The National Assembly, Vietnam's legislative body, has approved a resolution to establish Dong Nai as a centrally-governed city, making it the country’s seventh such municipality.

The resolution was passed with strong support, with 478 out of 487 participating parliament members voting in favor, and will take effect on April 30, 2026.

Dong Nai will join Hanoi and Hai Phong in the north, Danang and Hue in the central region, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south as centrally administered cities.

The government said the move is supported by sufficient political, legal and practical grounds, and is aimed at creating a new growth engine for both the locality and the broader region.

A corner of Bien Hoa town, Dong Nai province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of VnEconomy magazine.

Located adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai serves as a key gateway linking Vietnam’s largest economic hub with the Central Highlands, the south-central coast and the Mekong Delta. Its infrastructure has been increasingly synchronized, particularly in transport, industry, services and logistics.

A key project underpinning its growth is Long Thanh International Airport, currently under construction, which is expected to enhance connectivity and create new foundations for breakthrough developments.

Under the plan, the new Dong Nai city will retain the province’s existing administrative boundaries, covering 12,737 square kilometers with a population of over 4.49 million. It will comprise 95 commune-level administrative units, including 33 wards and 62 communes.

Following the change, Vietnam will have 34 provincial-level administrative units, including seven centrally governed cities and 27 provinces.

Authorities said the upgrade marks a fundamental shift in development and governance, positioning Dong Nai as a major urban center capable of complementing Ho Chi Minh City and acting as a regional growth pole and international gateway.

In 2025, Dong Nai’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) reached nearly VND678 trillion ($25.73 billion), accounting for about 5% of national GDP.

State budget revenue totalled around VND103 trillion ($3.91 billion), ranking fourth nationwide, while GRDP per capita stood at VND150.86 million ($5,730), also fourth after Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hai Phong.

Dong Nai is among Vietnam’s most industrialized localities, with industry, construction and services accounting for more than 80% of its economic structure, supported by an integrated transport network spanning road, waterway and air links. The southern province is also an FDI hub.