Dong Nai pushes to finalize proposal to become Centrally-governed city

Dong Nai is expediting the completion of its dossier in order to soon submit it to competent authorities for the issuance of a resolution establishing Dong Nai as a centrally governed city.

Earlier, at the conclusion of the second plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee, the Party Central Committee agreed in principle to the establishment of a centrally governed Dong Nai city.

Worthy of centrally governed city status

According to Resolution No. 112/2025/UBTVQH15 dated December 24, 2025 issued by the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on criteria for administrative units, a city must meet seven prescribed standards. When benchmarked against these criteria, Dong Nai already satisfies all required conditions and standards for a centrally governed city.

A view of Tran Bien ward, the central urban area of Dong Nai.

Following the merger, Dong Nai has a population of nearly 4.5 million. Compared with the required threshold of at least 2.5 million people, the province meets the population criterion.

In terms of area, Dong Nai spans more than 12,700 sq.km, far exceeding the minimum requirement of 2,500 sq.km, thereby fulfilling the land area criterion.

Regarding the proportion of wards among commune-level administrative units, which must reach at least 30%, Dong Nai currently has 95 commune-level administrative units after consolidation, including 72 communes and 23 wards. However, a recent review shows that at least 10 communes across the province are eligible for conversion into wards. These are key localities in socio-economic development and national defense-security, formed through the merger of former communes and townships. Once upgraded, the proportion of wards among commune-level administrative units  will rise to over 34.7%.

As for the urbanization rate, Dong Nai has reached nearly 57%, surpassing the required benchmark of 45%.

In terms of position and functions as defined in approved planning, Dong Nai has been identified as a major industrial and logistics hub as well as a key transport gateway, playing a pivotal role in driving regional and national development, particularly in connection with the orientation of developing Long Thanh international airport urban area.

Regarding the criteria for a Grade I urban area, Dong Nai has finalized its dossier and submitted it to the Ministry of Construction for appraisal and recognition. According to the assessment, Dong Nai has basically met 13 out of 15 criteria.

With respect to socio-economic structure and development level, the province meets all component indicators, including fiscal self-balance; the combined share of industry, construction and services accounting for over 81% of the economy; per capita income over the past three years exceeding the national average; GRDP growth matching or surpassing national GDP growth; and a poverty rate lower than the national average.

Stepping up finalization of proposal

On March 28, at the first session of the 11th Dong Nai Provincial People’s Council for the 2026–2031 tenure, the Council voted to adopt resolutions approving the establishment of 10 wards under provincial administration, endorsing the proposal for recognition of Dong Nai as a Grade I urban area, and supporting the policy to establish a centrally governed Dong Nai city.

The first phase of Long Thanh airport is expected to be put into operation in 2026, creating a major development impetus for Dong Nai. Photo: Pham Tung.

These steps provide a crucial foundation for realizing the proposal to establish Dong Nai as a centrally governed city.

In reality, Dong Nai not only has the “potential to qualify” but has effectively already met the core criteria of a centrally governed city.

Indeed, the remaining technical indicators to be completed under the roadmap toward Grade I urban status are transitional in nature, reflecting the level of development refinement rather than fundamental requirements. As such, they do not alter the fact that Dong Nai has already met the essential conditions of a centrally governed urban area.

According to national master plans, regional planning and the Dong Nai provincial master plan for the 2021–2030 period with a vision to 2050, once established, Dong Nai city will serve as a gateway to the Southeastern key economic region, the Southern region and the country as a whole. It is envisioned to develop into an “industrial capital, modern urban center, logistics hub and high-tech agriculture center,” integrating infrastructure, green and ecological spaces, environmental protection and advanced technical systems, alongside high-tech services and technological applications to enhance governance and quality of life.

Notably, under Clause 6, Article 12 of Resolution No. 112, in cases where it is necessary to meet special requirements for territorial management, national sovereignty protection or socio-economic development, as well as to promote linkages with the nation’s major economic centers as oriented by competent authorities, an administrative unit may be established without strictly applying the criteria set out in Chapter I of the Resolution.

Dong Nai, which shares a land border and holds a strategic position in national defense and security, also serves as a key node in the southern development corridor linked to Long Thanh airport and strategic transport axes. Therefore, the establishment of a centrally governed Dong Nai city is well grounded in political, legal and practical terms.

Moreover, once approved by the Party Central Committee, Dong Nai will have a strong political and legal basis to mobilize resources to accelerate planning adjustments, upgrade urban areas, and complete technical, digital and social infrastructure, while reorganizing the urban administrative system under a clear, feasible roadmap with defined milestones, deliverables and monitoring mechanisms.

By Pham Tung – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha