Ho Chi Minh City - Dong Nai: Sharing aspirations, sharing infrastructure

The fact that Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai are working together to develop and connect infrastructure should be considered a model and replicated nationwide to create momentum for economic acceleration in the coming years.

Nhon Trach Bridge plays an important role in the traffic network connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province - Photo: CHAU TUAN

That is also the wish of the people when giving comments on the draft documents of the National Party Congress...

Located at a particularly important gateway of the country, the infrastructure between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai not only serves the two localities but also creates a main traffic system for the whole country.

The fact that the Standing Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai held a meeting on connecting transport infrastructure right after the first Party Congress showed its special importance. It also listened to the wishes of the people of the two localities and the whole country for a seamless, modern transport infrastructure system connecting the whole country.

It is not only a traffic connection but more importantly a connection of meaning, affection, desires and aspirations of both localities.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee TRAN LUU QUANG

Dong Nai commits to not only discussing but also taking action, not only agreeing on policies but also coming to specific resolutions, clear roadmaps, and breakthrough solutions to immediately develop key transport projects.

Secretary of Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee VU HONG VAN

Opening strategic routes

Over the past years, with the attention of the central government and the determination of the locality, Ho Chi Minh City - Dong Nai has devoted many resources, with the same vision, to promote infrastructure connecting the two localities.

Looking at the current traffic situation, we can see the sweet fruits of the investment concentration: Nhon Trach bridge has been opened to traffic; Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway are reaching the finish line. Along with that, Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh Expressway is being deployed, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 has been approved by the National Assembly for investment, the urban expressway connecting Ho Tram with Long Thanh International Airport... is also being studied.

It can be seen that the strategic road traffic framework including belt roads and highways connecting the two localities and the Southeast will basically be completed in the next few years.

After the merger, the infrastructure network connecting Ho Chi Minh City - Dong Nai will be very large in scale with 45 traffic axes (belt roads, highways, national highways...).

Of which, there are 14 existing routes, 13 routes under investment and 18 routes under research.

After the Party Congress, a series of new projects were promoted, the latest being the agreement that Ho Chi Minh City will implement the Phu My 2 bridge project and Dong Nai will implement the Cat Lai bridge and Long Hung bridge projects (Dong Nai 2).

Regarding progress, Dong Nai has assigned Construction Corporation No. 1 (CC1) as the investor to propose the Cat Lai bridge project and access road under the PPP (public-private partnership) model. At the same time, it supports CC1 in researching the Long Hung bridge project and will consider assigning the proposal according to the provisions of the PPP Law after agreeing on a number of procedures.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Finance has just proposed to the City People's Committee to approve Masterise Group to study and prepare a proposal for the Phu My 2 bridge and road project under the PPP method. The project is 6.3km long with 8 lanes and a total preliminary project investment of about 12,912 billion VND.

"Phu My 2 Bridge, together with the elevated routes of Nguyen Huu Tho Street (HCMC), will create a traffic axis connecting Tan Son Nhat Airport and Long Thanh Airport. The project will help reduce the load on the existing HCMC - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway and Phu My Bridge, while promoting the development of the Southern City and Nhon Trach urban area," said the HCMC Department of Finance.

The infrastructure network that has been and is being formed is the foundation for Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and the whole region to accelerate development in the coming years - Graphics: Tan Dat

Railways and metro connecting to super ports and airports

After the trial period with roads, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai will be tested with larger and more complex inter-regional projects including railways and metro.

According to the plan, Ho Chi Minh City - Dong Nai has 5 railway and urban railway lines including: Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line extending to Dong Nai; Ba Ria - Vung Tau urban railway line No. 3 (old) connecting to Long Thanh airport; Bien Hoa - Vung Tau national railway; Bau Bang - Cai Mep national railway; Thu Thiem - Long Thanh national railway line.

In particular, the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway line and metro line No. 2 of Ho Chi Minh City are particularly important links connecting Tan Son Nhat airport directly with Long Thanh airport; helping to significantly shorten travel time, creating a convenient travel corridor for international experts and investors from Long Thanh airport to the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai have urgently researched and agreed on a number of contents. A few days ago, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee sent a document requesting the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee to agree on procedures for assigning Ho Chi Minh City as the competent authority and prepare to invest in the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway line, as a basis for submitting to the People's Councils of the two localities.

Currently, Truong Hai Group (Thaco) has proposed to connect the two airports via metro line No. 2 (Tham Luong - Ben Thanh section, Ben Thanh - Thu Thiem section) and Thu Thiem - Long Thanh line. The city has a policy for Thaco to conduct detailed research and report the results soon for implementation.

