Focusing on improving residents’ quality of life

Dong Nai’s transformation into a city marks a historic turning point, opening a promising new chapter for this gateway region of the Southeast. Local residents hope the city government will introduce mechanisms and policies that promote economic development alongside improving living standards, creating opportunities for farmers and young entrepreneurs, encouraging investment, and building more livable rural areas.

Tourists visit a fruit garden in Binh Loc Ward. Photo: Binh Nguyen

Do Phuoc Dung, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai City Farmers’ Association: Developing smart urban agriculture

Farmers are delighted that Dong Nai has become a city. Along with this joy come both opportunities and challenges for farmers and agricultural organizations. First of all, urbanization is expected to accelerate, meaning that agricultural land will gradually shrink. However, this also creates opportunities for developing urban agriculture, high-quality farming, smart and modern agricultural models, particularly those linked with tourism, which could become a major advantage for Dong Nai.

In this context, farmers must adapt to changing conditions. Officials of the Farmers’ Associations at all levels need stronger capabilities, broader vision, and greater responsibility. The city’s Farmers’ Association should strengthen support in financing, technology transfer, resource mobilization, and partnership building to ensure sustainable development for Dong Nai’s farmers.

Hoang Thi Xuan, Deputy Head of Party Building Department of Trang Bom Ward: Taking decisive action through concrete programs and tangible results

Dong Nai today has undergone significant transformation and has taken on the appearance of a young urban center. As both a resident and a public servant, the more excited I am about this transformation, the more I feel a deep sense of responsibility to contribute. This involves striving to build the image of professional civil servants, continuously improving capabilities, and helping shape a young, prosperous, civilized, and livable city.

I believe that with unity and coordinated action throughout the political system, in the coming time, the Party Committee and government of Dong Nai City will act decisively with specific programs and clear results, constantly caring for the material and spiritual life of the people, worthy of the trust and expectations of the Central Government and the people.

Nguyen Thi Tham, Specialist at Party Building Department of Dau Giay Ward: Encouraging businesses to develop social housing

As a public official working in Dau Giay Ward, I have high expectations for the special 500-day-and-night emulation campaign themed: “Unity – Discipline – Efficiency – Breakthrough” recently launched by the Dong Nai City Party Committee. This is an opportunity for the entire political system and the people to join forces to build Dong Nai to truly live up to its status as a city. Beyond aiming to achieve double-digit economic growth, I hope the city's Party Committee and government will strongly invest in the healthcare sector, focusing on developing high-quality general and specialized hospital systems, and promoting digital healthcare so that people can access services quickly and conveniently.

I also hope that the city pays greater attention to planning land fund appropriately, encourages businesses to invest in social housing, and ensures supporting infrastructure such as schools, healthcare facilities, transportation systems, and green spaces. This will allow workers to truly settle down and build stable lives, as well as remain closely connected to the city.

Vu Hoang Hai, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dau Giay Ward and Youth Union Secretary of the ward: Creating mechanisms for young people to thrive

Dong Nai’s elevation to city status opens a new era of breakthrough development and reinforces its role as a growth pole of the country. As a young person, I am proud of this new status and view it as a call to action.

For the city's young generation to have full conditions to develop themselves and become a high-quality workforce, I hope that leaders at all levels will build favorable mechanisms, focusing on core needs such as enhancing knowledge and digital skills. I propose that the city issue strategic policies to support young people in accessing high-quality training programs in digital economy, technology, foreign languages, and modern management. These are solutions for young people to equip themselves with skills and proactively master the city's modern industrial projects, complexes, and logistics systems.

In addition, there should be the mechanism to foster entrepreneurship and innovation; and coordinated mechanisms to develop cultural institutions and comprehensive development spaces.

Le Truc Son, Party Cell Secretary and Head of Neighborhood No. 1, Binh Loc Ward: Hoping for more policies to support economic development

Becoming a city represents a strategic turning point that creates opportunities for breakthroughs in infrastructure, services, and quality of life. As a Party Cell Secretary and Head of Neighborhood, I see this as a motivation to strengthen community cohesion and help create modern, green, and livable neighborhoods that contribute to overall development of a prosperous, sustainable central urban area in the future.

With Dong Nai becoming a city, I expect technical infrastructure to be invested synchronously, especially inter-regional transport routes and smart lighting systems; upgrading grassroots medical stations with modern equipment and a quality workforce to meet primary healthcare needs right in the locality. In particular, residents hope authorities will help stabilize agricultural market access while creating mechanisms that promote agricultural eco-tourism model linked with local specialties.

Nguyen Van Hue, a farmer and tourism operator in Binh Loc Ward: Building an eco-tourism brand for the new city

My family owns more than two hectares of fruit trees, including a 3,500-square-meter mulberry growing area dedicated to tourism purposes. As part of my efforts to develop tourism services, I have invested in more ornamental plants, improved garden design, and upgraded facilities to welcome visitors. Previously, selling mulberries through traders generated around VND30 million per season; but now, by doing tourism, my income has increased to around VND45 million. When offering tourism services, I have become more aware of cultivating the fruit garden organically so that visitors can feel safe when coming to the garden to enjoy delicious fruits.

As farmers, we hope urbanization will go hand in hand with infrastructure improvements that create more beautiful and spacious rural areas and expand eco-tourism villages. The more communities and villages that engage in tourism, the more they contribute to building the eco-tourism brand of the young city of Dong Nai.

By staff reporters - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha