This is an unprecedented event in Vietnam, when an old industrial park is "reborn" into a green, modern urban area.
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| The first prize-winning plan of the Competition for Planning Ideas to Convert the Function of Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park into an Urban - Commercial - Service Area. |
Historical milestones of Vietnam's industry
Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park was established in the 60s of the last century, with the original name of Bien Hoa Industrial Park. Over the past 60 years, this place has played the role of the "cradle" of Vietnam's industry, contributing to laying the foundation for the formation of the industrial park system in Dong Nai and the whole country. With a strategic location on the banks of the Dong Nai River and directly connected to Ho Chi Minh City, this industrial park has been the "meeting place" of many domestic and foreign enterprises, creating jobs for tens of thousands of workers.
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| Provincial People's Committee leaders inspect the relocation of enterprises in Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park. Photo: Hoang Loc |
However, due to early establishment, many factories have deteriorated. In addition, the technical infrastructure is outdated and production technology no longer meets environmental requirements. Maintaining such an industrial park right in the center of the province, on the banks of the Dong Nai River - which provides clean water for millions of people, has become a great pressure on environmental protection and urban planning.
Realizing these shortcomings, Dong Nai province has made an unprecedented decision in the history of industrial park and urban development in Vietnam, which is to relocate all factories and production facilities and convert the function of nearly 330 hectares in Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park into a commercial and service urban area. This is a pioneering step in the country, because up to this point, no province or city has ever converted the function of such a large, long-standing industrial park with such a special location.
Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park was established in 1963, in Tran Bien Ward, Dong Nai Province, the first industrial park in the country. In 2009, the Prime Minister agreed to the policy of converting the industrial park into a commercial - service urban area. In 2021, the Government approved the removal of the industrial park from the planning of industrial parks in Vietnam. In 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision approving the Project to convert the function of Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park into an urban - commercial - service area and improve the environment. |
Recently, the relocation and site clearance of industrial parks have been carried out vigorously, but still ensuring the legitimate rights of enterprises. Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha said: Before implementing the relocation, the province had met with enterprises many times, introducing land funds in other industrial parks in the area for enterprises to continue operating. At the same time, the province fully implemented compensation and support policies according to the law.
General Director of VICASA - VNSTEEL Steel Joint Stock Company Ngo Tien Tho shared: “The relocation of the factory that has existed for more than half a century is something that the company regrets. However, the company completely agrees with the province's policy, has proactively stopped production and liquidated assets to hand over the site soon. Along with that, the company quickly liquidated contracts with factory tenants and requested partners to relocate assets to hand over the land to the province.”
Not only the above company, many investors also expressed their agreement with the province's policy on converting the function of Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park. They said: This is a necessary step to effectively exploit the "golden" land fund along the river, contributing to urban beautification and socio-economic development.
Dong Nai urban highlight
According to the plan, after the conversion, Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park will form 3 clusters of works, taking Dong Nai River as the main landscape axis, while ensuring the "green" and "open" elements throughout. In particular, the highlight is the project of the Provincial Political - Administrative Center with functional areas: Dong Nai Provincial Political - Administrative Center is the workplace of all Party, government, mass organizations, departments, branches and sectors of the province; Conference - Exhibition Center is the place to organize large-scale and important conferences, seminars and exhibitions of the province; Central Square - Water Square is the place to organize political, cultural, sports events, parades, festivals, outdoor performances, and is also a community space for people day and night.
Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha said: To maximize the advantages of the industrial park after conversion, the province has planned into clusters of works, and at the same time organized a competition to select architectural plans for the Provincial Political - Administrative Center Area to select quality, creative, highly symbolic designs, demonstrating the role of the province's political - administrative hub; ensuring harmony between aesthetics and functionality, complying with the overall planning, construction architecture as well as the landscape of the area. The selected plan must be a synchronous, modern administrative center area with its own identity, contributing to building the image of a dynamic, civilized and sustainably developing Dong Nai province.
Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee's Agencies Thai Bao said: It is expected that the Launching Ceremony of the Provincial Political - Administrative Center Project in Bien Hoa Industrial Park 1 will take place on the occasion of National Day, September 2. This is not only the beginning of a large-scale urban project, but also clearly demonstrates Dong Nai's political determination in transforming the development model, from a traditional industrial "capital" to a modern, high-tech industrial "capital"; from development based on resources and cheap labor to development in a green, sustainable direction; at the same time, it is also a testament to the orientation of not trading the environment for pure economic growth.
The “rebirth” of the oldest industrial park in the country into a green, modern urban area not only demonstrates political determination but also reflects Dong Nai’s strategic vision. In particular, the project’s launch on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day further enhances the significance of the project, as it links the goal of urban - commercial - service development with the task of protecting the environment, especially the Dong Nai River water source.
Hoang Loc
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202508/ky-niem-80-nam-cach-mang-thang-tam-va-quoc-khanh-2-9-bien-cai-noi-nganh-cong-nghiep-thanh-diem-nhan-do-thi-hien-dai-f8519e9/
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