Establishing Dong Nai's position in Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area

​(News Portal – Dong Nai) - Dong Nai province has an important position in the Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area in particular as well as the Southeast Region and the Southern Key Economic Zone in general. 

In the Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area in particular, the Southeast Region and the Southern Key Economic Region in general, Dong Nai has an important position as the development driving force. 

Located in 2 important areas
According to the project to adjust the construction planning of Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area for 2030, vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 2076/QD-TTg (December 22, 2017), Dong Nai province is divided into two sub-regions: the central urban sub-region and the eastern sub-region.

The central urban sub-region includes Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding areas with districts, cities and towns: Duc Hoa, Can Giuoc, Ben Luc (Long An province); Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Thuan An, Ben Cat, Tan Uyen (Binh Duong province); Bien Hoa, Nhon Trach, Trang Bom, Long Thanh and part of Vinh Cuu district (Dong Nai province). Ho Chi Minh City is the center of this Metropolitan Area; Binh Duong City is the driving force in the North while the area in the East includes Bien Hoa City - Long Thanh - Nhon Trach.

Meanwhile, the Eastern sub-region includes Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and the remaining eastern part of Dong Nai province includes: Long Khanh City; Thong Nhat, Cam My, Xuan Loc, Dinh Quan, Tan Phu districts and part of Vinh Cuu district. The cities of Vung Tau and Ba Ria are the root of expansion on the economic corridor along Highway 51, while Long Khanh City plays the same role along National Highway 1A.

According to Chairman of the Dong Nai Association of Architects Ly Thanh Phuong, the triangle of Bien Hoa City, Long Thanh, Nhon Trach districts and part of Vinh Cuu District is located right at the heart of the region. This is an area with a high speed and high rate of urbanization, with outstanding strengths in high-tech and specialized industries, training, healthcare, and international trade connections.

In the development orientation, this sub-region will be expanded to the East and Northeast, establishing a compact urban model and adapting to climate change. At the same time, the area plans on organizing a synchronous transportation system, enhancing eco-friendly spaces along the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers. Consequently, the area will maintain and develop green corridors to reduce the risk of flooding and preserve Can Gio biosphere space.

As for the Eastern sub-region, this is the area that serves as an international trade gateway for both the region and the country through Long Thanh International Airport and Cai Mep - Thi Vai international transit seaport. This sub-region is oriented for development with priority given to industrial development (oil and gas extraction, seaports, supporting industries and multi-sectors), agriculture (high technology, specialized farming, aquaculture and fishery). Along with that, the sub-region will strengthen the functions of freight transport, warehousing, and logistics services at national and international levels associated with seaport and international airport traffic infrastructure; as well as develop eco-resort tourism and forest ecological landscape tourism, conserving natural forest landscapes, mangrove biospheres and Tri An lake water sources.

Urban development alongside Long Thanh airport
In the future, Long Thanh airport is considered to be an important development breakthrough not only for Dong Nai but also for the Southeast region as well as the Southern key economic zone in general. For Dong Nai specifically, Long Thanh airport is also expected to change the province's position in relation to regional development.

At the scientific conference to comment on Dong Nai province’s planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 held in mid-June, Associate Professor, PhD. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics and member of the Government Advisory Group, believed that in the future, the province needed a new approach to economic development. In particular, priority should be given to high-tech, high-value-added industries, and at the same time, allowing room for development in other fields. In particular, the province needed to prioritize the urbanization of areas surrounding the upcoming airport and expansion of logistics services in order to turn the province into an international integration center. "Building Long Thanh airport city to become an Asian trade gateway will be the "arrow" that will lead to strategic breakthroughs in the entire province’s function and position" - Associate Professor, PhD. Tran Dinh Thien believed.

Also according to him, just placing Long Thanh airport in the province is an epochal push for Vietnam. "For this aspect alone, how to approach it must be steady and taken seriously" - Associate Professor, PhD. Tran Dinh Thien emphasized. ​