Unlocking resources for breakthrough development

Through efforts to streamline its administrative apparatus and implement the two-tier local government model, Dong Nai has begun unlocking key resources in areas such as personnel, planning, infrastructure, land and administrative reform. These efforts are laying an important foundation for the city to achieve breakthrough and sustainable development.

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee (CPC) and Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee, said: “Major projects in aviation, seaports, expressways, inter-regional ring roads, energy and new-generation industrial parks will help Dong Nai further enhance its competitiveness. They will also be key drivers enabling the city to achieve and sustain high growth in the years ahead.”

Tran Bien ward is developing a modern and harmonious urban area. Photo: Cong Nghia

Building a solid foundation

Dong Nai was among the first localities in Vietnam to develop industry. Yet it later fell behind in infrastructure development and showed signs of losing momentum compared with other localities. Over the past five years, however, Dong Nai has made strong breakthroughs in infrastructure development, with a number of major projects of regional and national significance. These projects have not only contributed to the city's development but have also played an important role in the development of the southeastern region and the country as a whole. These projects have progressed at a relatively rapid pace thanks to strong direction from the central government, substantial central government resources and close coordination by local authorities.

An interchange connects the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway with the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway and Long Thanh International Airport.

Among the most notable projects are the Long Thanh International Airport mega-project, Phuoc An Port and the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 gas-fired power plant project, Vietnam's first and most modern gas-fired power project. Following the opening of the first phase of the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway in 2015, a series of new expressways and major roads have been completed and put into operation over the past three years. These include the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet Expressway, which became fully operational in 2023; Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3, with its Dong Nai section opened in 2025; and the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, which is scheduled to become fully operational in 2026.

The Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway is expected to officially open to traffic in September, once the Phuoc Khanh cable-stayed bridge is completed. The project will connect Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh and the Southwestern region. At the same time, Dong Nai is making every effort to accelerate a number of transport projects that are seen as “arteries” of the city, the southeastern region and the Central Highlands. These include the Dau Giay-Tan Phu and Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh expressways, Ring Road 4 through Dong Nai and the Ma Da Bridge project linking the northern and southern parts of the city, gradually forming a high-quality transport infrastructure network.

Huynh Van Hoa, a resident of Long Thanh ward, said he had lived in the area planned for Long Thanh International Airport for nearly 20 years and was among the first households to cede their land for the airport project and move to the Loc An-Binh Son resettlement area. Now living in a spacious new residential area with schools for his children and grandchildren and looking forward to seeing Long Thanh International Airport become operational, Hoa said he was delighted.

“I never imagined that the Long Thanh airport project would be so large and modern. At the same time, road connections have also improved significantly as the airport has been under construction,” Hoa said.

Spreading investment resources

With modern infrastructure, a more streamlined institutional framework and strong political determination from the city to grassroots levels, Dong Nai is once again emerging as an attractive destination for investors. The city is continuing to effectively implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, the Party Central Committee's strategic resolutions and the Resolution of the first Dong Nai City Party Congress for the 2025-2030 tenure, translating these policies into concrete results based on the city's unique advantages.

The 25C Road project, connecting in Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 with Long Thanh International Airport, is expected to open to traffic in October 2026.

In particular, the city is accelerating planning work in line with the direction of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam during his visit to and working session at Long Thanh International Airport in November 2025 and his meeting with the CPC’s Standing Committee in May 2026. Dong Nai has identified its future as being closely linked to Long Thanh International Airport, which will serve as the nucleus for restructuring its development space. The city is therefore determined to raise the quality of its planning with a 100-year vision, not only for the present generation but also for generations to come. At the same time, city leaders have identified the Dong Nai River as a key ecological, cultural and landscape corridor, around which modern and harmonious urban development can take shape.

With strategic infrastructure now taking clearer shape, Dong Nai is working to establish a new development and growth model. Accordingly, the city aims to move beyond its traditional role as an industrial center and pursue growth driven by productivity, technology, knowledge and innovation. Dong Nai is adopting a more selective approach to investment attraction, prioritizing projects that bring advanced technologies and management expertise, strengthen supply chains, support workforce training and create stronger linkages with domestic enterprises.

At a working session with the CPC’s Standing Committee on June 13, Politburo member and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasized: 

Changing the development mindset is needed to maximize Dong Nai's unique advantages

Dong Nai needs to shift its development model from volume-driven production and raw-product exports to green, digital and high-value-added exports. The city should capitalize on its “airport city” advantage and accelerate the development of logistics centers, inland container depots (ICDs) and related facilities. It should also develop high-quality trade and service models in central urban areas, while supporting businesses in adopting cross-border e-commerce and gaining greater control over direct distribution channels. Meanwhile, the city should digitalize traceability systems and proactively meet international green standards to protect and strengthen its position as a strong net-exporting center.

At the same time, Dong Nai will continue to consolidate and strengthen its position as a modern industrial center of the Southern key economic region and the country, while selectively attracting investment into industrial parks across the city. The city will make full use of its development space to attract projects in high technology, supporting industries, precision engineering, automation, new materials and energy efficiency. It will also attract investment in urban development and eco-resort tourism, while working to establish a modern urban ecosystem.

By C. Nghia – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha