The Government Has Just Approved A Proposal To Establish Vietnam’s First Centrally Governed City Bordering Cambodia

This city will cover an area of more than 12,000 km² and serve as a key connector between the Central Highlands, South Central Coast, and the Mekong Delta. 

On April 6, the Government issued Resolution No. 95/NQ-CP regarding the dossier for the establishment of 10 wards in Dong Nai Province and the creation of Dong Nai City as a centrally governed city.

According to Resolution No. 95, the Ministry of Home Affairs will take the lead, in coordination with relevant agencies, to incorporate feedback from Government members and finalize the submission, proposal, and draft resolutions of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the establishment of the 10 wards, along with the draft resolution of the National Assembly on establishing Dong Nai City as a centrally governed city.

At the same time, the Government has authorized the Minister of Home Affairs, on behalf of the Prime Minister, to sign the submission, proposal, and explanatory report revising the dossier for the establishment of the 10 wards in Dong Nai Province and the establishment of Dong Nai City as a centrally governed city, in accordance with the opinions of the National Assembly, the National Assembly Standing Committee, its agencies, and National Assembly deputies.

Resolution No. 95 clearly states that the Ministry of Home Affairs bears full responsibility for the contents of the proposal dossier, draft resolutions, and related reports. The ministry must prepare complete documentation for submission to the National Assembly, the National Assembly Standing Committee, and relevant bodies, ensuring compliance with quality and timeline requirements. In addition, the ministry is responsible for providing explanations and reports to the National Assembly and its Standing Committee in accordance with regulations, and promptly reporting any issues beyond its authority to the Prime Minister.

Previously, on March 25, the 14th Party Central Committee’s second plenum agreed in principle to establish Dong Nai City as a centrally governed city, assigning the Government to complete the dossier for submission to the 16th National Assembly for consideration and decision at its first session.

On March 28, during the first session of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Council (11th tenure, 2026–2031), several important resolutions were adopted. These included recognizing Dong Nai as meeting the criteria for a Class I urban area and approving the policy to establish a centrally governed city. These decisions are considered key prerequisites for implementing the proposal. In practice, Dong Nai has already met many of the core criteria for a centrally governed city, with technical standards continuing to be completed as part of the roadmap toward Class I urban development.

Notably, according to national master plans and regional development strategies, Dong Nai City, once established as a centrally governed city, will develop under the model of an “industrial capital, modern urban center, logistics hub, and high-tech agricultural center.” This is expected to improve residents’ quality of life while creating a favorable business environment to attract both domestic and foreign investment.

What advantages will the new centrally governed city have?

Dong Nai Province currently has a border of more than 260 km, bordering three Cambodian provinces: Mondulkiri, Kratié, and Tbong Khmum. The province also manages four border gates – Hoa Lu, Loc Thinh, Hoang Dieu, and Tan Tien along with several auxiliary crossings.

According to the proposal, Dong Nai City will be formed by maintaining the current area and population of the province after administrative restructuring. In practice, after merging with Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai would have an area of over 12,700 km², a population of more than 4.5 million, and 95 commune-level administrative units.

Dong Nai also enjoys a strategic geographic location. In addition to bordering Cambodia, the province is directly adjacent to and connected with the Ho Chi Minh City mega-urban area, and lies at the intersection of several economic corridors and strategic connectivity routes. It serves as a gateway linking the Central Highlands, the South Central Coast, and the Mekong Delta.

Importantly, Dong Nai has all major modes of transportation, including road, rail, inland waterways, and seaports. The province is also home to the Long Thanh International Airport mega-project, with a total investment of over USD 16 billion.

The project has been inspected and directed on-site by the Prime Minister ten times, and it is expected not only to create a breakthrough in transportation infrastructure but also to open opportunities for developing an airport city and a modern logistics hub with regional and international significance. Once this key national project becomes operational, Dong Nai’s capacity for trade and supply chain connectivity will significantly increase.

In 2025, Dong Nai’s GRDP grew by 9.63%, exceeding the Government’s target by 1.13 percentage points. The province’s GRDP at current prices reached VND 677.932 trillion, an increase of VND 84.468 trillion.

Currently, Dong Nai has 89 planned industrial zones, attracting nearly 2,300 projects from 45 countries and territories, with total registered capital exceeding USD 44 billion.