Dong Nai derives growth momentum from science, technology and digital transformation

With its strategic position in the Southern key economic region, Dong Nai holds significant potential and advantages to promote the strong development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Nguyen Minh Quang (centre), Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology (DoST), visits an exhibition of digital technology products at Techfest Dong Nai 2025. Photo: Hai Quan.

The province has prioritized building and developing modern technological infrastructure while promoting smart urban development, thereby creating growth momentum aligned with its goal of becoming a centrally governed city in the near future.

Accelerating digital infrastructure development

Dong Nai has made significant investment in digital infrastructure, with information systems serving socio-economic development increasingly connected to national data platforms. In 2025, the province ranked among the country’s leading localities in building land data systems, while its innovation index placed 12th out of 34 provinces and cities nationwide. Its digital infrastructure has basically met the operational requirements of the two-tier local government model.

Moreover, according to the Digital Transformation Index (DTI) announced by the Ministry of Science and Technology in late October 2025, Dong Nai ranked among the top performers nationwide in terms of several component indicators, including digital awareness, digital infrastructure, digital economy and digital society.

At present, all communes and wards in the province are connected to specialized data transmission networks and equipped with online video conferencing systems. Dong Nai has also been developing and completing key databases for data sharing covering land management, electronic health records, digital medical records, e-learning transcripts and party member databases.

Notably, the province is strengthening data connectivity solutions while improving the efficiency of its Intelligent Operations Center (IOC), aligning digital infrastructure development with urban expansion.

Deputy Director of DoST Nguyen Minh Quang said that in the coming period, Dong Nai will focus on research and preparations of necessary conditions to access and pilot next-generation telecommunications technologies, in line with its strategy to build a modern, secure and synchronized digital infrastructure to support socio-economic growth.

In late December 2025, the Provincial People’s Committee signed a cooperation agreement on digital transformation for the 2026–2030 period with the Viettel Group. Major General Do Minh Phuong, Deputy General Director of Viettel, emphasized that the group will strengthen coordination with the Dong Nai provincial People’s Committee to deploy solutions for digital infrastructure development, enhance data transmission capacity and digital services, and build platforms for digital data analysis and application.

In addition, efforts will be intensified to promote the development of three pillars of digital government, digital economy and digital society, while ensuring cybersecurity, information safety and the development of smart logistics.

In recent years, Dong Nai has effectively mobilized and utilized resources such as labor, capital and science and technology for economic growth. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment has consistently accounted for a large share of total social investment. At the same time, the application of advanced technologies in production has helped improve efficiency, particularly in high-tech industries, generating higher added value and stronger competitiveness.

In the digital industry sector, the province has attracted major investment, especially from the U.S. technology company Coherent Corp., which inaugurated a semiconductor manufacturing plant in July 2025 at Nhon Trach 1 Industrial Park. With a total investment of USD127 million, the project underscores Dong Nai’s growing appeal in the high-tech sector.

Linking development of digital technology projects with airport city

Given its strategic location, especially with the upcoming operation of Long Thanh International Airport, Dong Nai is well-positioned to develop a digital technology ecosystem and roll out high-tech projects associated with the airport urban development.

Youth union members and young people in Tam Hiep ward assist residents in registering for online administrative procedures at the ward Public Administration Service Center. Photo: Hai Quan.

Do Quang Trung, Head of the Vietnam Internet Center branch in Ho Chi Minh City, noted that many economic sectors in Dong Nai,  including e-commerce, Industry 4.0, smart logistics and high-tech agriculture, hold strong potential for digital platform deployment and innovation. Meanwhile, the province’s manufacturing and export enterprises are becoming increasingly proactive in adopting digital technology solutions, the Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial internet applications to improve productivity.

Looking ahead, Dong Nai aims to become a dynamic growth pole with strong competitiveness and spillover effects, taking the lead in aviation economy, digital economy, green economy, high-tech industry, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, among others. The province is striving to evolve into a high-tech industrial city, a modern urban area, a national hub for logistics and high-tech agriculture, with the “airport city” model serving as a strategic lever for global connectivity and development on par with major airport cities in the region and beyond.

To this end, Dong Nai is prioritizing investment attraction and the formation of technology zones, focusing on projects in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and renewable energy. Key initiatives include the Long Thanh Concentrated Digital Technology Park and the Dong Nai Innovation Hub, alongside a 200-hectare science, technology and innovation zone in Dong Xoai ward.

Recently, in mid-March 2026, the Dong Nai People’s Committee issued a decision approving the task of preparing a 1:2,000-scale sub-zone plan for the Long Thanh Concentrated Digital Technology Park, located in An Phuoc and Binh An communes. Covering more than 119 hectares, the project aims to establish a center for information technology, providing infrastructure for digital technology application and development while promoting the growth of the local IT industry.

Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, stressed that these projects play a crucial role in implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in Dong Nai.

Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of the Center for Science and Technology Market Development (Ministry of Science and Technology):

Dong Nai possesses strong advantages for developing the science and technology market.

With its strategic position in the Southern key economic region, Dong Nai holds significant potential and advantages to promote the strong development of science and technology market. Following provincial consolidation, Dong Nai’s economic space has been expanded, creating new opportunities for the development of transactions, connectivity, and technology transfer. Its diversified economic structure spanning industry, high-tech agriculture and services provides Dong Nai with a solid foundation for the formation and expansion of the local science and technology market.

He added that the province has multiple potential product groups and sectors to promote technology supply-demand matching, particularly in supporting industries, agricultural processing, renewable energy, new materials and smart logistics.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tu Diep Cong Thanh, Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Center (IPTC) under Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City:

Dong Nai is a dynamic locality in developing an innovation ecosystem.

Dong Nai is a dynamic locality with synchronized and diversified infrastructure, ranging from digital and logistics infrastructure to transport connectivity. Notably, the Long Thanh International Airport, once operational, is expected to serve as a powerful catalyst for the development of science and technology, innovation and logistics, while creating strong momentum for the growth of the province’s technology market in the near future.

In the coming period, Dong Nai should establish a provincial innovation and digital transformation center, as it will act as an “architect” devising the locality’s innovation development strategy, while also receiving guidance from the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee to translate innovation-related resolutions and policies into practice.

By Hai Quan – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha