Driving development for the people's happiness

Dong Nai is a dynamic land and one of the most important gateways connecting Vietnam’s southern key economic region. Not only famous for its bustling industrial zones and major national infrastructure projects, Dong Nai stands out for its sustainable development journey, in which people are always placed at the center.

Dong Nai today is striving for sustainable growth. In the photo: Tam Hiep Ward seen from above. Photo: Dang Hung

Over the past 5 years, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and various challenges, Dong Nai has maintained an average annual economic growth rate of 7.11%. By 2025, the total product across the province is expected to reach more than 694 trillion VND, with gross regional domestic product (GRDP) surpassing 153 million VND/person/year, equivalent to over 6,000 USD/person/year, ranking fourth nationwide in economic scale. The province's export turnover over the past 5 years is over 168 billion USD. The proportion of the agricultural, forestry, and fishery sector has decreased, while the share of the industrial, construction, trade, and service sectors has increased.

The Long Thanh International Airport project is now entering its final stage, with large-scale construction, inter-provincial expressways, inter-regional connecting belts,… This project not only creates new development momentum but also opens opportunities to enhance the quality of life for millions of Dong Nai residents.

Economic development is associated with social welfare

Alongside economic development, Dong Nai consistently prioritizes social welfare as a key measure of sustainable growth. The province’s consistent guiding principle is that economic progress must go hand in hand with improving people’s livelihoods, ensuring no one is left behind. In recent years, Dong Nai has heavily invested in a comprehensive social security system. Tens of thousands of housing units have been built to provide safe and stable accommodations for workers, especially those in industrial zones, where a large workforce from all over the country is concentrated. These “workers’ houses” not only solve housing shortages but also carry profound humanitarian meaning: helping workers feel secure and committed to staying long-term with enterprises, thus contributing to the province’s collective growth.

Dong Nai has been affirming not only its role as a core driver of the Southern key economic zone, but also as a bridge linking the Central Highlands and South Central Coast. With strong support from the central government and unity among the provincial Party Committee, authorities, and people, a special development mechanism will serve as the “key” for Dong Nai to truly take off, becoming a province worth living, working, and investing in.

Comrade Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee

In the healthcare sector, Dong Nai has set clear goals: by 2025, health insurance coverage will reach 95% of the population. This is a vital indicator showing the province’s commitment in taking care of the health of all classes of people. Currently, the province has 23 hospitals with nearly 4,500 doctors. The medical workforce is increasingly well-trained and professional, continuously improving expertise and ethics, ready to serve the people. Many hospitals are now equipped with modern technology and advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques, enabling residents to access high-quality healthcare locally without having to travel to higher levels. Meanwhile, the quality of the population has improved in many aspects. The working-age population has increased. The average life expectancy of the people has reached 76.7 years. Investing in social welfare is seen as an investment in sustainable development, laying the foundation for Dong Nai’s strong future breakthroughs.

Specialist II Doctor Le Quang Trung, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Province Department of Health, shared: “Many high techniques used to be performed only at central hospitals are now available at provincial hospitals, and even district hospitals can handle procedures once exclusive to the provincial level. In the past term, hundreds of new techniques have been implemented across all tiers, significantly improving healthcare quality.”

People as the main subject

Beyond its urban dynamism, Dong Nai is also a bright spot in new-style rural development. The province ranks first nationwide in the number of communes meeting the model new-style rural standards and second in advanced new-style rural communes. Not only completing the criteria, Dong Nai also focuses on building new-style rural areas associated with people’s real lives, so that the results are not only achievements but also measured by the satisfaction and trust of the people. 

“Rural life has changed, people’s lives have improved, so they are happier. Now, residents feel more exciting when walking on clean and beautiful roads,” said Le Phung Hoang, Xuan Hoa commune.

Danh Thi Kim Phuong, Phu Hoa commune, shared: “Since the model residential area has been established, the roads are bright, green, clean, and beautiful, and people’s lives have also improved. Students no longer have to walk on muddy roads to school, and the street lights are very good.”

The message “Steadfast in people-centered development” that Dong Nai firmly pursues is not just a slogan - it reflects a profound understanding of the principle “the people are the root”, concretizes the Party and State’s guidelines in practice.  The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province continues to strengthen public consensus, promoting democracy through social supervision and criticism, playing a core role in creating consensus, transforming policies into revolutionary actions, and turning political determination into voluntary actions of each citizen.

Comrade Ha Anh Dung, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province

The New-style Rural Development Program in Dong Nai is not only a movement but has become a strong driving force to promote socio-economic development, narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas.

Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized: “The highlights of Dong Nai’s new-style rural construction include, firstly, the propaganda work, mobilizing people to unite and join hands in responding to the new-style rural construction. Secondly, building plans, programs, projects with the key goal of serving the socio-economic development in a synchronous and convenient way for people’s production, addressing the essential needs of residents. Thirdly, it is about building synchronous infrastructure, education, health care, and ensuring people’s spiritual life.”

For the people’s happiness

Placing people at the heart of development, Dong Nai is investing heavily in education and training. The province’s education system is being expanded and modernized, the school network is spread across all areas, from urban to rural, remote, and isolated areas, ensuring children to study in an increasingly better environment. By late 2025, nearly 70% of schools are expected to meet national standards.

At the same time, programs to support youth entrepreneurship have been widely implemented. Many young people have found opportunities to realize their ideas, contributing to innovation for their homeland. Local authorities have actively supported capital, skills training, and created conditions for young people to start businesses and establish their careers right in their homeland.

The cultural and sports fields have also developed synchronously. The system of grassroots cultural institutions has brought opportunities to access high-quality services so that each resident can enjoy a comprehensive living environment... These efforts are gradually shaping a new generation of Dong Nai citizens: knowledgeable, dynamic, creative, and eager to contribute.

Dong Nai today stands as a vivid testament to the people-centered development journey. The economy has grown steadily; society has progressed and become civilized; people's lives are increasingly improved... That achievement stems from the strategic vision of the provincial leaders, from the consensus of the entire political system, and especially the unanimity of the people: the beneficiaries and also the creators of change of the province, along with the era of national rise.

By Hien Luong, Kim Thuy – Translated by Thuy Trang, Thu Ha