Phuoc An Bridge connects Cai Mep - Thi Vai port area (HCMC) with Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway (Dong Nai). When completed, the project will help reduce pressure on National Highway 51, while also completing the national logistics system and promoting regional economic development - Photo: A LOC

At the same time, Dong Nai province is also promoting investment in extending metro line No. 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) from Ho Chi Minh City through the province to Long Thanh airport.

The Donacoop - VinaCapital consortium has been approved by Dong Nai province to study the project under the PPP form with a total length of about 38.5km, divided into three sections, with a total preliminary investment of 65,000 billion VND, entirely from private capital.

In another connection direction, Ho Chi Minh City also plans to extend metro line 3 (old Ba Ria - Vung Tau area) to Long Thanh airport.

This is one of 10 urban railway lines in Ho Chi Minh City that the Department of Construction has proposed to prioritize investment in the current period. This metro line, combined with the railway from the center of Ho Chi Minh City - Can Gio and the Can Gio - Vung Tau sea crossing, will create a new corridor connecting to Dong Nai province.

For the dual-use railway line, Becamex Binh Duong Group is also proposing the Bau Bang - Cai Mep route.

The route is 127km long with a total investment of nearly 153,000 billion VND, with a design speed of 160km/h for passenger trains and 120km/h for freight trains. Becamex IDC also proposed to participate in the investment research for metro line No. 1 (Binh Duong New City - Suoi Tien - Ho Chi Minh City) and the Ho Chi Minh City - Bau Bang - Cai Mep - Can Tho express railway. Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc agreed in principle and requested Becamex to focus resources on preparing feasibility studies for these two key projects.

The gateway center of the country

According to Architect Ngo Anh Vu - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Construction Planning, infrastructure investment and connection between Ho Chi Minh City - Dong Nai, as well as between the Southeast region and other regions in general, have been of interest for many years.

After the merger, the need for connectivity projects has become more urgent than ever, and the responsibility of the two localities to the region and the country has also increased. Therefore, the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai have proactively worked and agreed on an implementation plan.

Overall, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai are regional hubs, the blood vessels connecting the entire infrastructure system of the country.

Mr. Vu said that it is necessary to pay special attention to early investment in railway and metro projects connecting to key areas such as Long Thanh airport, large seaport clusters such as the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line extending to Long Thanh, or the urban railway line connecting Tan Son Nhat - Long Thanh airports...

To make the infrastructure connection between the two localities move quickly, there must be smooth coordination. The two localities need to soon establish a joint working group - a "special task force" in charge of removing obstacles in traffic infrastructure, mechanisms, and funding sources; any issues that need to be handled immediately must be resolved immediately.

In addition, the overall view shows that the volume of connection projects is very large, while public investment capital only meets about 20-25%. The rest must be mobilized from the private sector, especially strategic investors.

This is a favorable time when the institutional space is expanded, encouraging private participation in infrastructure projects. It is necessary to quickly implement procedures, provide clear instructions and orient investors to seize opportunities.

According to Mr. Vu, the most important thing is the spirit of companionship between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, not only building infrastructure connecting each other, but also building infrastructure for the nation's gateway. With the existing mechanisms and determination, in just a few years, the infrastructure between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai in particular, as well as the Southeast region in general, will be very modern.

"When the two localities truly get along with each other, this area will form a super development corridor - where the financial center meets the industrial center, where the mainland connects to the sea to reach out to the world," said Mr. Vu.

Nhon Trach Bridge (connecting traffic between Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City) was inaugurated on August 19 - Photo: CHAU TUAN

* Associate Professor, Dr. TRAN DINH THIEN (former Director of the Vietnam Economic Institute, member of the Prime Minister's Policy Advisory Council):

Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai play important roles in the country

Assoc.Prof.Dr.Tran Dinh Thien

Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai are both located in the Southern Key Economic Zone - the region with the highest level and growth rate in the country.

The relationship between the two localities cannot be viewed only within the scope of administrative boundaries, but must be placed within the overall development of the entire region with a vision of regional and international integration.

And the recent working session of the Standing Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai demonstrated the vision, aspiration and responsibility of the two localities to the whole country.

Ho Chi Minh City is the leading economic, financial and international integration center of the country.

Dong Nai takes on a special role when it is associated with Long Thanh International Airport, and the old Binh Phuoc area being merged also opens up new development space, creating a new growth pole. The connection between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai is therefore not only a natural development need, but also a prerequisite for forming a "new international integration coordinate" of the whole region.

