Investments

Southern Vietnam’s Public Investment Capital Accelerates Ahead of 2026

Southern provinces are accelerating public investment disbursement in the final months of 2025, fueling infrastructure development and regional economic growth.

Administrator

8 December, 2025

Contractors concentrate machinery for overnight construction at the Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway site. (Photo: Tuan Phi/TTXVN)

As 2025 draws to a close, southern localities in Vietnam are accelerating public investment disbursement to maximize the fulfillment of their assigned plans. Multiple provinces and cities are intensifying progress, streamlining procedures, and addressing bottlenecks in land clearance, bidding, and land price formalities. Timely disbursement not only meets government requirements but also fosters growth, enhances infrastructure, and lays the groundwork for the 2026-2030 medium-term public investment phase.

Accelerating Key Projects

In 2025, Dong Nai province received a central allocation of nearly VND 32 trillion and over VND 5 trillion from local budgets, totaling almost VND 37 trillion. As of November 25, the province had disbursed nearly VND 16 trillion, achieving approximately 43% of the local plan.

Excluding over VND 9.2 trillion eligible for extension or newly added, the disbursement rate reaches over 57%, surpassing the national average of 56.6%. Based on the Prime Minister’s allocation, the disbursement rate hits 70% after excluding extended portions.

According to Dong Nai’s Department of Finance, to achieve 100% disbursement of the required funds, the province needs to disburse an additional VND 6.7 trillion in the remaining days. Despite significant pressure, many investors have reported promising disbursement rates.

Among 41 funded units, 29 have surpassed the national average; notably, Project Management Unit 1 (Bien Hoa) reached 93%, Project Management Unit 7 (Xuan Loc) 83%, Project Management Unit Dong Phu 79%, and Nhon Trach Land Development Center 74%.

Mr. Nguyen Ton Trong, Director of Project Management Unit 1, stated that the unit received VND 730 billion and had disbursed over 90% by mid-November. The remaining funds are primarily for road construction, Dong Nai riverbank embankments, four schools, and five health stations. The unit is fully committed to completing the annual plan.

However, some units still have low rates, such as Project Management Unit 10, Binh Long branch of the Land Development Center, the provincial Land Development Center, and the Department of Industry and Trade. The provincial Land Development Center, allocated nearly VND 1.7 trillion for nine projects, has disbursed over VND 780 billion, leaving more than VND 900 billion to be completed in December.

Nhon Trach Bridge connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, part of Component Project 1A of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, officially opened. (Photo: Sy Tuyen/TTXVN)

Dong Nai’s economy in 2025 continued to achieve positive results, creating a favorable foundation for public investment. The GRDP is estimated to grow by 9.63%, exceeding the government’s target by 1.13 percentage points. The industrial and construction sectors led with an 11.52% increase. Eleven-month exports reached over USD 31.7 billion, up 17.18%, with the U.S. market accounting for 34.6% of total turnover.

Similarly, Tay Ninh province in the south is closely monitoring public investment disbursement. In 2025, the province was allocated over VND 17.121 trillion; by late November, it had disbursed VND 11.957 trillion, equivalent to 73.37% of the Prime Minister’s plan and 69.84% of the provincial allocation. National target programs also showed positive progress, with an overall disbursement rate of nearly 74%.

The People’s Committee of Tay Ninh established a task force for weekly inspections and urged all investors to develop weekly and monthly disbursement plans, reporting directly to the Steering Committee to resolve issues. The province aims to reach over 95% by the end of Q4 and 100% by year-end.

A highlight of Tay Ninh in 2025 is its effort to improve the investment environment and attract businesses. In 11 months, the province saw 4,372 new enterprises, a 54% increase; 160 new domestic projects and 181 FDI projects were licensed. Total registered FDI reached over USD 24.5 billion, reinforcing its position as a key investment destination in the Southwest border region.

However, Tay Ninh faces challenges such as delayed land clearance, localized material shortages, adverse weather, and procedural reviews due to the two-tier government model. The province emphasizes that timely disbursement not only facilitates project completion but also drives sustainable growth for 2026-2030.

Accelerating Infrastructure Progress

Despite socio-economic achievements, Can Tho city faces significant challenges in public investment disbursement. As of November 27, 2025, the city had disbursed only VND 11.965 trillion out of the nearly VND 28.959 trillion allocated by the Prime Minister, equivalent to 41.32% of the Prime Minister’s plan, 39.15% of the City People’s Council’s plan, and 40.41% of the detailed capital plan. The low rate indicates slow progress in major projects, directly impacting local economic growth.

In response, Ngo Thai Chan, Director of Can Tho’s Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated that the department is finalizing land price dossiers for resettlement areas and determining prices for 19 auction and bidding projects to increase financial resources. Simultaneously, preparations are underway for the dry season peak, including proposals to extend water pipelines in Cu Lao Dung, Tran De, and Vinh Chau to meet increased water demand during Tet.

Dai Ngai 2 Bridge connecting Cu Lao Dung district across the Hau River to Soc Trang province. (Photo: Trung Hieu/TTXVN)

Can Tho’s leadership is continuously meeting with departments, agencies, and investors to address issues, particularly in compensation, land clearance, and investment procedures.

A major ongoing project is the Nguyen Chi Thanh bridge and road, with a total investment of approximately VND 1.6 trillion and a length of 4.56 km. The project features the iconic design of the climbing perch and Cau Duc pineapple, local specialties, combined with images of casting nets, promising to be a new tourist attraction along the Xano canal.

Upon completion, the project will open new development space in the city’s west, connecting National Highway 61C with provincial routes to An Giang. To date, over 16 hectares of land have been handed over with field boundary markers, and legal and inventory procedures are complete, with compensation payments underway.

Additionally, various transportation, urban beautification, and infrastructure upgrade projects are being accelerated by investors to boost 2025 capital disbursement. The People’s Committee of Can Tho affirms that despite challenges similar to other localities, the city remains committed to achieving the highest possible disbursement rate.

The city requires each project to have a specific timeline, with weekly progress monitoring and timely issue resolution; projects lagging in progress may have funds reallocated if disbursement is unlikely.

Accelerating public investment not only resolves infrastructure bottlenecks but also aligns with completing the Mekong Delta’s transportation network and enhancing regional connectivity. 2025 is a critical year for many key projects, providing new growth momentum for the regional hub.

Southern localities are demonstrating determination and focus to overcome procedural and land clearance bottlenecks and improve inter-agency coordination. Completing the 2025 capital plan will not only enhance project effectiveness but also lay the foundation for the 2026-2030 medium-term public investment phase.

As the government pushes for nationwide disbursement acceleration, the southern regions’ year-end efforts are expected to significantly contribute to overall growth, driving new development steps for the country’s most dynamic economic zone.

Hong Dat

– 12:35 08/12/2025