News #186: Unfinished metro business

Line 2 of the HCMC Metro, Bali metro plan, Changi Terminal 2 fully reopens, Khamsavath Railway Station in Vientiane, and the future tallest building in Vietnam.

This week I have been preparing a construction report for Ho Chi Minh City. I started looking into the delayed second metro line, which is the topic of this week’s article.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

Line 2 of the Ho Chi Minh City Metro (HCMC Metro) is the planned second line of the Ho Chi Minh City transit system.

News Extra

News Extra: 31 October 2023 (Subscriber post)

Waiting for the HCMC Metro, variations of news reporting in Southeast Asia, a big hotel in Dalat, and who wants to fly at 3 a.m?

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I posted this article on my travel site. While not about the future, this will be of interest to fellow infrastructure nerds. If you are new here, I also have a travel newsletter that includes updates on my travels in Southeast Asia.

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• I have updated the Bassac Sea-Link page. The Bassac River Navigation and Logistics System (“BRNLS”) was renamed to the Funan Techo Canal.

🇮🇩 Indonesia

"The KNR-backed consortium of national operator Korail, KRT Co Ltd, Saman Co Ltd, and Dongmyeong Co. Ltd has been awarded a 16bn won contract, funded by South Korea’s Eximbank, to carry out a feasibility study for the Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport – Central Parkir section of Bali’s planned light metro. The study is due for completion by the end of August 2024."

These destinations are part of the 10 New Balis project.

🇱🇦 Laos

“The Government of Japan has provided a grant of USD 71,500 to support the construction of a new concrete bridge in Na-Han-Noi Village, Savannakhet Province, Laos.”

🇲🇾 Malaysia

“Kuala Lumpur's RapidKL is intriguing, often more for what it lacks than what it possesses.”

🇵🇭 Philippines

🇸🇬 Singapore

🇹🇭 Thailand

If that sounds familiar, it’s been said before (see news archive).

🇻🇳 Vietnam

No mention of the height, but I have seen quotes from 500m to 600m. For reference, Landmark 81 in HCMC has an architectural height of 461.2 metres. This new tower has 27 more floors, though the spire and floor height is a factor. Merdeka Tower in KL will safely remain as the tallest building in SE Asia (679 m).

"The Government has issued Resolution No 178/NQ-CP on an action plan for implementing the Politburo’s Conclusion No 49-KL/TW on the development orientation of Vietnam's railway transport to 2030 with a vision towards 2045."

“The country is in the middle of a cable-car bonanza, much of it driven by the over-the-top developments of the Sun Group, which feature giant Buddhas, ersatz European enclaves and selfie spots galore.”

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