Danang trip report (2024 edition)

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

Hello from Singapore! In keeping with my rail-themed trip around Southeast Asia that I am currently on, I got the shuttle train from Johor Bahru to Woodlands in Singapore. This is one of Southeast Asia's few international rail services, and it will soon be replaced by a more efficient metro-style railway.

I have 3 days here, so I will walk around as much as possible. I have some story ideas, and the walks also inspire new ideas.

This week’s feature article is my annual Danang construction report. There are still many abandoned projects in the city (though nothing like the city of ghost towers mentioned in the Cambodia news section).

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• Da Nang construction update – 2024 edition

Updates on construction in Danang, including current and stalled projects in the city and along the coast.

News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Chinese exodus leaves Cambodia boomtown with 500 'ghost buildings'

• Cambodia to push forward with plans to build US$1.7 billion canal, says PM Hun Manet

• Vietnam requests Cambodia share information on Funan Techo canal

• Millions to be Spent on Anti-Flooding Measures

• Law on Inland Water Transport enters force

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Construction of ministerial houses in new capital reaches 80 percent

• Indonesia's longest elevated railway to be ready by Sep: Minister

• Jokowi to meet Apple CEO to discuss investment opportunities

🇱🇦 Laos

• The land-locked thinking of Laotians

“While the Lao government likes to talk about becoming “land-linked,” the latest ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institution survey reflects an inward-looking mentality.”

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Malaysia's largest port to double capacity to chase Singapore

• Loke’s proposed ECRL extension into Thailand has merit

• Penang LRT a good step, but buses also important

“Buses are public transportation’s unsung heroes, but Rapid Penang lags behind with its cash-only system and poor information on arrival times.”

• Malaysia’s Sabah water crisis: don’t blame the weather, time for politicians to live up to promises

• Bridge connecting Pulau Melayu to Miri’s Marina Bay approved, says Premier

 🇵🇭 Philippines

• Construction of NSCR’s Metro Manila leg expected to begin in October —PNR

• Speaker lauds US, Japan support for railway project linking Subic, Clark

• Recto: PPP, ODA being eyed for Mindanao rail funding

• Urban decongestion provides real solution to traffic gridlock

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Commentary: As Indonesia and Egypt forge ahead with new capital cities, what's Singapore's strategy?

“Indonesia and Egypt are building new cities from scratch. What can countries with limited land like Singapore do instead? Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s Woo Jun Jie weighs in.”

• Singapore loses shine as Southeast Asia base for multinationals

“Japanese and European companies weigh setting up elsewhere over costs.”

• No more trishaw rides in Singapore after last licensed operator ceased tours mid-2023

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Bangkok pavements to get a facelift

“City Hall will give Bangkok’s pavements a facelift, in a pilot project to be carried out on 16 roads with a combined pavement length of up to 86 kilometres.”

• Bangkok drafts inclusive 4th city plan revision 

“Engaging communities, Bangkok aims for a comprehensive urban blueprint.”

• Rail heralded as future for Thai logistics

• AI and GPS make sure you never miss a stop in Bangkok’s Thai Smile bus

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Apple CEO Tim Cook visits Vietnam — one of the iPhone giant’s most important manufacturing hubs

• Make Vietnam Apple's manufacturing hub: PM tells Tim Cook

• Hanoi to build 14 urban railway lines

"The city will replace the Kim Ma – Yen Nghia Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line with an urban railway"

• HCMC advised to double length of metro network

• Planning for 30 airports to complete by 2025

• Vietnam’s micro-apartments are a godsend for the poor – and a deadly risk

“An apartment block fire that killed 56 people last year has highlighted the dangers of Vietnam’s tiny urban dwellings.”

• Illegally-built 12-story building completely demolished on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc