The Dong Nai River is designated as the primary urban landscape axis of Dong Nai City. Consequently, the city will focus on restructuring the riverside urban space to establish a signature ecological, scenic, and economic corridor.

The Dong Nai River extends 586km in total length, with the section crossing Dong Nai City spanning over 234km. For Dong Nai City, the river stands as a natural asset of immense economic, cultural, historical, and scenic value that few urban areas possess. This river not only plays a vital role in agricultural, industrial, water transport, and eco-tourism development but also shapes the waterfront urban space.

A Natural “Treasure” in the Heart of the Urban Area

According to Mr. Ho Van Ha, Member of the Municipal Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Municipal People's Committee, amid a highly dynamic industrial and heavily urbanized region, Dong Nai uniquely retains a rare scenic landscape—the Dong Nai River surrounding its borders, particularly in urbanized or urban-planned areas such as Bien Hoa, Long Thanh, and Nhon Trạch.

Despite being recognized as a natural “treasure” in the heart of the urban area with massive potential to accelerate economic and urban growth, Dong Nai City has not yet fully capitalized on the river's strengths. According to assessments, utilizing the space along the Dong Nai River has progressed slowly and lacked a comprehensive master plan. Technical infrastructure remains un-synchronized, architectural layouts lack uniformity, and riverside cultural institutions serving the community have yet to be established.

In Notice No. 69 issued by the Office of the Party Central Committee, concluding the working session of General Secretary and President To Lam with the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai Municipal Party Committee, one of the central mandates outlined for Dong Nai City is to re-plan its space toward a polycentric model. This blueprint positions Bien Hoa, Long Thanh International Airport, Nhon Trạch, Trang Bom, Dong Xoai, inter-regional transport corridors, and particularly the Dong Nai riverfront corridor as driving operational axes.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the Municipal People's Committee, spontaneous development, illegal construction, non-compliant planning, inefficient land use, and a lack of landscape control remain widespread within the Dong Nai River corridor. This has diminished the premium value of waterfront urban spaces.

In reality, numerous riverside sectors still harbor scattered warehouses, minor ports, temporary structures, and industrial operations inherited from previous periods, which occupy land plots holding high landscape value. Consequently, these elements obstruct waterfront urban development and induce negative environmental impacts.

Forming a Signature Ecological and Economic Corridor Along the River

Since April 30, 2026, Dong Nai has officially become the 7th direct-controlled municipality of the nation. According to architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong, Chairman of the Dong Nai Association of Architects, transition to a municipality is not merely a reconfiguration of administrative apparatuses or paved asphalt roads, but an elevation of the citizens' quality of life rooted in a deeply respected natural and cultural heritage. Within urban spaces, development must be systematically intertwined with the preservation of traditional values. "Heritage is not a burden," architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong stated.

With that viewpoint, Mr. Chuong argued that historical relics and traditional craft villages along the Dong Nai River must be treated as the "backbone" of urban identity. Planned spaces around these heritage sites must feature setbacks, creating "cultural plazas" for public access. Simultaneously, Dong Nai City needs to define and develop the Dong Nai River axis as the "front facade" of the metropolis. The Dong Nai River must serve not merely as a water supply line, but as the dominant economic and landscape axis.

Sharing concepts on developing the urban space along the Dong Nai River, architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong noted that developing the riverfront space must follow an "open" mindset. This involves planning interconnected riverside parks, prioritizing public spaces. These green belts along the river represent the most natural solution to adapt to climate change. For the Dong Nai River, the locality must deploy planning schemes that amplify waterfront urban values. Within this framework, developing waterway tourism connecting from the Bien Hoa urban area up to Cat Tien and down to the Nhon Trạch urban zone requires meticulous calculations. "It is essential to plan the construction of marinas and riverside cultural centers so that the river truly 'lives' alongside the citizens," architect Khuong Nguyen Duc Chuong shared.

From the practical realities of current riverfront development, Dong Nai City identifies restructuring the waterfront urban space as a breakthrough mandate of strategic significance in its new development era.

According to Chairman Nguyen Van Ut, the city will focus on restructuring the space along the Dong Nai River to forge a signature ecological, scenic, and economic corridor. Key focus will be placed on reviewing and adjusting planning to develop continuous public waterfront spaces. Concurrently, the city will restructure the land fund, relocating industrial facilities, warehouses, and ports that are no longer suitable or cause environmental pollution, converting them to higher-value functions.

Dong Nai City will also strengthen controls over construction order, halting spontaneous development while aggressively attracting investments into riverside projects to generate fresh momentum for sustainable urban growth in the upcoming phase.

Phạm Tùng

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/