Vietnam set to establish its seventh centrally governed city as Đồng Nai advances toward central-city status

Vietnam is set to establish its seventh centrally governed city as Dong Nai province moves toward central-city status. The government has submitted a proposal to create ten wards in Dong Nai and to establish the city of Dong Nai under central government.

Proposal details: wards and city boundaries

The dossier states that Dong Nai province, with an area of 12,737.18 square kilometers and a population of 4,491,408, would become a centrally governed city based on its current natural area and population.

The ten wards would be formed from the existing ten communes: Long Thành, Nhơn Trạch, Trảng Bom, Xuân Lộc, Dầu Giây, Tân Phú, Trị An, Đồng Phú, Tân Khai, and Lộc Ninh, using the current natural area of those communes.

Dong Nai city would be established based on the entire natural area of 12,737.18 km2 and the population of 4,491,408.

Standards and review process

According to the government, establishing the ten wards is a necessary condition to complete the standards for a centrally governed city. The government said the proposed ten communes all meet the 5/5 ward standards.

For the centrally governed city of Dong Nai, the province has met 5/7 standards and would complete the remaining two standards after the Standing Committee of the National Assembly reviews and provides opinions.

Government and committee assessments

Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh said the establishment of ten wards and the centrally governed city of Dong Nai is based on a “solid political, legal and practical foundation.”

Judicial and legal committees, while reviewing, largely supported the proposal. They said the ten wards are located in areas with strong development potential, well-connected transport, infrastructure investment, and are identified as key centers in approved master plans.

The standing committee also affirmed that the ten wards meet 5/5 ward standards and are consistent with planning, defense, security, order and safety, history and culture, and convenience for residents.

The committees recommended that the standing committee approve the resolution on establishing the ten wards in Dong Nai and support submitting the establishment of the centrally governed city of Dong Nai to the National Assembly.

They also urged the government to promptly incorporate feedback to complete the dossier. Dong Nai was asked to complete urban planning and set a schedule to address remaining standards, no later than 2028.

Timeline for consideration

Phan Chi Hiếu, head of the Law and Justice Committee, said the committee broadly supports the necessity and basis for establishing the wards and the centrally governed city of Dong Nai. He added that the committee will present the matter to the Standing Committee for decision at the April 2026 session, and then to the National Assembly at its first session.

Economic context and development drivers

After the restructuring, Dong Nai would become the province with the largest economy in Vietnam when considering only provincial GDP. The province’s 2025 GRDP reached 677.932 trillion VND, ranking fourth nationwide behind Haiphong, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Revenue surpassed 102 trillion VND. GRDP per capita reached 150.86 million VND, contributing about 5% of national GDP.

Dong Nai is described as the gateway to the southern economic zone and the country’s most dynamic economic region, supported by a transport system integrated across five modes: road, air, rail, sea, and inland waterways.

Key projects include Long Thành International Airport, expected to begin commercial operations in Q2 2026, Phuoc An Port, and 10 expressways under development. The province’s border with Cambodia includes the Hoa Lư International Border Gate.

Dong Nai is also noted as a leading industrial province with 82 industrial zones, and as the country’s livestock hub, with branded agricultural products and potential for ecotourism and leisure.

Urbanization and planning updates

After restructuring, Dong Nai city would not change its area or population. However, the administrative unit composition would shift toward more wards (from 23 to 33) and fewer communes (from 72 to 62), increasing urbanization to 54.10%.

On 27 February 2026, the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Council passed Resolution 05/NQ-HĐND adjusting the 2021–2030 provincial planning with a vision to 2050.

Resolution 05/NQ-HĐND sets a general target that by 2030 the province will basically meet centrally governed city standards in a civilized, modern, sustainable, high-growth framework, aiming to become a centrally governed city before 2035.

The plan to establish the centrally governed city of Dong Nai in 2026 is intended to accelerate development and strengthen linkages with major national economic centers.