Final part: Building smart, livable urban area in new era
Dong Nai has become the seventh city in the country. This milestone provides fresh momentum for the locality to tap into its potential and advantages and accelerate the development of science and technology (sci-tech), innovation and digital transformation (DT).
 |
| Specialists operate the control dashboard at the Dong Nai City Intelligent Operations Center in Tran Bien Ward. |
With its strategic location, particularly once Long Thanh International Airport begins operations, Dong Nai has greater opportunities to develop a digital technology ecosystem and attract high-tech projects linked to the development of an airport city.
Enhancing digital governance efficiency
Dong Nai is focusing on building digital government, while developing digital infrastructure and a smart city through the city’s Intelligent Operations Center (IOC), a shared data platform and the socio-economic reporting system (LRIS). The city has also completed the connection of its administrative procedure information system with the National Public Service Portal and the VNeID platform, while developing GIS (geographic information system) platforms, intelligent transport systems and artificial intelligence (AI) applications to support management and administration.
Three key tasks
In early September 2026, leaders of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) worked with a working delegation of Dong Nai City on the development of sci-tech, innovation and DT. Ministry leaders asked the locality to focus on three key tasks: promoting the application of technology, DT and AI in businesses; shaping a special urban area associated with Long Thanh Airport through sci-tech, innovation and DT; and selecting and announcing five to 10 major challenges facing the city to commission scientists, research institutes, universities and businesses to work together on solutions.
According to the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), by mid-August 2026, the city’s IOC had integrated and synchronized 118 data groups from 16 department-level agencies and five vertically managed agencies, with 69 APIs (application programming interfaces) connecting specialized databases.
At the end of August 2026, the Dong Nai City People’s Committee issued decisions on the Dong Nai City Digital Architecture Framework (Version 1.0) and the Information and Communications Technology Architecture for Smart City Development in Dong Nai City (Version 2.0).
The Dong Nai City Digital Architecture Framework establishes a unified, synchronized and long-term architecture for developing digital government, the digital economy, digital society and a smart city across the city. It also provides a foundation for ensuring compatibility, compliance and systematic continuity with key national-level architecture frameworks.
In recent years, the Dong Nai City People’s Committee has signed cooperation agreements with major telecommunications and technology corporations and businesses, including Viettel, MobiFone and VNPT, to promote DT and smart city development.
VNPT Deputy General Director Ngo Dien Hy said VNPT is committed to accompanying the city in developing digital infrastructure, advancing sci-tech and innovation, and deploying key DT platforms designed to suit Dong Nai’s specific socio-economic conditions.
As part of this effort, VNPT is coordinating with the locality to develop and refine operating scenarios for the city-level IOC by connecting and utilizing data from multiple sectors, with priority given to groups of indicators supporting the management for double-digit growth targets.
Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee’s Standing Board and Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee Le Truong Son asked city departments, agencies and specialized units to proactively coordinate with relevant units, corporations and technology businesses in implementing specific solutions to improve management and administrative efficiency, promote socio-economic development, increase the share of the digital economy, and develop the pillars of digital government and digital society across the city.
Driving the development of the digital technology and innovation ecosystem
The Politburo issued Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW, dated July 21, 2026, on building and developing Dong Nai City through 2035, with a vision to 2065. One of the eight key tasks and major solutions set out in the resolution is to build a new growth model based on sci-tech, innovation and DT while developing key economic sectors.
Accordingly, Dong Nai will develop specific and superior mechanisms and policies to capitalize on its strategic position; take the lead in investing in, building and operating technology infrastructure models; attract leading global technology corporations; and promote the digital economy, DT, strategic technology sectors and innovation.
Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai City Party Committee Vo Tan Duc:
Making technology infrastructure a new economic development pillar
Dong Nai City will develop a synchronized system of strategic infrastructure and make technology infrastructure a new development pillar of the economy. The city will comprehensively plan technology zones, data centers, and research and innovation centers associated with modern, ecological and smart urban areas.
This represents a distinctive advantage compared with localities with high urbanization density, creating conditions for a new sci-tech growth pole to emerge and meeting the needs of domestic and international experts and scientists to live, work and conduct research.
The goal is to make Dong Nai one of the country’s leading localities in the development of technology infrastructure, data centers, AI, cloud computing, semiconductor industries, quantum technology, biotechnology, new materials, digital infrastructure and innovation, gradually building a technology ecosystem capable of competing regionally and internationally.
On August 24, 2026, the National Assembly passed the Urban Development Law, which includes a range of mechanisms and policies expected to create new momentum for the development of sci-tech, innovation and DT. The implementation of the law will help remove institutional bottlenecks and make sci-tech, innovation and DT important drivers of rapid and sustainable urban development.
Dong Nai City plans to establish and develop a digital technology industry ecosystem centered on strategic technologies such as semiconductors, data centers, AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing and blockchain. The city is also focusing on attracting investment and developing technology zones, with an emphasis on semiconductor, AI and renewable-energy projects associated with Long Thanh Airport. Key projects include the Long Thanh Concentrated Digital Technology Park and the Dong Nai Innovation Zone.
Abraham Nguyen Quang Huy, Vice Chairman of the National Startup Association and Chairman of 9S UNION (Global Economic Union):
Dong Nai has a foundation for making breakthroughs in innovation
Dong Nai has laid a solid foundation for making breakthroughs in innovation, with a strong industrial base, developed logistics sector, good regional connectivity, a large market and strong capacity to absorb advanced technologies.
Dong Nai is also entering a new strategic phase. Once Long Thanh International Airport becomes fully operational, the locality will gain not only additional transport infrastructure but also new development space for the aviation economy, logistics, technology, creative services and startup models capable of connecting with the region and the world.
Associate Professor and Doctor Tu Diep Cong Thanh, Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Center (IPTC) at Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, said becoming the country’s seventh city would create additional conditions for Dong Nai to invest comprehensively in sci-tech infrastructure, including research infrastructure, digital infrastructure and innovation centers.
According to Tu Diep Cong Thanh, this is an essential foundation for establishing and developing the sci-tech market and increasing the value of research, innovation and technology transfer activities in the city.
Vo Hoang Khai, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai City DoST, said the development and connection of the innovation network and ecosystem would be implemented comprehensively from the city level down to the grassroots level. In the coming period, the sci-tech sector will continue to improve mechanisms, strengthen support for incubation, technology transfer and investment connections, and promote startups and innovation, thereby contributing to sustainable economic growth.
By Hai Quan - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha
Thông tin bạn đọc
Đóng Lưu thông tin