Long Thanh Airport And FTZ Create New Momentum For Dong Nai’s Industrial Growth

The synchronized development of transport infrastructure, Long Thanh International Airport, and plans for a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) are creating new opportunities for Dong Nai to expand its industrial and logistics space while attracting investment in a new phase of development.

As Dong Nai officially becomes a centrally governed city, the province is entering a new stage of growth. Located at the gateway connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Southeast region, the Central Highlands, and the South Central Coast, Dong Nai has long been regarded as one of Vietnam’s largest industrial hubs.

Dong Nai currently has 58 industrial parks and is among the few localities in Vietnam that possess all five modes of transportation: road, rail, inland waterways, maritime transport, and aviation.

Infrastructure Lays The Foundation For 

A New Development Phase

In recent years, the transportation infrastructure network has continued to expand through a series of major projects, including the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, Dau Giay – Phan Thiet Expressway, Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway, Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway, Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh – Dau Giay – Tan Phu route, Tan Phu – Bao Loc Expressway, as well as Ho Chi Minh City Ring Roads 3 and 4.

These transport routes not only strengthen regional connectivity but also expand industrial, urban, and logistics development space across the region.

According to Savills data as of December 2025, Dong Nai currently offers approximately 6,725 hectares of industrial land for lease, with an occupancy rate of around 94%. The supply of ready-built factories and warehouses has reached approximately 3.48 million square meters, with occupancy rates nearing 95%.

The high absorption rate reflects continued strong leasing demand. Average industrial land rental prices stand at approximately USD 192 per square meter per lease cycle, while ready-built factory and warehouse rents average around USD 4 per square meter per month.

Mr. John Campbell, Director of Industrial Services at Savills Vietnam, noted that Dong Nai is no longer competing solely through its industrial land bank but is now positioned to develop higher-value industrial ecosystems such as high-tech manufacturing, air cargo logistics, supporting industries, and export processing zones.

Savills data also shows that from 2021 through the first 10 months of 2025, fabricated metals, machinery and equipment, and electrical equipment accounted for more than 40% of all new manufacturing projects in the province.

“Electronics, rubber, and plastics also recorded significant shares, reflecting the growth trend of supporting industries and export-oriented manufacturing,” Mr. John Campbell stated.

During the same period, Dong Nai attracted 375 new manufacturing projects. The number of factory lease transactions increased from 31 in 2021 to 110 in 2025, while industrial land lease transactions rose from 10 to 29 deals.

These indicators demonstrate sustained demand for production expansion while also reflecting investor confidence in Dong Nai’s industrial development prospects.

Long Thanh Airport And FTZ Open New Opportunities 

For Industry And Logistics

Among Dong Nai’s new growth drivers, Long Thanh International Airport and the proposed Free Trade Zone (FTZ) are considered critical factors capable of transforming the province’s industrial and logistics structure.

The Long Thanh Airport project covers approximately 5,000 hectares, with a total estimated investment of around VND 336.63 trillion. Phase 1 is designed with a capacity of 25 million passengers per year and is expected to become operational next year.

Meanwhile, with an estimated investment of approximately USD 16 billion, Dong Nai is developing a proposal for an 8,100-hectare FTZ, with Phase 1 expected to cover around 3,700 hectares. The FTZ is proposed as a USD 16 billion project integrating four functional zones: manufacturing, logistics, finance-commerce-services, research and innovation, and the digital economy.

According to the proposal, the FTZ will connect directly with Long Thanh Airport and Phuoc An Port, forming a multimodal logistics chain integrating air transport, road transport, and seaports.

Mr. John Campbell believes that Long Thanh is not merely an international passenger airport but could also become a new air cargo gateway for Southern Vietnam. Combined with the seaport system in Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City’s role as a financial and service center, Dong Nai has the opportunity to develop an integrated industrial, logistics, and export model.

Businesses may establish manufacturing facilities within Dong Nai’s industrial parks, consolidate goods at logistics centers near Long Thanh Airport, and export products through both air freight and deep-water seaports.

In addition, the FTZ is expected to create further opportunities for attracting higher value-added industries and logistics services. Sectors with strong growth potential include electronics, electrical equipment, machinery, supporting industries, cold-chain logistics, medical equipment, and regional distribution centers. These industries stand to benefit significantly from multimodal logistics, streamlined customs procedures, and the connectivity advantages offered by Long Thanh Airport and the regional seaport network.

According to Mr. John Campbell, rather than competing broadly across all manufacturing sectors, Dong Nai could focus on developing a more specialized industrial ecosystem to differentiate itself from neighboring provinces.

Despite possessing numerous new growth drivers, Mr. Campbell also noted that Dong Nai still faces several challenges that must be addressed to fully unlock the potential of the FTZ and Long Thanh Airport.

The first bottleneck lies in infrastructure connectivity, particularly the “last-mile” transport links between industrial parks, the airport, and seaport corridors. Although many large-scale infrastructure projects are underway, transportation efficiency and logistics integration will remain crucial to the operational effectiveness of the entire industrial-export chain.

Another challenge involves institutional mechanisms and legal frameworks. FTZ models require streamlined customs procedures, flexible tax policies, and more efficient investment approval processes. Without sufficiently clear and flexible policies, the expected benefits of the FTZ may not be fully realized.

Furthermore, regional planning coordination among Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau is also considered essential as supply chains and logistics networks become increasingly interconnected.

“If the FTZ, airport, and logistics infrastructure are successfully implemented, Dong Nai could transform from a traditional manufacturing hub into a key regional manufacturing and logistics center,” Mr. John Campbell emphasized.

In the first five months of 2026, Dong Nai’s industrial production continued its growth momentum, with the industrial production index increasing by 13.59% year-on-year. Notably, warehousing and transportation support service revenues rose by 28.95%, indicating growing logistics demand alongside the expansion of manufacturing and trade activities.