News: 19 July 2023

Manila Airport rehab, Cambodia wants Bangkok-Siem Reap-PP-HCMC train (so do I), Malaysia wants KL-Singapore HSR (so do I again), railway plans in Vietnam, and a crazy highway house in the Mekong Delta

Hello from Kuala Lumpur! It was an effort leaving SGN today as it took 2 hours to check in, clear immigration, and go through security. Amazingly our flight was on-time, but someone decided not to fly once they were onboard, so that was another hour to retrieve their bag.

I was going to request a window seat so I could view the construction of the new terminal at SGN, but I was offered a seat in the exit row, and you never say no to an exit row. I was able to see the extent of the construction as we were bussed to the plane, and I saw cranes, concrete pumpers, and earth movers all working. This delayed terminal is finally going ahead. Here is what it is supposed to look like.

-Construction of T3 SGN

Visiting KL is like an infrastructure holiday for me. I got the train from the airport, and then a connecting transit line. I will be checking out another line that opened since I was last here. Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, we are still waiting for metro Line 1, and in the news section below there is a brutally honest headline that sums up how slow the construction is going.

I’m also going to watch Barbie while I’m here for, uhh, research. Yes, research because it is banned in Vietnam for supposedly displaying the 9-dash line.

This week I started a fact sheet for Manila International Airport (NAIA), which is another airport that has long since outgrown its intended size.

I am travelling for the next month, so I plan to have some subscriber-only trip reports. Subscribe or upgrade to receive those posts and support this site.

Ohh and check out the house in the last link. I went there in 2021 but I somehow missed this!

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport Rehabilitation

News Posts

• Dong Nai plans 4 new urban railway lines

“4 urban railway lines are expected to be planned by Dong Nai province, including urban railway along Cai river; urban railway Bien Hoa – Nhon Trach – Long Thanh; urban railway Bien Hoa – Trang Bom – Long Khanh; urban railway Long Khanh – Long Thanh.”

• Quang Ninh will have 3 urban railway lines

News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Feasibility study planned for rail links with Thailand and Vietnam

• CDC okays 113 projects worth $1.1B in first half

• Cambodia's public debt tops the $10 billion mark

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Why Indonesia should be cautious in extending its high-speed railway

• LRT Jabodebek halts public trial run

• On burning-prone Borneo, planners work to fireproof Indonesia’s new capital

• New capital's Presidential Palace development runs smoothly: Jokowi

• Long, slow death of Indonesia’s national plane dream

🇱🇦 Laos

• Vietnam company signs agreement to build largest wind power project in Laos

• Bokeo SEZ aims to achieve international recognition as top tourist destination

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Syed Hamid Albar : Time for the KL-Singapore HSR is now, or risk being left behind

• Govt could approve LRT project connecting Penang with mainland, says Anthony Loke

• JB-Singapore RTS 41% completed, project well on track, says Johor exco member

• KK airport relocation study completed, to be presented on Thursday

• Sarawak to get Autonomous Rapid Transit prototype in August

🇵🇭 Philippines

• NAIA traffic hits 22 million in 6 months

• Remaining North-South Commuter Railway civil works contracts signed

• Private sector funding sought for 4 railways

(North Long Haul, South Long Haul, Subic-Clark Railway, Mindanao Railway Project.)

🇸🇬 Singapore

• MPA calls for proposals to design, promote adoption of full-electric harbour craft in Singapore

• Downtown Line trains to get info-rich LCD screens

• It’s not easy being a casual cyclist in Singapore

• President*s Design Award 2023 Exhibition

“Explore the works of the latest batch of President*s Design Award 2023 recipients through curated interviews, videos, models and exhibits. Learn about the positive impact of the designs and be inspired by the rich stories behind the recipients.”

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Bangkok administration to tighten up controls on selection of contractors

• Safety First?’ Investigation turns to firms behind fatal roadway collapse

• Central terminal courts single bidder

"Only one company has bid for the commercial development of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal despite three firms having purchased invitations to tender".

• New Suvarnabhumi airport terminal on track for September opening

• Bangkok to keep running Bus Rapid Transit service

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Without changes, HCMC's metro system will take 100 years: minister

• About US$17 billion needed for building two railway lines connecting seaports

“A sum of about US$17 billion is needed to build two railway lines connecting seaports, namely Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong and Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, according to the Ministry of Transport.”

• Vietnamese ministry backs Vingroup’ conversion of $795mn golf course into $2.3bn township project in Hai Phong

• Ministry requests to limit construction of tall buildings in Sa Pa

• Lao Cai facilitating site clearance for construction of Sapa Airport

• Vietnam to set up panel to steer high-speed railway in right direction

• Ho Chi Minh City to spend nearly $360,000 collecting garbage on Saigon River

• Khanh Hoa seeking investor for $3.6bln urban area

• Man gives in after refusing to demolish house for 20 years