Future Southeast Asia News #265

Da Lat trip report, date set for new Phnom Penh airport, passenger rail plan in Johor Bahru, Ayutthaya high-speed rail station update, new cable car and big Buddha project in Vietnam.

Author

James Clark
May 14, 2025

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

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Da Lat (Central Highlands of Vietnam), featuring a new international hotel, the greenhouse problem, the old Governor’s Palace, build too big and ask for permission later, an old military airport that would make a great park, international flights, and the proposed railway restoration.

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Recent articles

The case for building multiple small parks now, while planning bigger parks in the future.

Vung Tau construction report, featuring the proposed merger of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province into Ho Chi Minh City, Front Beach projects, Back Beach redevelopment, and updates on proposed urban and inter-provincial railways.

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News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

"July 10 is the target set by officials for the launch of operations at Techo International Airport. As the new facility becomes operational, commercial flights will cease at the existing Phnom Penh International Airport. On July 9, Korean Air will make history as the last commercial flight to touch down there."

🇮🇩 Indonesia

"Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung reiterated his commitment to enforcing the policy that mandates the use of public transportation for civil servants in the Jakarta Provincial Government."

🇱🇦 Laos

"Laos’ Vientiane South Station has become a crucial regional fruit distribution center, now handling over 2,000 tons of tropical fruit daily."

🇲🇾 Malaysia

"The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which spans four states — Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor — has achieved an overall progress of 82.45% as of April this year, says Anthony Loke."

This plan is to use a freight line in Johor Bahru as a passenger railway. I featured this line in my Johor Bahru Metro Concept Map (red Crescent Line).

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Saving the Makati subway [Inquirer]

"As it is, politics may have been the root cause of the problem hounding the subway project, and politics remains the viable solution to bring it back on track. It is in the government's best interest to find a workable solution to this impasse."

"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is eyeing to extend about $4 billion in financing for the Philippines this year, which will fund key infrastructure projects like the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge and Laguna Lakeshore project."

"The Philippines has 185 projects worth PHP2.90 trillion currently in the pipeline to be undertaken by the government and the private sector, latest data from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center showed."

🇸🇬 Singapore

"These robot dogs have found no shortage of work—taking on jobs in underground maintenance areas, construction sites, and even in social services."

🇹🇭 Thailand

"Thailand advances its Aviation Hub plan with PPP projects at Suvarnabhumi, aiming to build an MRO ( Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) centre as global players like Airbus, Boeing, and ST Engineering show interest."

"Cruise terminal, malls, hotels, offices, residences - but no casino, yet."

• Park cable car finally funded [Bangkok Post]

"The long-discussed cable car project in Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei is finally moving forward after a 25.7-million-baht budget was approved for its design."

🇻🇳 Vietnam

"The Gia Binh International Airport in Bac Ninh province will be upgraded from a level 3C airport serving national defence and security purposes to an international-level 4E dual-use (civil-military) facility."

The project includes a cable car and a 167.5-metre-high Buddha statue.

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