Nhon Trach - an important trade gateway of Dong Nai

Located in the heart of the Southern Key Economic Zone, surrounded by four rivers: Dong Nai, Long Tau, Dong Tranh and Thi Vai, Nhon Trach district plays an extremely important role in the socio-economic development of Dong Nai. In the future, this area is also expected to become an important link in the global supply chain.

Nhon Trach District is currently a major industrial center of the province with 10 industrial parks (IPs), of which 9 are in operation, attracting many domestic and foreign investors (FDI). Currently, the 2 FDI corporations with the largest investment capital in the province are Hyosung Group (Korea) and Formosa (Taiwan), both located in Nhon Trach District.

Nhon Trach is a locality with strong industrial development in Dong Nai province. With 10 industrial parks already established, Nhon Trach is currently the locality with the most industrial parks in the province. Photo: Xuan Mai

Nhon Trach is a locality with strong industrial development in Dong Nai province. With 10 established industrial parks, Nhon Trach is currently the locality with the most industrial parks in the province. Photo: Xuan Mai

In 1997, Nhon Trach I Industrial Park was officially established, this is the first industrial park established in Nhon Trach district. Within more than 10 years, 9 industrial parks have been developed in Nhon Trach district. In August 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha also signed a decision approving the local adjustment of the Master Plan for the new urban area of Nhon Trach, Dong Nai province to 2035, with a vision to 2050 (on technical infrastructure and industrial parks). Accordingly, the land function in the port logistics service subdivision and Phuoc An port will be adjusted to industrial land to build a new Phuoc An Industrial Park.

Thus, with 10 industrial parks in the area, Nhon Trach district is the locality with the most industrial parks in the province at present. This has also affirmed the strength of the district in industrial development.

According to the People's Committee of Nhon Trach district, to date, industrial parks in the area have attracted 447 FDI projects with capital of over 11.2 billion USD and 174 domestic investment projects with capital of over 66 trillion VND. The proportion of industry - construction accounts for over 81% of the local economic structure.

With great geographical advantages, industrial parks in Nhon Trach district have great appeal to investors. This is reflected in the occupancy rate of leased land reaching over 88% in 9 industrial parks in operation in the district. From there, creating jobs for more than 130 thousand workers.

Besides its leading position in industrial development, seaports have long been a strength of Nhon Trach district. This is also the locality with the most seaports in the province. Of which, Phuoc An port is currently the largest seaport in Dong Nai.

Investment in transport infrastructure is considered by Dong Nai province as a strategic breakthrough for Nhon Trach to develop rapidly. Photo 1: Construction of Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City and Provincial Road 25B. Photo 2: More than 7km of Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway through Nhon Trach district has been opened to traffic and put into operation since early 2025. Photo 3: Nhon Trach Bridge on Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City was technically opened to traffic at the end of April. Photo: Pham Tung

Professor, Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh, Director of the Institute of Business Research, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, assessed that Phuoc An Seaport, with a total area of 735 hectares including the port area and logistics service area, is one of the key transport and logistics infrastructure projects not only in Dong Nai but also in the Southern region.

According to Mr. Vinh, Phuoc An Port plays a particularly important role in serving the needs of customs clearance and storage of goods for industrial parks operating in Nhon Trach district as well as industrial parks in Long Thanh, Thong Nhat districts and Bien Hoa city. “Import and export goods of Dong Nai province will be transported directly by sea, helping businesses save on loading, unloading and transportation costs and not incur costs for using infrastructure and seaports in other provinces and cities. Thereby, creating a competitive advantage in business while contributing to reducing pressure on road traffic,” said Professor, Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bui Quang Xuan, Vice Principal of Dong Nai University of Technology, acknowledged that Nhon Trach has an advantage in geographical location with a development direction towards the sea, creating favorable conditions to become an important economic and trading center of Dong Nai province. In the coming time, when the inter-regional infrastructure system, especially the connection with seaports, airports and major industrial centers in the region, is invested synchronously, Nhon Trach will become an important link in the global supply chain.

Nhon Trach with its river advantages has great potential to develop a chain of riverside urban areas.

Manufacturing components for high-end automobile lines at Action Composites Hightech Industries Co., Ltd. in Nhon Trach 3 Industrial Park, Phase 2. Photo: HUONG GIANG

With its existing strengths, over the years, Nhon Trach has made great contributions to the socio-economic development of Dong Nai. This is one of the localities that is always in the top of the province's budget revenue.

Dong Nai province has identified the strategic position and importance of Nhon Trach district in terms of socio-economic development, so in recent years, the province has also prioritized investment in completing the technical infrastructure system, especially traffic infrastructure to serve development needs. Route 319 and the road connecting to Phuoc An port have been invested in construction by the province.

Intensive shrimp farming area in Phuoc An commune, Nhon Trach district. Photo: Le Quyen

Currently, in addition to important transport infrastructure projects invested by the central government such as the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City, the province has also focused on prioritizing capital sources to implement investment projects on provincial roads 25B, 25C, and inter-port roads to complete the transport infrastructure system for Nhon Trach to accelerate development. According to the plan, by the end of 2025, Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City, provincial roads 25B, 25C will basically complete construction. Nhon Trach Bridge on Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City, connecting Nhon Trach with Ho Chi Minh City will be technically open to traffic at the end of April 2025.

Caring for and harvesting Phu Hoi tea, a specialty that has existed for over 100 years in Nhon Trach. Photo: Xuan Mai

Dr. Pham Viet Thuan, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Natural Resources and Environment, assessed that when the transport infrastructure system is invested synchronously and modernly, Nhon Trach will have many opportunities to make a breakthrough in development.

According to the provincial planning, in the Dong Nai River corridor area, one of the two new dynamic development areas of the province, Nhon Trach belongs to section 5 of the Dong Nai River corridor. This is an area oriented to develop riverside urban areas, eco-tourism, and resorts.

Dr. Bui Quang Xuan said that Nhon Trach has great potential for tourism, especially eco-tourism and riverside resorts. Reasonable exploitation will help diversify revenue sources and enhance local economic development. On this basis, Nhon Trach can become a dynamic economic region, playing an important role in the development of Dong Nai province and the Southeast region. "Nhon Trach needs to focus on training human resources to meet development needs and must have a strategy for training and improving the quality of human resources, especially in the fields of industry, technology and high-end services" - Dr. Bui Quang Xuan suggested.