Accelerating planning completion, paving the way for city development

With its official elevation to the country’s seventh city on April 30, 2026, Dong Nai City is expediting the completion of planning frameworks in accordance with regulations.

Dong Nai City accelerates planning progress to pave the way for development. Photo: Pham Tung

Dong Nai City is oriented to become a major hub for transportation and logistics, an international trade center. This will create a solid foundation for transitioning to a growth model based on innovation and deep integration into global value chains.

Developing urban areas commensurate with Dong Nai’s stature

Under the Law on Urban Planning, as a city, Dong Nai will implement major planning schemes such as the overall master plan and the general urban plan for Dong Nai City.

Speaking at the 3rd Session of the 11th Provincial (now city-level) People’s Council, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee (now Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee) Nguyen Van Ut stated that Dong Nai will enter a new historical phase, operating under an urban governance model upon the establishment of Dong Nai City. “There will certainly be  challenges, but with thorough preparation and the strong determination of the entire political system, we are confident in operating the Dong Nai City model effectively,” he said.

Dong Nai City would proactively design its development “blueprint” and then invite investors to participate, rather than allowing investors to shape development plans that the city must later follow.

Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee NGUYEN VAN UT

Dong Nai is proposing special mechanisms to accelerate the formulation of its overall master plan, based on the integration of the Dong Nai Provincial Plan for 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and the general urban plan for Dong Nai City.

According to Nguyen Van Ut, Dong Nai is implementing many plans. However, through reviewing general urban plans, especially for large urban areas such as Bien Hoa, Long Thanh, and Nhon Trach, there are some inadequacies that need to be considered and adjusted accordingly. Based on this, the City People's Committee reported to the Standing Board of the City Party Committee and proposed several related contents. "The process of reviewing plans is carried out on the basis of ensuring the continuity between previous and subsequent plans to ensure consistency. Dong Nai City will re-plan the urban areas of Long Thanh, Nhon Trach, Bien Hoa, and Trang Bom to turn them into urban areas commensurate with the city status," said Chairman Nguyen Van Ut.

Eliminating fragmented and small-scale development

Huynh Ho Dai Nghia, Strategic Policy Advisor - Minh Triet Capital & Consulting, Ho Chi Minh City, believes that Dong Nai is at a turning point from a “successful industrial province” to a “strategic coordination center” of the expanded Southeast region and Vietnam’s economy in the new phase. Therefore, one of the most urgent priorities for Dong Nai City is to accelerate the completion of planning tasks.

In its planning, Dong Nai City aims to build and develop urban areas matching its position.

According to Nghia, Dong Nai’s planning should follow “flows” rather than static administrative boundaries. “Every plan of Dong Nai City must answer three questions: What flow does it create? What flows does it connect to? And what value does it retain locally? A road is not just a road—it is the lifeblood of a value chain. An urban area is not just housing—it organizes labor, services, and quality of life. A data platform is not just technology—it is the brain of development governance,” he explained.

Meanwhile, architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong, Chairman of the Dong Nai City Architects Association stated that Dong Nai City does not merely represent  administrative changes, but an elevation of the quality of life for its residents based on a natural and cultural heritage. To harmonize development and preservation, the locality should not pursue an extreme "compact city" model everywhere. Multi-polar urban development planning is needed, not concentrating all pressure on Bien Hoa urban area, but developing new poles such as: Long Thanh urban area (airport urban area), Nhon Trach urban area (port urban area).

According to Nguyen Van Ut, Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee, based on the city People's Committee's report to the Standing Board of the City Party Committee, the city People's Committee has proposed several contents related to planning work in the coming period. Specifically, Dong Nai City will not accept small-scale urban residential projects in the area (unless these projects are located within existing urban areas). Concurrently, Dong Nai will also not accept production and business projects outside industrial parks and clusters.

According to Nguyen Van Ut, Chairman of the City People's Committee, in the past, Dong Nai accepted projects outside industrial parks and clusters for a period to meet the development requirements of localities. However, at present, as Dong Nai becomes a city, it will not accept production and business projects outside industrial parks and clusters. "Projects must now be directed into industrial parks and clusters to facilitate better management, particularly in environmental control. The city will also develop a roadmap to relocate industrial parks and clusters that cause environmental pollution. Nguyen Van Ut stated.

Furthermore, Dong Nai will revoke all projects that do not comply with planning regulations or fail to meet required investment procedures.

By Pham Tung - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha