the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects, Dong Nai province also organized an architectural design competition for these two structures.

As crucial transportation infrastructure projects of Dong Nai, both bridges are expected to be not only drivers of economic growth but also symbolic architectural landmarks for the province.

Leaving a mark with multi-trillion VND projects

In mid-January 2026, Dong Nai province simultaneously held ceremonies to launch construction of Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge. These two projects have a total investment of approximately 30 trillion VND, playing a crucial role in connecting transportation between Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City.

Above photo: Rendering of the Cat Lai Bridge project based on the first-prize winning design from the project’s architectural design competition.

According to Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha, for Dong Nai province, Cat Lai Bridge holds special significance in the development strategy of Nhon Trach urban area. Once completed, Nhon Trach will be directly and conveniently connected to Ho Chi Minh City, gradually promoting its role as a satellite urban area, an industrial - service - logistics center linked to Long Thanh International Airport. "This is an important condition for Dong Nai province to reorganize its development space, develop synchronous technical and social infrastructure, and enhance land use value and urban quality," Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha assessed.

Similarly, with Long Hung Bridge, Dong Nai will have an additional axis connecting the Long Thanh Airport area and Long Thanh urban area with the "mega-city" of Ho Chi Minh City, creating a driving force for economic and urban development in the coming years.

Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge connect important urban areas of Dong Nai province, namely Nhon Trach and Long Thanh, with Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, in the investment objectives, the local authorities determined that these projects should not only play a role in connecting transportation and promoting economic development but also be iconic architectural works, creating highlights for Long Thanh and Nhon Trach urban areas.

As a result, before the groundbreaking of the projects, Dong Nai province also approved decisions to organize an architectural design competition for the Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge projects. "Dong Nai province wants these to be projects that stand the test of time, not ones built merely for the sake of having them," emphasized Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha.

Turning the blueprints into reality

After the competition was held, in late January 2026, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee issued decisions approving the results of the architectural design competition for the Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge projects.

Accordingly, for Cat Lai Bridge, the first-prize winning design embodies the idea of "Reaching new heights," symbolizing harmony and integration between Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City with a pioneering spirit, strongly rising in the Southern key economic region.

Meanwhile, for Long Hung Bridge, the first-prize winning design features a cable-stayed bridge with a tower shaped like a treasured sword. The sharp bridge tower, soaring straight into the sky, not only creates a strong visual impression, overcoming the monotony of the flat terrain, but also expresses the decisiveness and strength, characteristics necessary for a developing industrial and logistics region in the future.

In recent times, with the goal of creating landscape spaces and urban highlights, Dong Nai province has also planned to organize architectural design competitions for many construction projects. In addition to the Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge projects, according to the plan, Dong Nai province will also organize an architectural design competition for the provincial political-administrative center in Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park when its function is converted.

Regarding shaping landscapes and creating urban highlights, river-crossing bridge projects are considered elements that hold significant value, becoming iconic structures if they have appropriate architectural designs. For Dong Nai province, possessing the Dong Nai River, which flows through many urban areas within the province, is one of the advantages for forming urban highlights and symbols with road bridge projects crossing the river.

However, in reality, river-crossing bridge projects in the province have almost only fulfilled their role of traffic connectivity. Meanwhile, the architectural value of the structures has not been truly established.

Therefore, according to architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong, Chairman of the Provincial Architects Association, organizing the architectural design competition for the Cat Lai Bridge and Long Hung Bridge projects is very necessary. However, after organizing the competition, functional agencies also need to determine the next steps to realize the winning drawings into actual construction in a reasonable and harmonious manner.

This is because Dong Nai province previously also organized an architectural design competition for the An Hao Bridge. However, for many reasons, the realization of the winning design was not implemented in the actual construction of this project.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha