The Southeast will become the country's largest growth driver region

​The national master plan for the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the 15th National Assembly at the second extraordinary session, has set out orientations for the development of socio-economic space with 6 regions across the country. In particular, the Southeast region is oriented to become the largest growth driver region in the country.

4 provinces and cities in the Southeast region including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau are determined to become the southern driving force, in which, Ho Chi Minh City is the growth pole.

The Southeast region is oriented to become the largest growth driver region in the country (Photo of loading and unloading goods at Dong Nai port).

Dynamic development region with high economic growth
The Southeast region including Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau has long been identified as the leading economic region, the driving force of the whole country. This is an area with a wide and diverse terrain, favorable for agricultural, industrial and urban development, building a transportation system....
The provinces in the linked region, adjacent to many other regions such as the South Central Coast and the South Central Highlands to the North, are regions rich in natural resources and minerals; West and West - South borders the Mekong River Delta, which has the greatest potential for agriculture in the country; The East and Southeast borders the East Sea, rich in potential for marine economic development, especially seafood, oil and gas resources, as well as convenient connection with the most important and bustling international sea route in the world, connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Indian Ocean; The Northwest borders with Cambodia, has Moc Bai and Xa Mat border gates (Tay Ninh), facilitating exchanges and cooperation with Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar along the trans-Asian road route.
With outstanding potentials and advantages, over the years, the Southeast region has achieved many important achievements in the process of socio-economic development.
In 2020, the gross regional product (GRDP) of the Southeast region will increase by 4.9 times compared to 2005 and 2.6 times compared to 2010, exceeding the set target. The Southeast region has contributed 32% of the country's GDP, 44.7% of the total state budget revenue. Per capita income in 2020 is the highest in the country.
The economic structure of the region shifts towards modernization, the proportion of processing and manufacturing industries increases rapidly; the proportion of service sector exceeded the set target; the highest growth rate of service sector in the country.
According to Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW dated Oct. 7, 2022 of the Politburo on orientations for socio-economic development and assurance of national defense and security in the Southeast region to 2030, with a vision to 2045. By 2030, the Southeast region will become a dynamic development region with high economic growth rate, the largest growth engine in the country.

Synchronous investment in infrastructure for development
At the end of 2022, the Government issued an action plan to implement Resolution 24 of the Politburo on socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Southeast region to 2030, with a vision to 2045, in order to unify in directing all levels and sectors to thoroughly grasp, implement drastically and effectively, creating a clear change in awareness and behavior activities of officials, civil servants and employees of ministries, central and local agencies in the Southeast region. In particular, infrastructure and urban development are considered as "highlights" creating a driving force for the Southeast region's development.

According to Minister of Transport and Communications Nguyen Van Thang, the Southeast region plays an important role in the country's socio-economic development; is the economic locomotive, industrial center, seaport, aviation and logistics major of the country with the dynamic region of Ho Chi Minh City - Binh Duong - Dong Nai - Ba Ria - Vung Tau. At the same time, it is a dynamic economic region, an important traffic hub with all 5 modes of transport, playing an important role in connecting trade with both the country and the world.However, the forecast of transport demand far exceeds the capacity of the transport infrastructure system, there are still many limitations, development is not commensurate with the potential and advantages of the region, especially, the inter-regional transport infrastructure is still lacking, weak and inconsistent.

Therefore, in the road network planning period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister, the highway system connects the region with Ho Chi Minh City, the Long Thanh International Airport, international border gate, Cai Mep - Thi Vai international seaport are especially focused. Currently, the Ministry of Transport has completed and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval 4 out of 5 national sector plans, this will be a good opportunity to integrate in regional planning, planning of provinces and cities in the region, contributing to the formation of a complete and synchronous transportation system, creating the premise and driving force to maintain its position as the economic driving force center of the country.In which, according to the road network plan, the Southeast region will form the North-South expressway to the East and the West, expressways connecting Ho Chi Minh City with important gateways and traffic hubs and ring roads in HCMC area; along with 20 national highways about 1,743 km long, will take care of passenger and cargo transport for inter-regional connection. The Ministry of Transport and Communications estimates that the total investment capital demand for expressways connecting the Southeast region is about VND 413 trillion.

With its position as the most dynamic economic development region in the country, the Southeast region is also the region with the most developed urban system, in which, Ho Chi Minh City plays the role of the central urban area, the largest urban area in the region and the whole country.
Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi said that according to statistics, the population of the Southeast region is about 18.3 million people, accounting for 22% of the country's population, including 14.9 million people live in urban areas, achieving the highest urbanization rate of more than 67% in socio-economic regions of the country and much higher than the national average urbanization rate in 2022 is 41%.

Despite many achievements, however, the process of urban development of the Southeast region is also facing many difficulties and challenges that limit the potential, strengths and urban development.

It is the most developed economic region in the country, especially the large cities of the region, attracting a large number of people to work and live. Therefore, the Southeast region is a region with rapid mechanical population growth and high urban population density. It is this that has created great pressure for the technical infrastructure and for solving problems in housing, health care, education and social security.
Therefore, in order to improve the quality of urban areas in the Southeast region, Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi said that it is necessary to pay attention to overall solutions, focusing on developing the road transport system, the urban urban railway network in the region in order to strengthen the connection between the central urban area and the satellite urban area.