Aspiration to rise with the nation

On the morning of April 24, with 478 out of 487 deputies present voting in favor (95.6%), the 16th National Assembly, at its first session, officially passed the resolution on the establishment of Dong Nai City.

The news was swiftly reported by central and Dong Nai press and media agencies, providing readers with the latest updates.

A surge of pride

As news of Dong Nai becoming a city spread, officials, Party members, civil servants, and people from all walks of life across Dong Nai were filled with joy and pride. Many updated their social media profiles to introduce themselves as “from Dong Nai City,” reflecting a deep sense of pride.

High-rise apartment complexes are increasingly appearing, making Dong Nai's urban area more modern. Photo: Cong Nghia

Tran Van Xuan, Deputy Chief of the Provincial Party Committee Office, shared: On the morning of April 24, as soon as the National Assembly passed the resolution on the establishment of Dong Nai City, in a surge of pride and emotion about this momentous event for Dong Nai, I composed the poem "Dong Nai - A New Triumphal Song". The poem affirmed that becoming a city is the result of "Many years of steadfastly building foundations. It has now risen and begun to shine. From the land of red soil and great hardships, it has crystallized our ancestors’ will and determination.Through long years of persistent construction, it has gained truly profoundachievements today. Becoming a majorurban area opens up a vast future, With the aspiration to rise alongside the nation, it integrates globally, and steps forwardproudly. The airport opens up a wide sky, Industry spreads throughout the streets, Smart cities gradually emerge, Life is joyful, full of love and compassion...".

Phan Thi My Dung, a specialist at the Provincial Party Committee Office, shared that the poem "Dong Nai - A New Triumphal Song" was quickly shared and spread among officials, party members, and civil servants of the Provincial Party Committee Office. She hopes that all "Dong Nai people will remain united and loyal, steadfast in their faith in our Party, Building a more beautiful, prosperous, civilized homeland and living in harmony. Looking back on that path in the future, The triumphant song will echo proudly, A young city full of vitality, Rising to shine across the nation" as expressed in the poem.

Sharing the same pride with officials, party members, civil servants, public employees, and people from all walks of life across Dong Nai over the province’s transformation into city status, Dr. Tran Dang Ninh, Deputy General Director of Dong Nai Food Industrial Corporation (Dofico), composed the song titled "Greetings to Young City", set to music by Vo Van Ly.

An inevitable transformation

Dr. Tran Dang Ninh shared that the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress set the goal for Dong Nai to basically meet the standards of a city by 2030. But now, Dong Nai has become a city, demonstrating the great political determination and decisive working spirit of the provincial leaders.

"To express gratitude for the political determination of the provincial leaders on the path transforming Dong Nai into acity, I immersed myself in music to express my thoughts about the young city of Dong Nai. From there, I composed the song titled “Greetings to the Young City": 'Greetings to young city blooming in the new wind like a golden lotus blossoming in the Southern land, Long Thanh Airport opens a new future, carrying Dong Nai toward distant horizons. The river embraces a thousand-year-old aspiration for a glorious Dong Nai. Greetings to the young city of Dong Nai, which is vibrant as it takes off and shines brightly beneath the clouds and sky. From the high mountains of the distant border, every rural area is transforming and rising, millions of hearts beat in unison to build a glorious homeland. A green, smart, sustainable city, writing many miracles for the future. Vietnam proudly calls the name of the young city, Dong Nai City shining brightly for generations'" -  Ninh said.

Master Hoang Thi Lai, former Provincial Party Committee member, former Standing Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Inspection Committee, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial Women Intellectuals Association commented thatDong Nai officially becoming a city is a special historical milestone not only for the Party Committee, government, and people of the locality but also brings great benefits to the nation, holding strategic significance for the entire Southeast region and the country.

Master Hoang Thi Lai shared that she was born and grew up in her hometown of Dong Nai. She is very excited, proud, and deeply feels that for Dong Nai to become a city today, this is not merely a simple administrative change but an inevitable transformation after decades of accumulating internal strength, converging many factors regarding strategic location, large economic scale, large population, and high urbanization rate. From a land rich in historical tradition, Dong Nai has risen to become one of the industrial and logistics centers and is identified as a dynamic growth pole, playing an important role in linking economic spaces.

Notably, Dong Nai is centrally located in the Southeast region, within the development space of the Ho Chi Minh City mega-urban area, and at the intersection of key economic corridors and strategic connectivity axes. The Long Thanh International Airport, a national key project expected to become an international aviation hub, is seen as a major catalyst opening up new development space for Dong Nai.

The establishment of Dong Nai City affirms the sound vision of the Party and State in promoting the locality’s role as a growth driver, while also recognizing the persistent efforts of generations of leaders and residents of Dong Nai. Alongside this pride comes a greater aspiration: to build Dong Nai City, comprising 95 administrative units, including 33 wards and 62 communes, into a modern, livable, culturally distinctive, and sustainable city.

Speaking in a group discussion at the first session of the 16th National Assembly, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Head of the Dong Nai Provincial Delegation of National Assembly Deputies Vu Hong Van statedthat when submitting the proposal to the Central Government and the National Assembly regarding the establishment of Dong Nai city, Dong Nai had prepared not only with aspiration but also with the responsibility to become a growth pole of the national economy, striving with other localities to make Vietnam a developing country with upper-middle income by 2030 and a developed country with high income by 2045.

To ensure Dong Nai’s development matches its new status, Master Hoang Thi Lai emphasized the need to continue strengthening the comprehensive leadership role of the Party, enhancing governance capacity, pioneering spirit, and innovation in development thinking, especially in the context of deep integration. The State needs to have specific mechanisms and policies for Dong Nai as a city, especially in decentralization, delegation of power, finance - budget, and attracting strategic investment. The role of mass organizations, including intellectuals, women, and entrepreneurs should be further promoted in policy feedback, cultural development, innovation, and community building. Additionally, building a capable and visionary cadre of officials is essential to meet the demands of modern urban governance and digital transformation.

The establishment of Dong Nai city marks the beginning of a new journey. With its tradition, potential, and aspiration to rise, Dong Nai is expected to continue affirming its position as a key growth pole, contributing to the nation’s goals of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed nation by 2045, and playing a meaningful role in the country’s industrialization and modernization.

By Phuong Hang – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha