Dong Nai's road to a US$920 billion economy

By 2045, Dong Nai aims to become a modern aviation hub for the Asia-Pacific region, a center for knowledge and technology, with a high Human Development Index (HDI), modern urban governance, a civilized society and the achievement of net-zero emissions. The city's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is projected to reach approximately US$184 billion. Looking further ahead to 2065, Dong Nai envisions becoming a globally connected city and one of the world's leading airport cities in terms of quality of life and happiness, with a projected GRDP of US$920 billion.

To realize this vision, the Dong Nai City Party Committee’s Executive Board issued Resolution No. 05-NQ/TU on May 1, 2026, launching a special 500-day-and-night emulation campaign under the theme: “Solidarity – Discipline – Efficiency – Breakthroughs for a civilized and modern Dong Nai.” The resolution serves as a guiding framework for departments, agencies and local authorities in formulating and implementing concrete tasks and solutions across all sectors, thereby contributing to socio-economic development, national defense and security, and sustaining double-digit economic growth in 2026 and the years ahead.

According to economists, Dong Nai's breakthrough in socio-economic development will depend largely on how effectively it leverages the strategic role of Long Thanh International Airport and the surrounding airport city. As the region's primary growth engine, the airport is expected to reshape the area's economic structure while creating opportunities to develop an airport-city ecosystem through investment in free trade zones, logistics hubs, next-generation aviation services, hotel chains, convention centers and other high-value service industries.

The city also seeks public investment breakthrough by introducing a "green lane" mechanism that streamlines project appraisal, legal procedures and land clearance, enabling key expressways, ring roads and transport links connecting the airport, industrial parks and neighboring regions to be delivered more quickly. While the city remains one of Vietnam's leading industrial centers, many manufacturers still rely on low-value-added processing and assembly, making it necessary to transition toward mastering technologies and producing higher value-added products. To move further up the value chain, Dong Nai needs more attractive policies to draw a new generation of FDI into semiconductor manufacturing, chip production, electronic components and green energy, industries that will provide a strong foundation for the digital economy.

At the same time, Dong Nai should unlock additional financial resources by auctioning strategically located land areas near major transport corridors and new urban areas along the Dong Nai River. The city should also encourage greater investment from businesses, residents and financial institutions to support production and business expansion. Ensuring the effective implementation of these priorities will require a modern urban governance model, under which officials, civil servants and public employees perform their duties professionally, responsibly and efficiently.

The goal of achieving a US$920 billion GRDP is more than simply a growth milestone. It represents a test of Dong Nai's ability to transform its development model. Only when infrastructure, institutions, human resources and governance advance in tandem will this ambitious target have a realistic chance of becoming a reality.