Dong Nai aims to develop ecological, modern riverside urban areas

Dong Nai City is set to reorient the development of the Dong Nai River corridor and lakes across the locality to become a green and highly livable urban area.

A new growth driver

The Dong Nai River runs for about 200km through Dong Nai City, supplying water for agriculture, industry, and daily use, while also supporting hydropower development, waterway transport, ecological tourism, and urban landscapes. In addition, the Dong Nai River corridor area, with its large land fund, holds significant potential for economic development.

Dong Nai City aims to develop ecological urban areas in the Dong Nai River corridor.

In the city's development orientation, the corridor along the Dong Nai River is identified as a national maritime transport axis, an inland waterway transport axis, an urban-rural waterway transport axis, and a tourist waterway route connecting from Tri An Lake to the confluence of the Soai Rap and Long Tau rivers.

In addition, as the river flows through numerous urban areas, it is also envisioned as a development axis for urban-rural areas and high-quality functional zones, serving as the city’s scenic frontage and as a source of water resources, biodiversity, and climate regulation for localities across the Dong Nai River basin.

With these potentials, the Dong Nai River corridor has also been planned and divided into segments for appropriate exploitation.

According to the Dong Nai Provincial Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, the Dong Nai River axis is planned to become one of six key growth corridors driving the locality’s economic development. The axis begins in the Bien Hoa Urban Area, passes through the Long Thanh Urban Area, and connects to the Nhon Trach Urban Area. Under this orientation, the Dong Nai River corridor will serve as the connecting backbone for the city’s development triangle comprising Bien Hoa, Long Thanh, and Nhon Trach. The Dong Nai River axis is also expected to evolve into a riverside urban development corridor integrated with high-end services.

To unlock the river corridor’s development potential, planning consultants have proposed constructing a riverside boulevard along the Dong Nai River connecting Bien Hoa and Nhon Trach. This boulevard would become the primary axis driving the development of riverside urban and service areas.

Re-planning the development of the Dong Nai River

According to Dr. of Science, Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son, Chairman of NgoViet Architects & Planners, the Dong Nai riverside area has significant potential for the development of a chain of riverfront urban zones. This urban chain could also be integrated with plans for lakeside urban development around Tri An Lake. With the great potential of the Dong Nai riverside area, the locality has ample opportunities to build a dynamic riverside economy.

Dong Nai City plans to build a riverside boulevard to create a driving force for the development of the Dong Nai River corridor.

Meanwhile, Architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong, Chairman of the Dong Nai City Architects Association, assessed that the Dong Nai River axis is the facade of Dong Nai City. "The Dong Nai River is not only a water supply line, but it must also be the main landscape and economic axis," Architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong shared.

With that perspective, Architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong believes that the planning for the development of the Dong Nai River axis must be open. Planning continuous riverside parks, prioritizing the development of community spaces, and green strips along the river are the most natural solutions to adapt to climate change.

At the same time, the city should maximize the value of riverside urban areas and develop waterway tourism connecting Bien Hoa with the Cat Tien area and extending down to Nhon Trach. In particular, planning and developing marinas and riverside cultural centers are essential so that the Dong Nai River can truly “live” alongside residents.

Regarding the planning and development of the Dong Nai River axis in the coming time, Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee, said the City People's Committee has submitted reports to the Standing Board of the City Party Committee and proposed several planning-related works. In particular, Dong Nai City will reorient the development planning of the Dong Nai River and the lakes in the area.

Accordingly, now that Dong Nai has become a city, Dong Nai needs to redesign development planning for the Dong Nai River and lakes throughout the locality. “The orientation is to develop ecological urban areas in these locations, aiming to turn Dong Nai into a nationally significant urban center,” said Nguyen Van Ut, Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee.

"Dong Nai must keep the Dong Nai River forever green. If there are still industrial zones and clusters along the river, it will be impossible to keep the river forever green."

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee

Also, according to the Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Van Ut, Dong Nai will review and replan its port system. Dong Nai currently has numerous ports located along its rivers. Ports that are suitable and meet the city’s development needs will be retained, while those that are unsuitable will be relocated, because Dong Nai must be a livable city, a green and clean urban center.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho