Đồng Nai is a centrally-governed city in the Southeast region of Vietnam, located northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. In June 2025, it was merged with Bình Phước province, forming the new Đồng Nai Province with an area of 12.737,18 km2 and a population of 4,836,798 people. On 24 April 2026, the National Assembly passed a resolution establishing Đồng Nai city since 30 April 2026.
Đồng Nai is in southeastern Vietnam and bordered by Ho Chi Minh City, Tây Ninh, Lâm Đồng, and Cambodia. Đồng Nai has an advanced traffic system with many backbone national roads crossing it, such as: National Route 1A, National Route 20, National Route 51 and the North–South railway lines; located adjacent to the Saigon Port and Tan Son Nhat International Airport, it offers many advantages to economic activities in the area. Its location is very important for the development of the Southern economic main hub and a junction of the South Eastern and Tây Nguyên Highland.
Đồng Nai is based essentially on the system of lakes, dams and rivers, of which Trị An Lake with an area of 323 km2 and over 60 rivers, rivulets and canals are very favorable for the development of a number of aquatic products: raft bred fish and shrimp. The seasonal tropical forests are protected in Cát Tiên National Park, located in the north of Đồng Nai and the adjacent Vĩnh Cửu Nature Reserve; the former has been recognized internationally as a significant biosphere reserve. From the mountainous area, Đồng Nai River, Vietnam's largest internal waterway, flows southeast through Biên Hòa City, Ho Chi Minh City, and villages along its way. This river plays a crucial role in providing fresh water for the entire region.
History
The earliest settlements in Đồng Nai were founded between 700 thousand and 500 thousand BCE, during the Stone Age.
In 1621, Lord Sãi (Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên) sent envoys to King Chey Chetta II of Champa, requesting permission for Vietnamese people to settle and trade in Đồng Nai.
On December 23, 1978, Hố Nai 1 and Hố Nai 2 communes from Thống Nhất District were merged into Biên Hòa city.Quyết định 272-CP năm 1978 về việc sáp nhập xã Hố Nai 1 và xã Hố Nai 2 của huyện Thống Nhất, tỉnh Đồng Nai vào thành phố Biên Hòa On December 29, 1978, Duyên Hải District was transferred to Ho Chi Minh City following the 4th session of the 6th National Assembly.Nghị quyết về việc phê chuẩn việc phân vạch lại địa giới thành phố Hà Nội, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, các tỉnh Hà Sơn Bình, Vĩnh Phú, Cao Lạng, Bắc Thái, Quảng Ninh và Đồng Nai do Quốc hội ban hành On May 30, 1979, territory was reallocated from Vũng Tàu town and Long Sơn commune (Châu Thành District) to establish the Vũng Tàu–Côn Đảo special zone.Nghị quyết về việc thành lập đặc khu Vũng Tàu - Côn Đảo trực thuộc Trung ương do Quốc hội ban hành
On December 23, 1985, Vĩnh Cửu District was upgraded to Vĩnh An town.Quyết định 284-HĐBT năm 1985 về việc thành lập thị xã Vĩnh An thuộc tỉnh Đồng Nai On April 10, 1991, parts of Xuân Lộc District were reorganized to form Long Khánh District, and parts of Tân Phú District were used to establish Định Quán District.Quyết định 107-HĐBT ngày 10 tháng 4 năm 1991 chia các huyện Xuân Lộc và Tân Phú thành 4 huyện lấy tên là huyện Xuân Lộc, huyện Long Khánh, huyện Tân Phú và huyện Định Quán
On August 12, 1991, the National Assembly’s 9th session passed a resolution merging the districts of Châu Thành, Long Đất, and Xuyên Mộc into the Vũng Tàu–Côn Đảo special zone, forming Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province.Nghị quyết về việc điều chỉnh địa giới hành chính một số tỉnh, thành phố trực thuộc Trung ương do Quốc hội ban hành
In 1993, Biên Hòa City was designated a Class-II urban area under provincial jurisdiction. On June 23, 1994, part of Long Thành District was carved out to form Nhơn Trạch District.Nghị định 51-CP năm 1994 về việc điều chỉnh địa giới huyện, xã thuộc tỉnh Đồng Nai On August 29, 1994, Vĩnh An town was dissolved to reestablish Vĩnh Cửu District.Nghị định 109-CP ngày 29 tháng 8 năm 1994 tái lập huyện Vĩnh Cửu; điều chỉnh địa giới một số xã phường thuộc thành phố Biên Hòa và các huyện Long Khánh, Long Thành, Nhơn Trạch, Tân Phú, Thống Nhất, Xuân Lộc
On August 21, 2003, per Government Decree No. 97/2003/NĐ-CP, Long Khánh District was split to create Long Khánh town and Cẩm Mỹ District, and part of Thống Nhất District was reorganized to form Trảng Bom District.Nghị định số 97/2003/NĐ-CP của Chính phủ: Nghị định thành lập thị xã Long Khánh và các phường, xã trực thuộc; thành lập các huyện Cẩm Mỹ, Trảng Bom, tỉnh Đồng Nai, Cổng Thông tin điện tử Chính phủ.
