Increase intra-provincial traffic connections to exploit development advantages

Completing the intra-provincial transport system, first of all the road and railway systems, is an urgent requirement for Dong Nai to be able to exploit and promote all its potentials and advantages in the context of the province having a new development position.

Leaders of Dong Nai province, representatives of the construction unit and investors pressed the button to break ground for the Ma Da Bridge Construction Investment Project. Photo: Trung Quang

One connecting transport axis is not enough

Dong Nai province is currently one of the localities with the largest area and population in the country. At the same time, it has an important strategic position, playing a central role in connecting the Southeast region with the Central Highlands and the Central Coast.

In the province, Dong Nai has many strengths in terms of raw materials, land funds for industrial development, logistics, urban areas, etc. These are favorable conditions for Dong Nai province to realize its aspiration of double-digit economic growth in the coming years.

However, according to Dr. Tran Du Lich , member of the National Monetary Policy Advisory Council, member of the Dong Nai Province Socio-Economic Advisory Group, in order to promote the province's development pillars, Dong Nai needs to have breakthrough development strategies. In particular, the first breakthrough is to complete the connecting traffic system, first of all within the province.

Comrade Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said: Dong Nai Province will possess all means of transportation in the coming time. In particular, the province has Long Thanh International Airport, Hoa Lu International Border Gate, North-South Railway and important seaports such as Phuoc An, Go Dau and Phu Huu Ports. These are favorable conditions for the province to make a breakthrough in development. However, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc also assessed: Besides the advantages and opportunities, there are still limitations that need to be overcome and challenges that need to be solved, including the issue of traffic connectivity, both inter-regional and intra-provincial.

In fact, at present, there is no direct traffic connection between the North and South of the province. Traffic between the two areas still has to go through the roads in Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, to form a direct traffic connection between the North and South of the province, Dong Nai is implementing the investment project of the connecting route from Dong Xoai to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City via Provincial Road 753, Ma Da Bridge; the route connecting Ma Da Bridge to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Quang Phu, Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, having only one traffic axis connecting the northern and southern regions of Dong Nai province is not enough.

On August 19, 2025, Dong Nai province broke ground for the Ma Da Bridge Construction Project. The project's starting point connects to Provincial Road 753, located in Tan Loi Commune, Dong Nai Province; the end point is located on the trail in Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, Tri An Commune, Dong Nai Province.

Priority given to road and rail connections

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Quang Phu said: With the project of connecting route from Dong Xoai to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City via Provincial Road 753, Ma Da Bridge; the route connecting Ma Da Bridge to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City, in order to meet traffic volume, it is necessary to consider investment according to the scale of urban expressways. "The expressway will not intersect with other routes so it can ensure traffic volume" - Mr. Tran Quang Phu commented.

The project to upgrade and expand provincial road 753 and build Ma Da bridge connecting Long Thanh airport and Cai Mep - Thi Vai port is being implemented by Dong Nai. Photo: Pham Tung

In addition to this route, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Quang Phu proposed to invest in and form new connecting traffic axes and corridors such as developing Ring Road 5 - Ho Chi Minh City to connect Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh on the basis of National Highways 56 and 56B; Ring Road 6 - Ho Chi Minh City in the direction of Provincial Roads 761, 776, 765. Along with that, Dong Nai needs to propose to the Ministry of Construction and coordinate with Lam Dong province to invest in upgrading National Highway 55B, creating a vertical connecting axis to the East for Dong Nai province.

In addition, according to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Quang Phu, Dong Nai is in dire need of connecting industrial zones in the North of the province with Phuoc An Port in the South of the province. The formation of this connection is aimed at serving the transportation of goods, therefore, if there are only roads, the transportation efficiency is not high. Therefore, it is necessary to form a railway connection between these two areas. Associate Professor Dr. Tran Quang Phu said: It is possible to take advantage of the connecting route from Dong Xoai to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City via Provincial Road 753, Ma Da Bridge; the route connecting Ma Da Bridge to Ring Road 4 - Ho Chi Minh City to invest in building this railway line.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tran Du Lich said: To complete the intra-provincial traffic system, Dong Nai needs to coordinate and speed up the completion of belt roads 3 and 4 - Ho Chi Minh City. Along with that, it is necessary to build a railway connecting from Hoa Lu international border gate to Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster to create a clear corridor for development.

Pham Tung

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202510/tang-ket-noi-giao-thong-noi-tinh-de-khai-thacloi-the-phat-trien-2411463/