Dong Nai: Connecting traffic, opening the way for dynamic development regions

Dong Nai province has many key national highways running through it. Pictured is the intersection of National Highway 51 with the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway, connecting Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City. — The resolution of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress identifies the development of a synchronous, modern, and multimodal infrastructure as a breakthrough task.

The 2025-2030 action plan of Dong Nai province outlines important tasks, projects, and works that are focused, strategic, and aimed at removing bottlenecks and obstacles, and unlocking resources to ensure the province's development in the 2026-2030 period.

Dong Nai is currently investing in and constructing infrastructure and transportation projects that are shaping its development space and connecting the region. Specifically, the Huong Lo 2 road project and its extension are underway or about to be implemented. Upon completion, these projects will help connect National Highway 51 with the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay expressway, creating a new route connecting to Ho Chi Minh City.

The Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway project is considered a strategic project connecting Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City, creating a direct trade axis between industrial parks and logistics centers, seaports, airports, and tourist areas.

According to the plan, the project will be open to traffic in December of this year. At that time, this route will not only reduce pressure on National Highway 51 and shorten travel time from industrial zones to seaports and airports, but also connect wards and communes of Ho Chi Minh City that previously had to travel through Dong Nai province.

The Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway project, the section passing through the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, has been completed. Photo: Van Dun — The Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway project is expected to be completed in December 2025.

The Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 is the backbone connecting major economic centers in the Southeast region, creating a strategic transportation corridor to promote the development of the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area. In particular, the nearly 10km section passing through Dong Nai province directly connects to the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway and the extended Huong Lo 2 road, forming an industrial-urban-service development axis along the Dong Nai River. The Nhon Trach Bridge is a key highlight, breaking the relative isolation of this area.

Another project, an elevated road along National Highway 51 from the Vung Tau intersection to the Vo Nguyen Giap intersection with the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, has been approved in principle by the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee and the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee has approved the investor to prepare the proposal, with the goal of commencing construction by the end of 2025.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc assessed that the implementation of the project not only aims to develop a comprehensive transportation infrastructure system, fundamentally resolving traffic congestion and gridlock, but also aims to complete the technical infrastructure and build a modern and attractive urban landscape.

The runway at London Airport is basically complete. — Long Thanh Airport is basically complete.

The two urban railway lines, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau and Bien Hoa - Suoi Tien metro, when completed, will contribute to completing the multimodal transport network, reducing congestion on roads, and creating a modern public transport system. In particular, the Bien Hoa - Suoi Tien metro line will help Dong Nai connect directly with the Ho Chi Minh City metro system, forming the first inter-regional urban transport loop in the South.

A key upcoming transportation development for the southern part of Dong Nai province is the connecting bridge system. Dong Nai has proposed that Ho Chi Minh City cooperate in the construction of three road bridges across the Dong Nai River: Cat Lai Bridge, Dong Nai 2 Bridge, and Phu My 2 Bridge. These will serve as connecting points between the two major industrial and urban centers of the region, opening up new opportunities for urban and economic development.

CC1 has been approved as the proposed investor for the construction of the Cat Lai Bridge. — Construction of the Cat Lai Bridge is expected to begin in early 2026.

In addition to the three aforementioned bridge projects, Dong Nai is also promoting another bridge across the Dong Nai River connecting to the Ring Road 3 of Ho Chi Minh City, expected to be located between Dong Nai Bridge 1 and Dong Nai Bridge 2.

In the context of the Southeast region's efforts to strengthen transportation infrastructure and develop urban spaces along both banks of the Dong Nai River, the need for connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai is becoming increasingly urgent. These projects will not only alleviate existing traffic congestion but also act as a driving force for socio-economic development in the entire region. Upon completion, these projects will shorten travel times, support trade, attract investment, and create a seamless development space between the two major economic centers of the region.

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