On December 30, 2015, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2488/QĐ-TTg, upgrading Biên Hòa City to a Class-I urban area under provincial jurisdiction. On June 1, 2019, Long Khánh town was elevated to Long Khánh City. At that point, Đồng Nai comprised two cities and nine districts.
On June 12, 2025, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15, effective that same day, merging Bình Phước Province into Đồng Nai.
On 14 April 2026, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 237/NQ-UBTVQH16, establishing ten wards in Đồng Nai Province by converting the communes of Dầu Giây, Đồng Phú, Long Thành, Lộc Ninh, Nhơn Trạch, Tân Khai, Tân Phú, Trảng Bom, Trị An, and Xuân Lộc, while retaining their existing area and population.
The draft resolution establishing Dong Nai city as a centrally-governed city is expected to be approved by the National Assembly at the end of April 2026, with a proposed effective date of April 30, 2026. This is a step towards realizing the plan to transform Dong Nai into a modern economic and urban center of the Southeast region.
Demographics Đồng Nai has a population of 4,836,798 in 2025 Its population has been growing in years, mainly driven by migrant workers coming to the province to work in factories. Population growth was 1.95% in 2005, between 2.5% from 2008 to 2010 and 3.5% in 2011. Net migration contributed 2.2% to this figure.General Statistics Office (2012): Statistical Yearbook of Vietnam 2011. Statistical Publishing House, Hanoi
According to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Đồng Nai Province (now the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Đồng Nai City), in 2025 the province had approximately 2.65 million adherents of 11 religions and 43 active religious organizations. Đồng Nai was reported to have the largest number of religious adherents among Vietnam's provinces and municipalities. Specifically, there were more than 1.31 million Catholics, over 1 million Buddhists, and more than 80,000 Protestants.
The population of Đồng Nai is primarily the dominant Kinh (Viet) ethnicity, although there are residents of the Han Chinese, Stieng, Mạ, Nùng, Tay, and Cham minorities.
Infrastructure Transportation
Đồng Nai serves as a key transportation hub in southern Vietnam due to its strategic location adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City and lying along several major national transport corridors. The province is traversed by a dense network of roads, railways, and future air routes, facilitating both domestic and international connectivity.
Road transport is particularly well-developed, with National Highway 1A, National Highway 20, and National Highway 51 running through province, linking it to neighbor cities. The Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thành - Dầu Giây Expressway significantly reduces travel time between Đồng Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, while also forming part of the North-South Expressway network. In addition, several provincial roads support intra-provincial mobility and rural access.
Under scheme in the near future, highways to and Ho Chi Minh City, a railway connecting Biên Hòa to Vũng Tàu, upgrading provincial road No. 726 and connecting National Highway No. 20 and No. 1 with National Highway No. 51 will create a complete system, promoting socioeconomic development in the province and region.
