Dong Nai among nation’s top performers in economic growth

In 2025, Dong Nai recorded GRDP growth of more than 9.63%, ranking seventh nationwide and leading the southeastern region. Entering 2026, the growth momentum has continued as Dong Nai remains among the fastest-growing localities nationwide while leading southern Vietnam in economic performance during the first four months of the year.

An ecological urban area project in Long Hung ward, Dong Nai City.

These results provide a solid foundation for the locality to accelerate growth in the coming quarters and strive to achieve its 10% growth target for 2026.

Industry, investment and services post strong recovery

During the first four months of 2026, Dong Nai’s economy continued to maintain positive growth across most sectors. Industry, trade and services, investment attraction and business development all recorded encouraging results, creating an important basis for the city to pursue double-digit growth this year.

Industry remained the strongest growth driver. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose by more than 14% compared to the same period in 2025. In particular, the processing and manufacturing sector, the backbone of the local economy, expanded by over 13%.

Meanwhile, electricity production and distribution surged by more than 41% as Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 power plants officially entered commercial operation, adding new energy supply and production capacity.

Trade and service activities also continued to improve. Total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue increased by more than 16%, while transportation, warehousing and logistics services rose by nearly 19% year-on-year. At the same time, tourism rebounded strongly with more than 2 million visitors and estimated revenue of nearly VND1.6 trillion

Credit activities maintained stable growth, with total outstanding loans estimated at more than VND629 trillion, up over 5% compared to the end of 2025. This contributed to meeting enterprises’ capital demand for expanding production and business activities while also reflecting positive economic momentum.

Construction of the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway section passing through Long Thanh ward, Dong Nai City. Photo: Pham Tung

The investment environment has continued to attract both domestic and foreign investors. In the first four months of the year, Dong Nai attracted more than US$1.26 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and nearly VND17.8 trillion in domestic investment capital.

The city also recorded the establishment of more than 3,200 new enterprises, while over 700 businesses resumed operations.

Alongside economic development, a series of strategic infrastructure projects are being accelerated, including Ring Road 3, Ring Road 4, the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh Expressway and transport routes connecting Long Thanh International Airport. Once completed, these projects are expected to expand development space and enhance the city’s competitiveness not only this year but also in the years ahead.

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee, assessed that since the beginning of the year, Dong Nai has maintained strong growth momentum, ranking among the country’s fastest-growing localities and leading southern Vietnam. The results reflect the strong recovery of the production sector, the resilience of the business community and the effectiveness of the locality’s flexible governance policies.

Focusing resources on industry and public investment

Dong Nai is currently making strong efforts to achieve high growth in the second quarter, laying the groundwork for fulfilling the annual growth target of 10%.

Under Official Dispatch No. 70/UBND-TH dated May 5 regarding tasks aimed at promoting economic growth in the second quarter of 2026, the Dong Nai City People’s Committee stated that the locality still has considerable room for acceleration.

Key factors include the rapid implementation of major infrastructure projects, industrial and energy projects adding new production capacity, the positive recovery of consumer and service markets and continued strong inflows of domestic and foreign investment capital.

For the second quarter, the city People’s Committee assigned growth targets to key sectors, including nearly 11.8% for industry and construction, close to 8.8% for services and 4.76% for agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Public investment disbursement for the first six months of 2026 is targeted to reach at least 50% of the annual plan.

Among major economic sectors, processing and manufacturing will continue serving as the main growth engine, with the city aiming for growth of around 10.7% during the first half of the year.

The construction sector is expected to expand by 11.75%, focusing on accelerating housing, urban area and infrastructure projects.

Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee Ho Van Ha emphasized that public investment is also a key “driving force” of the economy.

Accordingly, the city has required project investors to develop detailed monthly disbursement plans and plans to redirect capital away from delayed projects and slow-moving bidding packages.

In addition, Dong Nai will prioritize resolving obstacles related to compensation and site clearance. The target is for public investment disbursement to exceed 50% of the annual plan by the end of June.

For the service sector, the city is simultaneously implementing measures to stimulate consumption, develop e-commerce, logistics and tourism. The sector is projected to grow by approximately 8.8% in the first six months of the year, reinforcing its position as the economy’s second most important growth driver.

Sharing solutions for achieving growth goals, Standing Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee Nguyen Kim Long said Dong Nai will continue improving the investment and business environment by shortening administrative procedure processing time, promoting decentralization, accelerating digital transformation and enhancing the responsibility of officials and civil servants.

It can be seen that with clearly identified priorities and synchronized implementation of specific solutions, Dong Nai’s goal of achieving economic growth of 10% or higher in 2026 is entirely feasible.

At an online meeting reviewing the socio-economic situation in April and outlining tasks for May, city leaders urged departments, agencies and localities to accelerate implementation efforts and maintain growth momentum throughout 2026.

By H. Loc – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha