Expectations for Dong Nai’s strong development

Nhon Trach Bridge under Component Project 1A, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Dong Nai. Photo: Pham Tung

With strengths in industry, services, and high-tech agriculture, Dong Nai is expected to continue making breakthroughs and become a dynamic economic hub of the Southeastern region.

Phan Duy Khiem, Head of the Information and General Affairs Division, Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee’s Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission: Committed to devoting wholeheartedly to the province

As one of the cadres from the former Binh Phuoc province assigned to work in Tran Bien ward, the newly established Dong Nai province, I considered this an important political task. Despite being away from my family and young child, I have always tried to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to me. The process of taking over the work for myself and my colleagues has been relatively smooth. I vow to devote myself wholeheartedly to the province, and actively study to improve my qualifications to meet the requirements of professional work in this era of national advancement.

In the long term, I hope the province will soon introduce policies to buy or rent social housing for cadres and civil servants from the former Binh Phuoc who come to work here, helping us to quickly settle down and continue contributing with peace of mind.

Major Nguyen Hong Thuan, Head of the Mass Mobilization Team, Loc Thinh Border Guard Station, Dong Nai Provincial Border Guard Command: Firmly defending the Nation’s border

Loc Thinh Border Guard Station manages more than 15km of borderline in Loc Thanh commune, adjacent to Cambodia. Every day, I and my teammates carry out key tasks such as: disseminating and mobilizing local citizens to strictly implement the Party’s guidelines and State policies and laws; not listening to hostile forces inciting violations of the law, illegal border crossings, or smuggling.

As the team leader, I and my comrades are actively learning the S’tieng language to facilitate communication and propaganda; guiding and supporting villagers in crop and livestock care to improve production efficiency; and coordinating with local schools to mobilize ethnic minority children of school age to attend class under the “Supporting students to school” program.

With the motto: The station is home, the border is the homeland, ethnic compatriots are blood siblings, we are determined to overcome difficulties, firmly hold our weapons, and protect the Nation’s border. At the same time, we strive to make every resident a “living milestone,” contributing to building a border of peace and stability.

Nguyen Duc Hung, unit-level Trade Union officer of Changshin Vietnam Company Limited in Tan Trieu ward, Dong Nai province: Trade Union continues to affirm its role in accompanying workers

In the new phase, the role of the Trade Union must continue to be promoted to its full value. I hope that, in the future, Trade Union organizations at all levels will have more young, talented, and courageous officials, those who dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility for the common good.

What I especially expect is that the Trade Union always upholds its highest principle: protecting the legal and legitimate rights and interests of workers. Workers can only be assured to work when their rights are guaranteed, their voices heard, and their aspirations respected. I believe that, with innovations in operational methods and closer ties with members, Trade Union officials will not only stop at organizing movements but will also become a reliable support and an effective bridge between workers and employers.

I expect the Trade Union to continue affirming its role as a companion of workers in all circumstances, while elevating its operations in a more professional and methodical manner, contributing to building harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations in enterprises.

Lam Khoanh, Secretary of Can Duc Hamlet Party Cell, Loc Thanh commune, Dong Nai province: Improving quality of life in border areas

After the establishment of the two-tier local government system, Can Duc hamlet, Loc Thanh commune now has nearly 400 households, with ethnic minorities accounting for about 60% of the population. Implementing the Party and State’s policies, in recent years, ethnic minority households in Loc Thanh have been allocated farmland, resettled, and supported with housing, leading to relatively stable livelihoods. In late 2024, Can Duc hamlet eliminated poor households. However, in remote farming and resettlement areas like Loc Thanh (adjacent to Cambodia), children must travel over 10km to school, and young people mainly migrate for jobs both within and outside the province.

Therefore, residents hope the local government will have policies to attract businesses to invest and create rural jobs; as well as improve transportation, provide clean water systems, and build semi-boarding schools. These will contribute to raising incomes and improving quality of life.

Nguyen Thai Son in Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province: Expecting a modern, synchronized provincial administrative center as soon as possible

On the 80th anniversary of National Day, alongside pride in the Nation’s development journey, I place high expectations on positive changes in the province’s urban infrastructure, especially as Dong Nai is advancing plans for an area of new Provincial Political-Administrative Center.

In my view, this is a sound policy with long-term strategic significance. Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Zone has been in operation for over 50 years and now reveals many shortcomings, particularly environmental and infrastructure pressures on the inner city. Relocating this zone will not only free up space for the area but also create opportunities to reorganize urban development in a more synchronized and modern way.

As a resident living nearby, I highly appreciate the province’s strategic vision. The new location is favorable in terms of traffic and technical infrastructure and holds great significance for transforming the urban face of Dong Nai’s provincial center toward greater sustainability. I expect that once the new administrative center is operational, residents will be better served, and administrative procedures will be resolved more quickly, transparently, and in a more citizen-friendly manner.

Nguyen Song Kim, a student in Long Thanh commune, Dong Nai province: Carrying forward the spirit of self-reliance of earlier generations

Amid the stirring atmosphere in celebration of the National Day, I feel proud to be born and studying in a peaceful, independent, and free country that is continuously developing, especially in digital technology. As a second-year marketing student at Van Hien University in Ho Chi Minh City, I increasingly see the importance of technology in every sector, particularly trade and services.

I hope that after graduation, I can find a suitable job where modern technology is applied. In the era of digital transformation, students need not only specialized knowledge but also mastery of technological tools, understanding of data and artificial intelligence, and adaptability to digital environments.

On this 80th anniversary of National Day, I am even more aware of the responsibility of the young generation to contribute to nation construction. I believe that, if provided with opportunities to train and develop in a digital environment, we students can make positive contributions to the country’s industrialization and modernization—continuing the spirit of self-reliance of previous generations.

Le Thi Hong Duyen in Trang Dai ward, Dong Nai province: More support policies expected for workers

I am currently a worker at a leather shoe export company in Thanh Phu Industrial Park (Tan Trieu ward, Dong Nai province). A worker’s life is tied to factories, production lines, and regular shifts. What I and many migrant workers long for most is long-term job stability.

In the context of global economic fluctuations, order reductions sometimes lead to reduced working hours or even temporary suspensions, causing great difficulties for workers. Therefore, we hope the Party, the State, local authorities, and businesses will adopt more policies to maintain jobs and prevent income disruption. At the same time, social welfare policies such as health insurance, unemployment insurance, and schools for workers’ children, should be given more attention.

Many workers from Central and Northern provinces come to Dong Nai for jobs and mostly rent cramped boarding houses with poor living conditions. Therefore, I hope local authorities and businesses will continue developing more affordable social housing projects for workers. Only when we are stably settled can we feel secure and commit to long-term work.

Venerable Thich Chon Nguyen, Abbot of Lien Son Pagoda (Hamlet 5, Thanh Son commune, Dong Nai province): Promoting the spirit of great national unity

Dong Nai is a province with a tradition of ethnic and religious solidarity. For me, solidarity is not only a slogan, but also reflected in concrete actions in daily life. In recent times, I and the Buddhist community have accompanied local agencies and units in charitable activities, helping the poor, supporting disadvantaged families, and assisting underprivileged students.

Notably, I established a charity class on Tri An Lake, which has been running for more than seven years. Since then, resources have been contributed via many programs to help maintain the class, helping to eradicate illiteracy for children in the floating villages. These activities stem from the Buddhist spirit of compassion and benevolence and also represent practical actions to strengthen the great national unity bloc.

In today’s society, alongside economic development, the bond among religions and ethnic groups holds increasing significance. Each religion has doctrines guiding people toward “truth, goodness, and beauty”, encouraging followers to live good lives and join hands in building a prosperous nation. I expect that, in the coming time, the spirit of ethnic and religious solidarity in Dong Nai will continue to be strongly promoted, contributing to provincial development and improving people’s lives.

Phan Van Vuong, a Party member in Quarter 2, Trang Dai ward, Dong Nai province: Building a modern government responsive to the people’s aspirations

Toward the 80th anniversary of National Day, I expect the construction of a two-tier local government apparatus will create a streamlined, efficient, and people-centered system. This is an important step to resolve existing limitations while enhancing accountability and the competence of officials.

Along with administrative reforms, I have high hopes for sustainable economic development, not only relying on industry but also on the diversification of other sectors such as high-tech agriculture and eco-tourism. The government should have long-term strategies to support farmers and tap into the province’s tourism potential.

It is also necessary to continue improving the quality of cadres and civil servants through transparent recruitment, training, and performance-based evaluation. At the same time, authorities should create conditions for citizens to participate in monitoring and feedback, thereby building consensus and turning Dong Nai into a wealthy and civilized province.

Pham Minh Hieu in Long Binh ward, Dong Nai province: Transport infrastructure development must meet practical demands

Boasting a crucial transport gateway of the Southeastern region, Dong Nai citizens expect the government to have long-term strategies for developing synchronized and effective transport infrastructure to keep pace with rapid urbanization. Particularly, the early completion of major transport projects such as Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway, Ring Road 3 of Ho Chi Minh City through Dong Nai, and Ma Da Bridge, as well as roads connecting to Long Thanh International Airport, is eagerly awaited.

We believe these projects will strongly boost the province’s economy. However, authorities must strengthen supervision of construction progress and quality, while ensuring that projects are implemented in line with master planning and long-term needs of residents and businesses.

We hope infrastructure development programs will be carried out based on real needs of the community and aligned with local and regional development orientations.

Truong Van Dao, Director of Bau Nghe Fruit Cooperative, Phuoc Long ward, Dong Nai province: Creating favorable mechanisms for agricultural export businesses

Bau Nghe Fruit Cooperative has 244 hectares specialized in durian cultivation. The entire durian growing area has been granted planting codes, with an annual yield of 3,660 tons. In the 2025 season, the average productivity reached 15 tons per hectare. Currently, the cooperative’s fresh and frozen durian products are mainly exported to China. In addition, frozen whole durians and durian segments are also exported in modest quantities to Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea.

In reality, customs clearance of agricultural goods at border gates remains slow and unstable, disrupting exports and reducing product quality by the time they reach consumers. This often causes sharp drops in farm-gate prices. Meanwhile, linkages between farmers and traders are still loose, making it difficult to control quality and product appearance.

As an agricultural export business, I expect the State to use diplomatic channels to support faster customs clearance, ensuring smooth trade flows.

Meanwhile, agricultural management agencies also need stronger measures, regulations, and support mechanisms to tighten linkages between farmers and traders. At the same time, they should guide and supervise farming processes to improve quality and product appearance to meet international standards. In my view, Vietnamese durian has consistent quality and attractive appearance, capable of competing with major exporters such as Malaysia and Thailand.

By: Group of reporters

Translated by: M.Nguyet-Thu Ha