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Future Southeast Asia News [19 Nov 2025]

Future Southeast Asia News [19 Nov 2025]

Urban rail transit report (2025), transforming the old Phnom Penh airport, Jakarta old town revitalisation, Chiang Rai railway tunnel update, Ha Long new urban area

James Clark
November 19, 2025

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

Future Southeast Asia articles

Latest article

• Southeast Asia urban rail transit report - 2025 [Premium]

Phnom Penh studies metro system, Bali metro stalls, Penang starts LRT construction, 3 lines under construction in Manila, Cebu subway, Pattaya monorail plan, HCMC opens first metro line, and 2 other unusual metro plans for Vietnam.

Recent articles

• Is Indonesia planning a Java-Bali high-speed railway?

There is a proposal to extend the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway to Banyuwangi in East Java. Could this form part of a Java-Bali high-speed railway?

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News

• IN FOCUS: The dreams and perils of moving capitals in a changing Asia [CNA]

"Across Asia, some countries are betting that a new capital can solve old problems. But history shows that capitals rarely move as neatly as their planners imagine, experts say."

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• This canal project aims to elevate Cambodia’s economy, but what does it mean for the Mekong? [Global Voices]

• AAC launches contest to transform old airport into sponge city [Khmer Times]

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Nusantara’s sunken ground (archive) [The Jakarta Post]

"If we cannot commit the resources required to finish Nusantara, we should not push ahead merely to save face."

• Indonesia’s anti-corruption commission sees potential anomaly in high-speed railway Whoosh land acquisition [Asia News Network]

• Jakarta proposes Kota Tua revitalisation as National Strategic Project [Indonesia Expat]

• Jakarta’s new governor Pramono faces his toughest test yet: Building a resilient city amid austerity [CNA]

• Bali plans to ban private beaches as locals struggle to access shorelines (archive) [The Jakarta Post]

🇱🇦 Laos

• Laos, Vietnam agree to forge ahead with transport projects [Vientiane Times]

"The governments of Laos and Vietnam have agreed to speed up joint ventures that will boost regional connectivity and economic growth, especially the Vientiane-Hanoi expressway, the Laos-Vietnam railway, and the Vung Ang seaport."

• Chinese trains, tourists and money are flooding Laos. Locals wonder if it makes sense [The Straits Times]

"Many are asking on when will the railroad be completed inorder to connect Manila to Clark Freeport. Most likely no one from the Department of Transportation can provide an answer."

• Baler Airport to undergo expansion works after Uwan onslaught — DOTr [Inquirer]

"The Baler Airport in the province of Aurora is set to be expanded to better accommodate relief and emergency response operations, especially in times of calamities".

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Government to release land for about 4,500 new private homes in first half of 2026 [CNA]

• Can a city be designed to care? Inside one architect’s vision for a kinder Singapore [CNA]

"As Singapore grows smarter and denser, architect Randy Chan asks what the future of Singapore design and architecture could be if guided by empathy, not efficiency."

🇹🇭 Thailand

• More delays ahead for three-airport rail line [Bangkok Post]

"Contract being revised again, proposed extension to Rayong being reviewed."

• SRT ready to move on with dual-track work [Bangkok Post]

"Routes on southern line to be upgraded."

• SRT signs MOU to boost Thai–China high-speed rail phase 2, maximising local construction materials [The Nation]

• Third tunnel on new line in North nearing completion [Bangkok Post]

"Work on the Song Tunnel, which lies on the new railway line currently under construction between Den Chai in Phrae and Chiang Khong at the Lao border, is about 90% complete, according to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT)."

• Koh Mak’s strict local rules shield the island from big investors and foreign encroachment [The Nation]

• Pattaya advances Jomtien Beach nourishment with 318 million baht project to add 300 meter sections over 900 days [The Pattaya News]

🇹🇱 Timor-Leste

• Timor-Leste expands airport, eyes major gas project ahead of 2029 ASEAN summit [CNA]

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Ho Chi Minh City races to finish 232 kilometers of urban rail by 2030 [SGGP]

• Ho Chi Minh City's Ben Thanh - Can Gio metro line project set for Dec 19 groundbreaking [VnEconomy]

• HCM City moves to revive two long-stalled downtown mega projects [Viet Nam News]

• Red River mega-project expected to begin construction on December 19 [VietNamNet Global]

"On November 15, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting of the Government’s Standing Committee to review the planning proposal for the Red River landscape boulevard and the Olympic sports urban area in Hanoi."

• Phu Quoc plans $830M conference center for APEC 2027 [VnExpress]

• Vingroup’s $17B urban project near Ha Long Bay gets push for faster land handover [VnExpress]

“"one of the largest urban projects in the country" is of much significance to Quang Ninh’s economic development and should be able to break ground on Dec. 19 as planned.”

This is the Ha Long Xanh integrated urban area. There are so many Vingroup projects that they get lost in the news updates. It doesn’t help that Vingroup doesn’t update its website, so Google results are filled with real estate sites that use the Vingroup name. Here is one of the project's images.

Ha Long Xanh integrated urban area

Also note that the Can Gio metro, the Red River mega-project, and the Ha Long project have groundbreaking dates set for December 19. There are several projects starting on this day, including the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway. I haven’t worked out why the 19th of December has been chosen as an auspicious day to start so many projects, so we shall see next month.

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