If the infrastructure bottleneck between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai is not resolved, the economic losses and development opportunities will be immeasurable. Therefore, the level of connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai is a measure of regional interests and, more broadly, of national interests.

Regarding mechanisms, over the past time, the Party and State have oriented and opened many mechanisms to unleash resources and develop the socio-economy. Many new policies have begun to bear "sweet fruit".

And in the coming period, it is necessary to continue upgrading institutions so that localities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai can develop commensurate with their potential and position. At the same time, it is also necessary to be proactive, to come closer together, to share the same vision and aspiration to act like Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai.

* Mr. LE TRUNG TINH (Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Passenger Automobile Transport Association):

Ho Chi Minh City - Dong Nai: a model of linkage

With the stature and position of two localities like Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, the connection, cooperation, shared vision, shared aspirations and joint actions will be very important to the development of the whole country.

The results of the connection, especially in the field of transportation and infrastructure of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, will have strategic significance for the entire Southwest, Southeast, Central Highlands, South Central regions...

And that is the reality for the whole country. The two localities have clearly placed their common responsibility and responsibility to the nation at a very high level and want to act and produce concrete results.

Currently, the whole country is collecting opinions for the draft documents of the 14th National Party Congress. I believe that if Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai cooperate well, they can become a model for other provinces and cities in the country in association and cooperation.

With such spirit and vision, the results will not only stop at infrastructure and economic development, but can also create experiences and models to plan the general development strategy of the Party and State.

High determination, clear roadmap

Long Thanh airport passenger terminal - the most important item at the large construction site is gradually being completed - Photo: AB

The determination was shown by Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai in the first days and months after the first Party Congress when the two Standing Committees had a meeting on connecting traffic infrastructure. This was a historic meeting because it was attended by all key leaders and departments of the two localities.

At this meeting, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang said that currently Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai are very close and friendly neighbors. After the merger, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province both have larger scale, greater potential and advantages, but also heavier responsibilities.

Secretary Tran Luu Quang said: "I think today's conference is not only about connecting traffic, but more importantly, it is about connecting the meaning, the love, the desires and aspirations of both localities. The two localities must be close friends, real family members of each other. Only then will they become strategic partners."

The Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee said that the two localities need to share specific plans on what needs to be done, especially on major problems and have directions for solving them. In particular, there should be substantive exchanges, speaking directly to the issues of forecasting problems to open up for sharing and cooperation in a practical and effective manner.

Regarding Dong Nai, Provincial Party Secretary Vu Hong Van assessed that after implementing the inter-regional merger agreement, Dong Nai has created great development space with many potentials and advantages.

However, there are still some uneven growth indicators, unsustainable development, unsynchronized infrastructure, state management in the planning field has not kept up with development, not commensurate with the potential and strength of the province. The removal of difficulties and obstacles in projects is still limited, and investment bottlenecks have not been cleared.

According to Secretary Vu Hong Van, Resolution No. 24 of the Politburo and the development plan for the Southeast region 2021 - 2030 with a vision to 2025 were approved by the Prime Minister. It clearly defines the goal of building the Southeast region into a modern, dynamic economic region, with Ho Chi Minh City as the central nucleus and Dong Nai as an important development pole.

Dong Nai is aware that if the connection is not synchronized, it will lose opportunities, and if it is delayed, it will fall behind. Therefore, Dong Nai commits to not only discussing but also taking action, not only agreeing on policies but also coming up with specific determinations, clear roadmaps, and breakthrough solutions to develop key transport projects right away. "This is the golden time to create a turning point in infrastructure to form a space for interconnected development," Secretary Vu Hong Van affirmed.

The above meeting "got straight to the point" of the two localities, which is to concretize the strategic, breakthrough goals that the resolutions of the Party Congresses of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai both set out. That is to develop infrastructure, connect intra-regional and inter-regional traffic for the new Southeast region (Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh).

After the meeting, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee said that just a few days later, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai discussed the clear division of work for each project. That is, starting to prepare for the construction of Cat Lai Bridge, Dong Nai 2 Bridge, Phu My 2 Bridge. At the same time, calling for investment in urban railway lines connecting Tan Son Nhat Airport to Long Thanh Airport and some areas of Dong Nai Province... to turn the dream into reality.

These positive moves have created more confidence in "unblocking" the sluggish and congested transport projects and met the expectations of tens of millions of people traveling through this area. At the same time, they have laid the foundation for more convenient connection for road and railway projects... into the Southeast, Southwest and Central Highlands regions...

DUC PHU - HA MI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-dong-nai-chung-khat-vong-thong-ha-tang-20251028081517313.htm