Dong Nai to be upgraded to a centrally administered city, becoming Vietnam’s seventh city under central administration

An official decision by the National Assembly to establish Dong Nai as a centrally administered city takes effect on April 30, 2026, elevating the province to a status among Vietnam’s top economic and administrative regions. Dong Nai will become the seventh centrally administered city in Vietnam, after Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, and Hue. The Long Thanh International Airport project and other major transport infrastructure are expected to further enhance the province’s role as an industrial, service, logistics, and urban center. In 2025, Dong Nai’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) reached 677,932 trillion dong, ranking fourth nationwide, behind only Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Phong. The province’s total state revenue exceeded 102,000 billion dong, with GRDP per capita at 150.86 million dong, contributing about 5% of Vietnam’s total GDP. In Q1 2026, Dong Nai’s GRDP is estimated to have grown 9.76% year over year, ranking seventh nationwide and the highest in the southern region. Growth drivers include industry and construction, which rose 11.78%; the manufacturing sector showed positive momentum as firms resumed operations and secured new orders, supporting the industrial sector’s steady expansion. Domestic investment surpassed 15.5 trillion dong, and foreign direct investment (FDI) reached 757 million USD. Compared with the same period in 2025, the economic structure shifted away from agriculture and forestry towards industry-construction, while the service sector and product taxation saw only modest fluctuations. Business conditions remained favorable, with nearly 1,900 new enterprises established by the end of March 2026 and total registered capital over 12.3 trillion dong. As of March 30, 2026, national tax revenue reached about 31,000 billion dong, with domestic revenue around 25,000 billion dong and customs revenue above 5,900 billion dong. Going forward, Dong Nai aims to become a key industrial-service hub, consolidating its role through strategic projects and modern urban development. The province identifies two growth engines: the Long Thanh airport urban area to form an airport city serving Southeast Asia, and the Dong Nai river corridor to energize development along the river. The 2021–2030 planning framework with a 2050 vision seeks to lead in high-tech industry, green and circular economy, international trade, and tourism—ensuring sustainable development and inclusive progress for all residents. More information is available through subsequent sections and related analyses.