A major future infrastructure project is Long Thanh International Airport, currently under construction. Once completed, it is expected to become one of the Southeast Asia's largest airports, significantly easing the road on Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport and transforming Đồng Nai into a global air logistics center. Planned in multiple phases, the airport's first phase is expected to be completed by 2026, with an initial capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year. Upon full completion, Long Thành International Airport will be able to handle 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo annually.
Industrial parks Đồng Nai is one of the Vietnam's most dynamic industrial regions, with over 35 industrial parks, covering approximately 12.000+ hectares, with 30 currently operational and an average occupancy rate of 82%.
Notable industrial parks
Biên Hoà 1 Industrial Park - the first industrial park in Vietnam. As part of the urban redevelopment plan, Biên Hoà 1 Industrial Park will be transformed into a core area serving as the provincial administrative, political, and economic center. Amata Industrial Park Long Đức Industrial Park Nhơn Trạch Industrial Park
Free Trade Zone (FTZ) & Airport-Area Development In early 2025, Đồng Nai initiated planning for a free trade zone (FTZ) surrounding the upcoming Long Thành International Airport and linked to Phước An Sea Port. According to the People's Committee of Đồng Nai Province, the free trade zone will integrate four functional zones: Manufacturing (3.095 hectares), logistics (2.244 hectares), finance and trade services (1.500 hectares), innovation research and digital economy (1.419 hectares).
Administrative subdivisions Following the provincial and municipal merger program in Vietnam in 2025, Đồng Nai and Bình Phước were consolidated into a single administrative unit, officially designated as the new Đồng Nai Province.
Đồng Nai Province was reformed into a municipality called as Đồng Nai Municipality in April 2026. Đồng Nai is subdivided into 33 wards and 62 communes.
List of administrative subdivisions of Đồng Nai MunicipalityNameArea (km²)PopulationWards (33)An Lộc88,7435.870Bảo Vinh50,8536.732Biên Hòa21,4686.267Bình Long49,1441.398Bình Lộc77,2136.964Bình Phước86,38115.378Chơn Thành124,4143.658Dầu Giây98,8772.004Đồng Phú138,6649.297Đồng Xoài81,3338.419Hàng Gòn45,6025.170Hố Nai22,8586.085Long Bình44,91230.996Long Hưng32,4076.128Long Khánh21,3279.449Long Thành130,1295.992Lộc Ninh67,5132.291Minh Hưng99,6737.096Nhơn Trạch108,24156.839Phước Bình72,5745.801Phước Long71,8733.005Phước Tân42,8278.277Tam Hiệp10,81152.515Tam Phước45,0961.360NameArea (km²)PopulationTân Khai161,7937.777Tân Phú105,8177.153Tân Triều63,29112.454Trảng Bom68,7795.502Trảng Dài37,29137.951Trấn Biên31,03301.946Trị An660,4651.832Xuân Lập29,1919.390Xuân Lộc140,50105.897Communes (62)An Phước58,3265.750An Viễn47,7427.058Bàu Hàm97,5056.208Bình An59,4126.396Bình Minh36,6886.267Bình Tân190,8928.734Bom Bo245,8727.552Bù Đăng156,1434.358Bù Gia Mập342,518.558Cẩm Mỹ113,1446.103Đa Kia196,2532.173Đại Phước98,0256.123Đak Lua415,138.308Đak Nhau182,4724.529NameArea (km²)PopulationĐak Ơ246,4919.858Định Quán295,8286.548Đồng Tâm248,7236.351Gia Kiệm82,7280.043Hưng Phước187,1913.214Hưng Thịnh57,6460.872La Ngà133,4533.442Long Hà168,3828.156Long Phước81,8343.777Lộc Hưng99,0226.958Lộc Quang104,9526.732Lộc Tấn183,3623.697Lộc Thành206,1015.558Lộc Thạnh125,4910.571Minh Đức167,1117.343Nam Cát Tiên82,9316.198Nghĩa Trung222,0434.514Nha Bích137,0623.938Phú Hòa61,5337.059Phú Lâm67,3562.517Phú Lý279,0016.137Phú Nghĩa279,4034.649Phú Riềng117,3736.804Phú Trung172,0313.935NameArea