Construction report for Vietnam's coastal city of Nha Trang

The Future Southeast Asia Newsletter features transport and urban development news in Southeast Asia, edited by James Clark.

Hello from Kuala Lumpur, and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to Muslim readers.

It didn’t occur to me when I booked my flight from Danang to KL that I would be arriving in the afternoon of the last day of Ramadan. I usually avoid travel during holiday periods (such as Tet in Vietnam and Songkran in Thailand), but my visa was running out and I had to travel on this day.

KUL was the busiest I have ever experienced. Our plane was stuck on the tarmac for 20 minutes while waiting for a gate, and it didn’t help that the broken-down aerotrain that connects the satellite terminal is still a replacement bus. When I got to immigration I was greeted with a queue that was spilling out down the corridor.

The queue took about 30 minutes, so it didn’t get anywhere near my record queueing times of 90+ minutes set at BKK, DMK, SGN, and MNL (I’m not sure which was the longest).

The good thing about KUL is the airport rail link, which takes 30 minutes to get to KL Sentral. I was soon on the streets of KL and enjoying the festive spirit of seeing all the restaurants overflowing with people ending their fast.

I will be doing a construction report for KL on this trip, and then making my way to Singapore by train (three trains to be precise).

This week’s main article is my construction report for Nha Trang. I also have News Extra for paid members. Consider an upgrade to support the work of this site.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• Nha Trang construction update – 2024 edition

Updates on construction in Nha Trang, including current and stalled projects, and the Vega City development.

News Extra

News Extra for paid subscribers, which expands on news stories and some insights into what I am working on.

• News Extra: 4 April 2024

The curious case of the Trans-Borneo High-Speed Railway, Ho Chi Minh City and the Truong My Lan/VTP fraud trial, Battambang by air or train.

News

• Schools close and crops wither as ‘historic’ heatwave hits south-east Asia

🇧🇳 Brunei

• No company appointed for Trans Borneo Railway project, says Brunei govt

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Cambodia plans to transform existing railways into high-speed railways and build two more between 2028-2033

• China’s Sunwah Group eying investment in some key areas in Cambodia

• ‘Govt wants Sihanoukville to be next Shenzhen’

• Cambodia plans to start Funan Techo Canal work this year

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Rempang Eco-City: construction of four model homes enter final stage

• Expect Sorong to open international flights soon: governor

• Indonesia to import Chinese autonomous trains for IKN

• Prabowo to be inaugurated in new capital city

🇱🇦 Laos

• The Battery of Southeast Asia: Challenges to building a regional transmission grid

• Laos landmark Xinyue City Center project topped out

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• ECRL to be completed by end-2026, operation from January the following year

• HSR should be made via concession method, says Loke

• Penang LRT on track to ease traffic and enhance tourism

• One train every 15 minutes for KTM's Tanjung Malim-KL Sentral route

• Miri Airport expansion master plan urgently needed as maximum passenger capacity exceeded, says Lee

• Pan Borneo Highway: Sarawak’s phase one to be fully opened in second quarter of year

 🇵🇭 Philippines

• Rep. Pimentel urges Recto to seek funding for Mindanao Railway Project

• Gov’t should tap Japan as funding source for Bicol Express revival, says Yamsuan

• Seven big ticket projects to improve Metro Manila traffic once completed, DOTr says

• Neda Board approves $4-B Bataan-Cavite bridge budget

• Davao City Bypass Construction Project now 80% done — DPWH

• CAAP suspends Tacloban airport ops for clearing, repairs

🇸🇬 Singapore

• MBS expansion, including new 4th tower, set for completion by July 2029

• Getting the loo-down: One JC student’s quest to review all of Singapore’s public toilets

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Bangkok Port may face being partially relocated

• Study looking to expand Samui airport under way

• PM inspects ongoing cruise terminal construction at Laem Hin Khom on Koh Samui tour

• Bangkok Pink and Yellow monorail incidents prompt government review

• Water shortages on Samui and Pha-ngan islands ahead of Songkran

• SCB, Krungthai prepare for potential Italian-Thai loan losses

• Hazy skies in a growing city

The NASA Earth Observatory website posted satellite images showing Chiang Mai's growth from 1989 to 2024. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai is still choking on haze.

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Vietnam aims to start work on high-speed rail lines to China by 2030

• Delayed anti-flooding, anti-congestion measures to begin at HCMC airport

• HCM City to develop three more metro lines valued over US$5 billion

• Hanoi's transport authority issues virtual tickets