Through administrative restructuring and the implementation of the two-tier local government model, Dong Nai City has begun unlocking many critical resources, including human resources, planning, infrastructure, land management, and administrative reform. These serve as a solid foundation for the city's breakthrough and sustainable development.

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai City People's Committee, stated: "Major strategic projects involving the airport, seaport, expressways, regional ring roads, energy, and next-generation industrial parks will continue to strengthen Dong Nai's competitiveness. These are also the 'keys' that will enable the city to achieve and sustain strong economic growth for many years to come."

Tran Bien Ward focuses on developing a modern and harmonious urban environment. Photo: Cong Nghia

Building a Strong Foundation

Dong Nai was one of Vietnam's earliest industrialized localities. However, it later experienced infrastructure bottlenecks and signs of slower development compared to many other provinces and cities. Over the past five years, the city has made remarkable breakthroughs in infrastructure development through numerous large-scale projects that not only support local growth but also contribute significantly to the development of the Southeast Region and the country as a whole. These projects have progressed rapidly thanks to strong direction, substantial resource allocation from the central government, and close coordination with local authorities.

 

The interchange connecting the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway with the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway provides access to Long Thanh International Airport.

Among these flagship developments are the mega-project Long Thanh International Airport, Phuoc An Port, and the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Gas-Fired Power Plants, Vietnam's first and most advanced LNG power project.

Following the opening of the first phase of the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway in 2015, several new expressways have been completed over the past three years, including the Dau Giay – Phan Thiet Expressway, which became fully operational in 2023; the section of Ring Road 3 through Dong Nai, opened in 2025; and the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway, fully opened in 2026.

The Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway is expected to officially open to traffic in September after completion of the Phuoc Khanh cable-stayed bridge, connecting Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, and the Mekong Delta region. At the same time, Dong Nai is accelerating several strategic transport projects regarded as the "lifelines" of both the city and the Southeast and Central Highlands regions, including the Dau Giay – Tan Phu and Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh expressways, Ring Road 4 through Dong Nai, and the Ma Da Bridge project, which will connect the northern and southern parts of the city to form a high-quality transportation network.

Huynh Van Hoa, a resident of Long Thanh Ward, shared that he had lived within the Long Thanh Airport planning area for nearly 20 years and was among the first households to relocate to the Loc An – Binh Son resettlement area. Now living in a modern residential community with schools for his children and grandchildren and preparing to witness the airport begin operations, he said:

"I never imagined Long Thanh Airport would become such a massive and modern project. At the same time the airport has been built, the road network has also been significantly improved, making transportation much more convenient."

Expanding Investment Resources

With modern infrastructure, increasingly streamlined institutional mechanisms, and a political system from the city level down to communes and wards demonstrating strong commitment, Dong Nai is once again emerging as a powerful investment magnet. The city continues to effectively implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, the Central Government's strategic resolutions, and the Resolution of the First Dong Nai City Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, translating these policies into tangible outcomes that leverage Dong Nai's unique strengths.

The 25C Road Project connecting Ring Road 3 of Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh International Airport is expected to open to traffic in October 2026.

In particular, the city is accelerating its planning efforts in accordance with the directives of General Secretary (now General Secretary and State President) To Lam during his visit to Long Thanh Airport in November 2025 and his meeting with the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai City Party Committee in May 2026. Dong Nai has identified Long Thanh International Airport as the core element for restructuring its development space. Accordingly, the city is pursuing a long-term planning vision extending over the next 100 years, benefiting not only the present generation but also future generations. At the same time, the Dong Nai River has been identified as a future ecological, cultural, landscape, and urban development corridor.

With its strategic infrastructure becoming increasingly well established, Dong Nai is striving to create a new development and growth model. The city is determined to move beyond the limits of a traditional industrial center by focusing on productivity, technology, knowledge-based industries, and innovation. Dong Nai is also adopting a more selective investment strategy, prioritizing projects that bring advanced technology, modern management practices, integrated supply chains, workforce training capabilities, and strong linkages with domestic enterprises.

At a meeting with the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai City Party Committee on June 13, Politburo Member and Prime Minister LE MINH HUNG emphasized:

Transforming the Development Mindset to Maximize Dong Nai's Unique Advantages

Dong Nai City should shift its development model from "high-volume manufacturing and raw exports" to "green exports, digital exports, and high value-added products." The city should capitalize on its advantages as an "airport city," accelerate the development of logistics centers and inland container depots (ICDs), promote high-quality commercial and service models in central urban areas, support businesses in adopting cross-border e-commerce to control direct distribution channels, digitalize product traceability systems, and proactively comply with international green standards to strengthen its position as a leading export-oriented economy.

At the same time, Dong Nai will continue strengthening its role as a modern industrial center of the Southern Key Economic Region and Vietnam. The city will selectively attract investment into its industrial parks while maximizing opportunities to develop high-tech industries, supporting industries, precision engineering, automation, advanced materials, energy-efficient technologies, urban development, eco-tourism, and integrated modern urban ecosystems.

Công Nghĩa

Source: Báo Đồng Nai