Dong Nai 2026: Aspiration for breakthrough and an epic on the land of the “Rising Dragon”

As 2026 arrives, Dong Nai enters a moment of quiet reflection, where the aspiration for development blends with the pulse of its people, continuing an enduring epic on the land of the “rising dragon”.

Dong Nai takes on a new, dynamic and fast-developing look.

When the early sunlight of 2026 gently touches the calm Dong Nai River, the land seems to pause for a moment to closely listen to the transformations sound of the times. Amid the overwhelmed emotions of a new season, Dong Nai steps into a moment of special significance – where a diligent past meets a bright future, and where the desire for development is called forth by both reason and heart.

The year 2026 is not merely a milestone. It is a convergence of favourable timing, advantageous conditions and, above all, human harmony – the enduring consensus of generations of Dong Nai people. From a frontier land in earlier days, from bustling industrial zones filled with the hum of machinery, Dong Nai is moving toward a new form: a modern growth pole that does not lose its humanistic depth.

The first flight lands at Long Thanh Airport on December 15, 2025. Photo: Pham Tung

This transformation is clearly reflected in projects of strategic scale. In Long Thanh, the massive construction site of Long Thanh International Airport has taken shape, opening up a space of runways and far-reaching dreams. On the ground, the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway, Ring Road 3 and Ring Road 4 extend step by step, narrowing geographical distances while expanding development horizons for the entire Southeast region. Above all, these are roads that bring people closer together.

Dong Nai in 2026 is also quietly changing from within. From a growth model heavily reliant on low-skilled labour, the province is gradually shifting toward a knowledge-based economy, green industry and high technology. New industrial zones are no longer measured solely by output, but by environmental standards, quality of life and sustainable value for future generations.

The true depth of this development journey lies in people’s lives. Social housing projects, renovated homes and working families settling down stand as proof of a development choice that leaves no one behind. Here, growth is not just a statistic, but a sense of reassurance when workers choose Dong Nai as their second home.

The transition between the old year and the new thus becomes a meaningful pause – a moment when Dong Nai builds momentum for the future on the solid foundation of the present. On the land of the “rising dragon”, the epic of development does not resound with loud fanfare, but with the steady footsteps of a community moving forward together, united in the belief that development is only truly complete when people are placed at the heart of every aspiration.

By Bui Quang Xuan, PhD

National Academy of Politics, Region II

Translated by Thuc Oanh, Thu Ha