Dong Nai’s elevation to centrally governed city status marks historic turning point

At the second plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee, the Committee approved the policy to establish Dong Nai as a centrally governed city. For Dong Nai, this marks a historic turning point, paving the way for breakthrough development in the country’s new era.

A series of key national infrastructure projects are being implemented, creating strong momentum for Dong Nai’s development in the coming period. Photo: Pham Tung.

Living up to centrally governed city status

Alongside the approval, the Party Central Committee assigned the Politburo to direct the Government Party Committee, based on the Party Central Committee’s policy, to instruct the Government to finalize the scheme and related dossiers in accordance with regulations for submission to the first session of the 16th National Assembly (NA) for consideration and decision.

The establishment of Dong Nai as a centrally governed city is both an objective and urgent requirement, grounded in clear practical foundations. More than a mere administrative name change, it represents a fundamental shift in development and governance models, elevating Dong Nai from a major industrial province to a regional urban center capable of coordinating development space, linking infrastructure, allocating resources and driving growth across the wider region.

Under Resolution No. 112/2025/UBTVQH15 of the NA Standing Committee on administrative unit standards, Dong Nai has largely met or exceeded key thresholds required for centrally governed city status.

Architect Khuong Van Muoi, former Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Architects, noted that Dong Nai is well-positioned for such an elevation. From a historical perspective, Dong Nai is regarded as one of the earliest urban, administrative and economic centers in the Southern region, marked by the establishment of Tran Bien garrison by Nguyen Huu Canh in 1698. This milestone affirmed sovereignty, fostered trade and shaped the Southeastern region’s cultural identity from its earliest days. Over more than 300 years of formation and development, the area has preserved significant historical and cultural values.

Long Thanh International Airport welcomes its first commercial flight in late 2025, with Phase 1 scheduled for commercial operation in 2026. Photo: Pham Tung.

In recent years, the rollout of a series of key national infrastructure projects, most notably Long Thanh International Airport, has further enhanced Dong Nai’s strategic importance.

Meanwhile, the national master plan for 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050 under Resolution No. 81/2023/QH15 (dated January 9, 2023), identifies the then Ho Chi Minh City – Dong Nai- Binh Duong – Ba Ria – Vung Tau (now Ho Chi Minh City – Dong Nai) area as a key growth engine in the South, playing a leading role in driving national economic expansion and aiming to become one of Southeast Asia’s dynamic economic hubs. Within this framework, Dong Nai is positioned as a major industrial and logistics center, as well as a critical transport hub that promotes regional connectivity and spillover growth.

A springboard for unlocking development resources

According to Architect Khuong Van Muoi, the establishment of Dong Nai as a centrally governed city will create highly favorable conditions for future development. In particular, once Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational, coupled with an expanding transport network, the province’s growth is expected to accelerate significantly.

Prof. Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh, Director of the Institute of Business Research at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and a member of Dong Nai’s socio-economic advisory group, said the move would elevate the province’s standing. This enhanced position will play a crucial role in shaping development mechanisms, attracting investment and advancing infrastructure. “Elevating its status is therefore of great importance,” he emphasized.

At the same time, with Long Thanh International Airport as a catalyst, centrally governed city status would help unlock resources for developing the model of an airport urban area. Beyond the notion of a city merely hosting an airport, this broader concept envisions an integrated urban ecosystem encompassing commercial and service centers, logistics hubs and financial services.
 

The establishment of Dong Nai as a centrally governed city is set to elevate its status and provide the province with favorable conditions to achieve breakthrough development. Photo: Pham Tung.

However, as Prof. Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh pointed out, a key challenge facing Dong Nai is connectivity infrastructure, particularly at the regional level. The province must therefore mobilize resources and accelerate the implementation of major projects.

In this context, becoming a centrally governed city would provide Dong Nai with highly favorable conditions to unlock its development resources. To fully capitalize on this opportunity, Dong Nai is in dire need of special mechanisms that enable swift decision-making in response to development demands. Time, he stressed, is a crucial factor, as delays could result in missed opportunities for development.

Located in the Southeastern region of Vietnam, Dong Nai covers more than 12,700 square kilometers and has a population of nearly 4.5 million, placing it among the five most populous localities nationwide.

 

Prof. Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh also emphasized that another equally important issue is the participation of Dong Nai’s residents and business community in the province's growth trajectory and the extent to which they benefit from such development.

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