Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh are racing to upgrade infrastructure, strengthen human resources and streamline regulations to enhance competitiveness and deepen global connectivity. — VNA/VNS
HO CHI MINH CITY: The Southern Key Economic Region is gaining momentum in its logistics sector as 2025 nears its end.
Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh are racing to upgrade infrastructure, strengthen human resources and streamline regulations to enhance competitiveness and deepen global connectivity.
A report released at the August 2025 workshop on “Enhancing Logistics Connectivity for Socio-economic Development in the Southeast Region”, organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)-HCM and the Australian Embassy, showed the region contributes nearly 32% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 44.7% of national budget revenue.
the report showed rapid urbanisation, inconsistent transport networks and overlapping administrative procedures have pushed logistics costs higher, limiting business competitiveness.
It proposes three breakthrough solutions: improving multimodal transport connections, harmonising regulations through shared electronic customs procedures and standardising workforce training via unified curricula and stronger cooperation between businesses and educational institutions.
VCCI vice-chairman, Vo Tan Thanh, said the report provided a clear picture of infrastructure, policy and human resources bottlenecks.
Prof Thai Van Vinh of RMIT University said that businesses, authorities and training institutions form the key links needed to advance regional logistics integration.
Following its merger with former Bình Duong and Ba Rua-Vung Tau provinces, HCM City has emerged as a “mega hub” for finance, industry and seaports.
Le Minh Trung of the city’s Centre for Enterprise Support and Development said the consolidation gives the city a strong foundation to become a regional logistics centre by 2030 and a global one by 2045.
“The city is prioritising smart warehousing, inter-provincial logistics chains, high-quality workforce training and the adoption of the Internet of Things, radio frequency identification, warehouse management system, robotics and artificial intelligence to reduce costs and enhance efficiency.”
Dong Nai is also stepping up logistics development, leveraging the future Long Thanh International Airport, large industrial zones and a growing system of logistics hubs.
The province plans to develop four modern logistics centres and launch the Dong Nai Logistics Association this month.
Tran Van Hoan, a transport company representative in Bien Hoa, said improved inter-regional connectivity and streamlined customs procedures would be a turning point for the sector.
“Better links between ports, warehouses and distribution centres will cut storage and transport costs while expanding export capacity,” he said.
Following its administrative merger on July 1, 2025, Tay Ninh, with a 369 km border with Cambodia, and four international and four national border gates, has become a strategic gateway linking the Southeast Region with the Mekong Delta.
Major transport projects, including the HCM City-Moc Bai Expressway, ring roads No. 3 and 4, and the Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway, are being fast-tracked.
Tay Ninh currently has 46 industrial parks and plans to expand to 59 by 2030.
The Viet Nam Institute for Real Estate Studies said communes such as Duc Hoa, An Ninh and Hiep Hoa have growth potential similar to Bình Duong in 2015, thanks to abundant industrial land, available labour and improving connectivity.
The province is preparing to open the Tan Nam international border gate this month and break ground on the Binh Hiep gate in 2026.
It also plans to upgrade infrastructure around the Xa Mat and Chang Riec border gates with nearly 340 billion dong (US$12.9mil) in investment.
These priority projects aim to strengthen cargo flows, border trade, tourism and local revenue. — Viet Nam News/ANN
