Resolution No. 16 to unlock development space for Dong Nai as a multifunctional airport city

Adopting a new approach to urban development and planning, with a long-term strategic vision focused on an open development space, multidirectional transport infrastructure and a modern, multi-layered, polycentric urban structure, is among the key orientations set out in Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the construction and development of Dong Nai through 2035, with a vision to 2065 (Resolution No. 16).

Speaking to Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television, urban planner and architect Khuong Van Muoi, former Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA), said Dong Nai has significant potential and considerable room for development as it works toward becoming a green and smart city built around an airport, riverside areas, multiple centers and diverse functions.

Architect Khuong Van Muoi, former Vice Chairman of the VAA

Shaping a multi-layered urban structure

*According to Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW, Dong Nai City is planned with a long-term strategic vision featuring an open development space, multidirectional transport infrastructure and a modern, multi-layered, polycentric urban structure, with rivers and natural ecosystems serving as the main landscape backbone. In your view, what should the city do to capitalize on the Dong Nai River and shape an urban landscape centered around it?

To fully capitalize on the landscape value of the Dong Nai River, we must first understand its characteristics and the value it offers. The river is broad and substantial in scale, creating considerable potential for urban, cultural, sporting and tourism activities. The city's recent development of roads and embankments along the riverbanks is a positive step. These projects not only help prevent erosion and protect the riverbanks but also create attractive landscapes, public spaces and pedestrian paths for local residents.

The riverside road along the Dong Nai River in Tran Bien Ward, Dong Nai City. Photo: Pham Tung

There are also many valuable cultural, historical and architectural projects along both banks of the Dong Nai River, together with festivals and community spaces. These provide an important foundation for creating a distinctive chain of cultural and landscape attractions along the river.

In addition, the city has gradually developed squares, parks, commercial centers and public spaces along the river in the new administrative center. It is also planning functional and ecological areas in Pho Islet. If properly planned and organized, these areas could help unlock the value of the area's ecological spaces, landscapes and waterways.

The key is to clearly identify and prioritize projects that can be implemented immediately based on existing advantages and resources. Projects requiring substantial funding or involving long-term development need to be carefully prepared and studied, with specific implementation roadmaps. Only with a clear roadmap, step-by-step implementation and synchronized development can we create a sustainable development space in which the Dong Nai River truly serves as the city's main landscape axis.

*One of the key tasks set out in Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW is to develop a comprehensive aviation ecosystem around Long Thanh Airport City. What is an airport city, and what should be done to build a multifunctional aviation ecosystem?

A city needs residents, while an airport is a key piece of infrastructure at its center. With the Government investing in Long Thanh International Airport, the airport is expected to have a capacity of around 100 million passengers a year once all planned phases are completed, with further potential for expansion and development.

Once the airport takes shape, the challenge will be to build an urban structure closely integrated with it.

A rendering of Long Thanh Airport City, the “nucleus” of the aviation ecosystem associated with Long Thanh Airport.

Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW of the Politburo has set out a long-term development orientation for Dong Nai, including the goal of developing a multifunctional airport city. In my view, this is a new and highly important orientation. A multifunctional airport city should not be understood simply as an urban area located next to an airport. Rather, it must be a city with a full range of functions serving the airport and its residents while facilitating connections with domestic and international markets.

First and foremost, once Long Thanh Airport begins large-scale operations, we must take into account the entire aviation logistics system. An airport needs more than terminals and runways; it also requires aircraft maintenance, repair and inspection facilities, fuel supply systems and a wide range of support services. International flights may involve layovers and transit time, creating demand for accommodation, dining, healthcare and other essential services.

A major airport must also have restaurants, shops, service centers and spaces capable of meeting the diverse needs of passengers from different countries, cultures and culinary traditions. Thus, the airport itself will support a highly diverse range of services, generating strong demand for infrastructure, human resources and economic activities. With land already planned for the airport and its supporting areas, Dong Nai needs to carefully plan and allocate space for logistics, services and other industries supporting aviation operations.

Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW sets the goal of turning Dong Nai City into an airport city, riverside city and polycentric, multifunctional, green and smart urban area by 2035, with high-tech industries, aerospace industries, and an internationally standardized aviation economy. The city is envisioned as a place where residents enjoy high incomes and a civilized, safe and happy society. By 2065, Dong Nai is envisioned as a globally connected city with a high quality of life and a high level of happiness, ranking among the world's multifunctional airport cities.

However, merely serving air transport would not qualify an area as a multifunctional airport city. Once the multifunctional airport city model is adopted, its sphere of influence will be much broader. The area must become a new growth pole for the city, concentrating logistics, industry, trade, services and other high-value-added economic activities.

Unlocking the airport city's spillover potential

*What, then, are the specific steps Dong Nai should take to maximize the connectivity of a multifunctional airport city?

A city with a good living environment, high-quality services, modern infrastructure, safety and high environmental standards will be attractive to investors. When investors come, the spillover effects will not be confined to the airport area but will extend across Dong Nai and neighboring localities. Therefore, Dong Nai needs to develop an ecosystem serving international experts, workers and investors. At the same time, its social infrastructure system must also adequately meet the needs of domestic residents, particularly workers from other localities who come to work at the airport area and industrial parks.

“A multifunctional airport city must be viewed as a complete socio-economic ecosystem, with aviation at its core and high-tech industries, logistics, trade, services, tourism, leisure, education, healthcare and cultural and social activities developing around it.”

The airport area must be closely linked with tourism, leisure and entertainment. Singapore's Changi Airport is an example worth considering. There, the airport is not merely a place where passengers arrive and depart but is also designed as a destination for relaxation, entertainment, shopping and experiences. A chain of services, landscaped spaces, internal transport networks and amenities has developed around the airport to serve passengers.

Dong Nai should study a similar approach that is tailored to its own conditions. For example, the Long Thanh area could be connected with ecological spaces, rivers, lakes and areas with potential for tourism and resort development. High-quality ecotourism and resort destinations would help create additional products for the airport city, serving not only international experts and investors but also domestic residents.

A rendering of the urban center of Long Thanh Airport City.

Another important factor is to view the airport city in close connection with the border-gate economy and the wider regional economy. Dong Nai is home to Hoa Lu International Border Gate, the Phuoc An area and a network of seaports in the Southern region. Once these hubs are connected by road, rail and air, Dong Nai will have a multimodal transport network that facilitates both freight transport and the movement of experts, workers and residents.

These connections will help expand the spatial reach and development impact of the airport city. Long Thanh Airport cannot exist in isolation. It must be connected with seaports, border gates, industrial parks, urban areas and other economic centers. Only then can the airport city truly become a growth pole capable of generating spillover effects across the region.

*Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW sets the goal of building and developing Dong Nai into a “Civilized - Modern - Happy” city, placing people at the center. What role will residents and businesses play in the multifunctional airport city?

In my view, businesses are among the key actors directly shaping the development and character of urban areas, industrial parks and the city as a whole. Each business employs workers, who make up a large part of the city's population and workforce. Therefore, as the airport city develops, one of the most visible benefits will be the creation of more jobs, higher incomes and an improved quality of life for residents.

Long Thanh Airport is expected to begin operations in late 2026.

When it comes to a civilized and modern city, we cannot focus solely on high-rise buildings or modern industrial parks. High technology must go hand in hand with a civilized lifestyle, quality housing and services, cultural spaces, entertainment and modern transport systems. In particular, public transport must be well organized, with a focus on green transport to reduce environmental pollution and cut residents' travel time. If a person needs only around 30 minutes to travel from the city center to the airport, or from home to work, they will have more time for their families, rest, study and personal development. That is also part of happiness. When urban planning and development are geared toward giving people more time for themselves and creating a better living environment, we can truly put people at the center.

Construction of the passenger terminal at Long Thanh Airport. Photo: Pham Tung

An environment that is both civilized and modern while remaining friendly and humane will have strong appeal. Vietnam has an advantage in its openness, friendliness and warm, approachable culture. These seemingly simple qualities can create a good impression among international visitors and partners. When we build a modern living environment while preserving its human-centered character, where people respect and support one another in both work and daily life, we can create a truly happy city.

To achieve this, residents cannot remain on the sidelines of the development process. They are key participants in the economy and the force that gives the city its vitality.

By N.Ha, Tra Mi – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha