Dong Nam Nghe An Economic Zone was established according to the Prime Minister's Decision 85/2007/QD-TTg dated June 11, 2007 with an initial area covering 18,826.47 ha. In 2014, the Prime Minister issued Decision 67/2014/QD-TTg dated December 4, 2014 to change the boundary of Dong Nam Economic Zone, including Hoang Mai and Dong Hoi industrial parks (1,200 ha). In 2015, the Prime Minister issued Decision 10/2015/QD-TTg dated April 3, 2015 adding 750 ha of VSIP Nghe An Industrial, Urban and Service Park to the economic zone. To date, Dong Nam Nghe An Economic Zone has been expanded to 20,776.47 ha, spreading across Dien Chau, Nghi Loc and Hung Nguyen districts, Vinh City, Hoang Mai Town and Cua Lo Town.
In addition to Dong Nam Economic Zone, Nghe An province has six industrial parks, covering 1,660 ha in total, included in the national industrial park development plan. They include Bac Vinh Industrial Park (60 ha), Nghia Dan (200 ha), Song Dinh (300 ha), Tan Ky (600 ha), Tri Le (200 ha) and Phu Quy (300 ha).

Dong Nam Economic Zone and industrial parks have focused on infrastructure development. They have heavily invested in technical and social infrastructure such as essential traffic routes (e.g. D4, N5 and N2), water supply systems and power grids and seaports. In addition to the existing Cua Lo Port, the province has been developing more general ports like No. 5 and No. 6, Vissai cement port and DKC petroleum port; and infrastructure systems in Nam Cam Industrial Park, VSIP Nghe An Industrial, Urban and Service Zone, WHA 1 Industrial Zone and Hoang Mai 1 Industrial Park.

In recent years, VSIP and WHA industrial zone have successfully attracted big hi-tech FDI investors such as Goertek Vina (US$500 million), Everwin (US$200 million), JuTeng (US$200 million), Luxshare ICT (US$140 million) and Mery & Luxshare (US$40 million). As of March 10, 2022, Dong Nam Economic Zone and industrial parks of Nghe An province drew 260 valid projects with a total investment fund of VND84,457.88 billion (US$3.649 billion), including 52 FDI projects with US$1.74 billion.

Mr. Le Tien Tri, Director of Dong Nam Nghe An Economic Zone Authority, said after 15 years of development, Dong Nam Economic Zone and industrial parks of Nghe An province have clearly affirmed their driving role in local investment attraction and socioeconomic development. Intensive investment has been spent on development planning, spatial development, infrastructure construction, seaport infrastructure and industrial zone infrastructure. Investment promotion and support has been increased to attract more big investors and produce effective outcomes. Tenants in Dong Nam Economic Zone and industrial zones contribute 10-13% of the total budget revenue of the province, employing more than 30,000 local workers, and unlock local advantages to open up new development opportunities not only for Nghe An but also for neighboring provinces or cities.