Border commune Loc Thanh makes breakthrough in infrastructure development

Loc Thanh is a remote commune located along the border, with a 27.784-kilometer boundary adjoining Cambodia. The commune is home to two border guard stations - Loc Thanh and Loc Thinh - alongside the Loc Thinh National Border Gate and the historic site of the Southern Vietnam Liberation Army Command Base (Ta Thiet Base).

Loc Thanh Primary and Secondary School was newly constructed and recognized as meeting National Standard Level 1 in 2024. Photo: Vu Thuyen

Compared to many other localities in Dong Nai Province, Loc Thanh still faces significant infrastructure challenges, particularly in transportation, irrigation, healthcare, and education, and thus the commune needs focused investment to drive transformative development.

Breakthroughs achieved at the very beginning of the new term

Just a few days after the conclusion of the 2025-2030 Party Congress of Loc Thanh Commune, the Provincial Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province held a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion and upgrading of Loc Thinh Primary and Secondary School, located in border commune Loc Thanh. The project has an investment of over VND 35 billion and is scheduled for completion within 180 days.

Currently, Loc Thanh has five schools, four of which have met National Standard Level 1. The remaining school - Loc Thinh Primary and Secondary School - has not yet achieved this status. According to a resolution from the former Loc Ninh District Party Committee, the school was designated to receive investment and additional facilities and equipment to achieve National Standard Level 1 during the 2024-2025 academic year. However, implementation was delayed due to procedural hurdles in the bidding process.

Nguyen Thi Hue, Vice Principal of Loc Thinh Primary and Secondary School, stated: "According to Ministry of Education and Training regulations on national standard schools, the main school lacks 29 functional classrooms. The primary classrooms, built in 2012, are cramped and deteriorating, yet still in use due to a shortage of classrooms. Meanwhile, the satellite school in Ta Thiet Hamlet, built in 2002 by Military Zone 7, consists of five upstairs classrooms serving nearly 150 students, most of whom are from ethnic minority communities. However, auxiliary facilities such as wells, fences, paved playgrounds, practice areas, parking for students and teachers, and security guard posts have not been adequately developed yet. Therefore, provincial investment in these facilities not only meets current educational demands but is also a crucial condition for the school to meet national standards in the near future."

“In addition to urgently upgrading facilities and equipment, the local government will complete necessary documentation and procedures to propose that Loc Thinh Primary and Secondary School be recognized as a National Standard Level 1 school by the end of 2025. Furthermore, we will consult with provincial authorities on implementing the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 81-TB/TW dated July 18, 2025, regarding investment in schools in border communes. Loc Thanh will propose further upgrades to meet criteria for semi-boarding schools, which are particularly needed given the high number of ethnic minority students and their significant demand for semi-boarding education,” said Ho Quang Khanh, Chairman of Loc Thanh Commune People’s Committee.

Bottlenecks needed to be removed

The newly established Loc Thanh Commune was formed through the merger of both former Loc Thanh and Loc Thinh communes, creating a vast area where both former communes had achieved new-style rural standards (Loc Thinh in 2019, Loc Thanh in 2022). Thanks to the funding for building new-style rural areas, most inter-hamlet and intra-village roads have been concreted or asphalted, facilitating local travel. However, main inter-commune roads remain a bottleneck, hindering economic growth and limiting improvements in living standards.

A view of the center of Loc Thanh Commune. Photo: Vu Thuyen

Lam Ch Hieng, Head of Can Duc Hamlet in Loc Thanh Commune, shared: “Our hamlet is traversed by the main inter-commune road connecting the former Loc Thanh and Loc Thinh which links to Provincial Road 754. The 6-kilometer road was built in 2018 but has significantly deteriorated due to heavy vehicle traffic, now riddled with potholes and depressions, posing dangers for residents, especially those traveling at night to collect rubber latex. As vehicle traffic continues to increase, if upgrades are not made soon, residents may no longer be able to use this route. We hope that authorities will pay attention and invest in upgrading this road to create momentum for local economic development.”

Chairman Ho Quang Khanh further emphasized: “The newly-merged commune holds substantial potential and room for development. However, inadequate transportation infrastructure remains a major concern. Despite receiving some investment, several projects remain unfinished due to mechanism-related issues, resulting in fragmented, unconnected infrastructure. Based on assessments, during the 2025-2030 term, approximately 80 kilometers of roads in the commune need upgrading, repair, or expansion. Of these, 30 kilometers are deemed critical - they are the main arteries, critical ‘links’ essential for socio-economic development, enhancing the level of public benefit and living standard. 

Recognizing the commune’s infrastructure shortcomings, during the appraisal of draft documents for the Loc Thanh Party Congress (2025-2030), Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, urged: “The communal Party Executive Committee must prioritize infrastructure development as a strategic breakthrough and concentrate all available resources on this goal.”

Ho Quang Khanh, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Loc Thanh Commune. 

By identifying both the opportunities and challenges, the Party Committee has outlined three strategic breakthroughs requiring concentrated efforts to drive strong and widespread transformation. These include promoting socialization, diversifying investment forms, and effectively mobilizing resources from the central government, province, and national target programs. Investments will focus on critical infrastructure, particularly in transportation, irrigation, healthcare, and education. This foundation will allow for comprehensive infrastructure development which leverage the commune to accelerate its growth.”

“To ensure the success of these breakthrough initiatives, especially in infrastructure, Chairman Ho Quang Khanh concluded: “We began implementing our action plan immediately after the Party Congress. We developed specific strategies, clearly assigned responsibilities, and set defined timelines. However, our internal determination alone is not enough. Given Loc Thanh’s position as a remote, border commune with numerous difficulties, we urgently need support from higher authorities,”.

By: Vu Thuyen

Translated: Thuc Oanh - Thu Ha