Dong Nai – Ho Chi Minh City: Transport Infrastructure Breakthrough, New Momentum for Suburban Real Estate

Nhon Trach Bridge Opens – A Milestone in Regional Connectivity

On the morning of August 19, in line with the nationwide inauguration and groundbreaking of 250 projects worth VND 1.28 quadrillion, Dong Nai province launched and inaugurated 8 key projects with a total investment of over VND 50 trillion. Among them, the most notable was the opening of Nhon Trach Bridge, directly linking Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City, together with the Phase 1A sub-project of Ring Road 3 (Tan Van – Nhon Trach section).

The Phase 1A sub-project spans 8.22 km, starting from Provincial Road 25B (Dong Nai), crossing the Dong Nai River via Nhon Trach Bridge, and ending at the junction with the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway. Designed speed: 80 km/h. The project has a total investment of VND 6,955 billion, financed through South Korea’s ODA loan (via the Economic Development Cooperation Fund – EDCF) and Vietnam’s counterpart capital.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Diep Bao Tuan, Deputy Director of the My Thuan Project Management Board, emphasized that the operation of Nhon Trach Bridge and Phase 1A will significantly improve connectivity between HCMC and Dong Nai, reduce logistics costs, boost tourism and trade, stimulate socio-economic growth, and ease traffic pressure on the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, which is often congested.

Expanding the HCMC – Long Thanh Expressway to 8–10 Lanes

Also on August 19, the expansion of the HCMC – Long Thanh Expressway officially broke ground. The project covers nearly 22 km, from Ring Road 2 (HCMC) to the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway junction (Dong Nai).

• Ring Road 2 – Ring Road 3: expanded from 4 to 8 lanes.

• Ring Road 3 – Bien Hoa – Vung Tau: expanded from 4 to 10 lanes.

• Dong Nai River crossing: an additional Long Thanh Bridge (5 lanes) will be constructed alongside the existing one.

Total investment is nearly VND 16.4 trillion, including VND 6.5 trillion in public funding and over VND 9.8 trillion mobilized by VEC (Vietnam Expressway Corporation). The expansion is expected to be basically completed in 2026, with the new Long Thanh Bridge slated for completion in December 2026. Once operational, the expressway will ease overload and congestion, especially when Long Thanh International Airport comes into service.

New Expressways Launched in Dong Nai

In addition to Nhon Trach Bridge and Ring Road 3, Dong Nai also broke ground on two new expressways:

• Dau Giay – Tan Phu Expressway: 60 km long, 4 lanes, design speed of 100 km/h, with a total investment of VND 8,496 billion. This road connects the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway to the Tan Phu – Bao Loc Expressway, acting as a key vertical axis linking the Central Highlands with the Southeast.

• Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh Expressway: Over 124 km long, 6 lanes, total investment of nearly VND 20 trillion by the Vingroup – Techtra consortium. The route runs 23.1 km through Lam Dong (formerly Dak Nong) and about 101 km through Dong Nai (formerly Binh Phuoc).

Other major projects launched include the expansion of Tri An Hydropower Plant, Vietjet’s Hangar 3 & 4 at Long Thanh Airport, Ma Da Bridge connecting Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai, and the new campus block of HCMC Open University in Long Hung Ward.

Real Estate to Benefit Strongly from Infrastructure Upgrades

With these transport projects underway, Dong Nai and eastern HCMC are entering a new growth cycle. Key areas such as Nhon Trach, Long Thanh, Dau Giay, and Tan Phu will become real estate hot spots:

• Nhon Trach: Directly benefits from Nhon Trach Bridge, becoming the new gateway between HCMC and Dong Nai. Land prices, shophouses, and riverside properties are expected to rise sharply.

• Long Thanh: In addition to the international airport, the expressway expansion makes Long Thanh a logistics and commercial hub. Industrial real estate and satellite town projects are drawing strong investor attention.

• Dau Giay – Tan Phu – Bao Loc corridor: The new expressway will make resort and tourism real estate in Lam Dong and the Southeast more attractive.

• Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh: Strengthens Central Highlands – Southeast connectivity, unlocking potential for industrial, logistics, and residential real estate along the corridor.

With the opening of Nhon Trach Bridge, the expansion of the HCMC – Long Thanh Expressway, and the groundbreaking of multiple new highways, Dong Nai – HCMC is shaping one of the most modern transport networks in Vietnam. This is a strategic catalyst for suburban real estate, turning Nhon Trach – Long Thanh – Dong Nai into key investment destinations for the 2025–2030 period.