News #200: Mapping the coastal resorts near Ho Chi Minh City

200th news edition and site news. The Sihanoukville comeback starts here? Bokeo Airport in Laos, Mindanao Railway, and a proposed tunnel along the Saigon River.

Feb 07, 2024

Hello from Ho Chi Minh City. I did a road trip last week to the neighbouring province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. This is the closest beach area to HCMC, and there are many hotels and resorts on this stretch of beach.

My main reason for visiting was to follow the path of a proposed railway. I will publish a trip report soon, but to get started I mapped out the coastal area to get an idea of what is being built. This week’s article lists all the biggest projects that are planned, under construction, or abandoned.

Site news: 200 weeks and beyond

As you may have noticed in the title, this is the 200th news update at Future Southeast Asia. I have posted a news report every Wednesday since April 2020 without missing a week. I enjoy doing these updates and I look forward to learning about new projects and sharing them here. It’s never been a hassle to publish, even if it is on a public holiday or if I have a tight travel schedule.

Milestones are a good time to take stock of how things are going and to consider changes. Here are some plans for 2024:

Newsletter platform: I will be switching the platform that sends these emails from Substack to Beehiiv this month. I have already tested switching over with another newsletter and it appears to. be a seamless procedure. I am giving this update in case the next email goes into a new email folder. Paid subscribers should also be transferred without any changes, but I will keep you posted.

Forum: I have been shopping around for a forum platform but I haven’t found what I like yet. One of the things that bothered me about Substack was their in-house chat feature. I would rather have a forum on this site.

Jobs: I have a job board at jobs.futuresoutheastasia.com that I will start promoting in 2024. It is still in beta so it is free to upload jobs at the moment. If you are a company you can make a profile. If you are looking for work related to transport, construction, and infrastructure in Southeast Asia, you can create a profile page.

Thanks for subscribing to Future Southeast Asia!

“The ‘2024 Special Investment Program for Preah Sihanouk’ aims to stimulate investment to revamp the hundreds of half-built buildings that plague the province.”

• Hun Manet blames derelict building problem on foreign media (archive link)

• 3-year visa move to help S’ville tide over real estate slump

• Sihanoukville terminal due for completion by ’26: VINCI

• Real estate and construction sector to remain sluggish in 2024, NBC says

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Indonesia to import Chinese trains for aging Commuter Line

• Flying taxis, air mobility and challenges for Indonesia

• IKN: State Palace construction 54.7% complete

• Indonesia’s hi-tech vision for Nusantara and economy draws scepticism, ‘Pandora’s box’ fears

• UAE’s Etihad Rail explores investing in Bali's railway project

🇱🇦 Laos

• Bokeo International Airport launch overshadowed by sudden flight cancellations

• Fears grow that dam across Mekong River in Laos could harm World Heritage site of Luang Prabang

• Bangkok-Savannakhet air link to boost tourism

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Transport hub at Forest City?

• Questions over viability of KL-Singapore HSR

• Melaka International Cruise Terminal to draw additional 15.8 mln tourists annually

• Work towards transforming Kota Kinabalu, DBKK officials urged

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Phl rail system to catch up with SE Asia’s best

• Bautista: More PH airports to undergo rehabilitation, modernization

• Mindanao Railway Project-Phase 3 feasibility study starts

• Southeast Asia's first tidal energy plant unveiled in the Philippines

🇸🇬 Singapore

• TEL Stage 4 stations handed over to SMRT for final tests

• New HDB flats, commercial facilities to be built next to Kembangan MRT station

• Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal’s $20m revamp to include new automated check-in kiosks, immigration lanes

• Little choice but to dash across busy road, say Taman Jurong residents after girl killed in accident

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Beijing bank may finance megaproject

”The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is interested in financing Thailand's Land Bridge megaproject, says Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.”

• Pink Line linking Bangkok’s Minburi and Nonthaburi will start costing more

• BTS train operator likely to retain bus feeder service

• 3,500 monkeys take over Thai city, putting Chinese investments on hold and making residents flee

• Pattaya Bali Hai Pier embarks on stunning transformation