Visiting Cambodia's coastal casino city

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

Latest post

• Sihanoukville report: abandoned towers and seaside redevelopment 

I visited Cambodia in December 2024, and Sihanoukville is the next city in the series of trip reports for premium subscribers.

This report includes an update on one of the biggest mixed-use developments under construction in Cambodia, prominent abandoned projects, and the redevelopment of Ochheuteal and Otres Beach.

Become a paid subscriber to read the article. It’s $5 a month or $50 a year, and your subscription will help keep this site running.

News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Kratie SEZ ready for expansion as canal draws nearer [The Phnom Penh Post]

• Techo International Airport ready to open as planned, with more than 94% of construction completed [Khmer Times]

• Cambodian delegation gains knowledge, ideas on coastal development from Shenzhen visit [Kiripost]

• Japan grants over $240K for clean water supply in Tonle Sap community [The Phnom Penh Post]

• Op-ed: The village square: a vision for economic prosperity in Run Ta Ek [CamboJA News]

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Illegal seabed dredging surges as Indonesia resumes sand exports [Mongabay]

• LRT Jabodebek Targets 27 Million Passengers in 2025 [Tempo]

• IN FOCUS: Overcrowded south, undeveloped north – Bali seeks new airport, highways and rail lines despite roadblocks [CNA]

• Rice paddies to mega resorts: declassified spy satellite images reveal Bali’s transformation [The Guardian]

• New Indonesian airports lacking flights [Bali Discovery]

"VIVA.co.id reports how the Indonesian government has spent trillions of rupiahs building impressive infrastructure, including constructing many new airports.

Sadly, many of the lavish new airports are now idle and in a state of suspended animation due to a lack of flights and passengers."

🇱🇦 Laos

• Laos, Thailand ink pact to enhance cross-border rail travel [Vientiane Times]

• Plans underway to reopen Longcheng airport [Vientiane Times via Facebook]

“Plans to rebuild and recommission a disused airport in Longcheng district, Xaysomboun province, are moving forward following talks between the provincial Governor and the Lao air force”.

Long Tieng was originally an airbase operated by the CIA. It was at one point the second-largest city in Laos (Wikipedia).

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Terminal 3 for KLIA? Only when Terminal 2 is full, Transport Ministry says [Malay Mail]

‘• Address traffic dispersal before RTS Link opens’ [The Star]

• Now under KLCC Holdings, Finance Ministry says full development of Bandar Malaysia to take half a century [Malay Mail]

• Selangor Kita Rail Line completion expected in 10 years [The Star]

• Urban Renewal Bill to drive more planned city development - PLANMalaysia [Bernama]

 🇲🇲 Myanmar

• Peninsula Hotels writes off ‘hopeless’ Yangon project [The Irrawaddy]

• Russia and Myanmar sign investment agreement for Dawei Special Economic Zone, including port and oil refinery projects [Eleven Media Group]

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Opening of NSCR, Metro Manila subway unlikely within President Marcos’ term [The Philippine Star]

• PH remains optimistic about pursuing Subic-Batangas cargo railway [Philippine News Agency]

• Manila's condo crisis turns spotlight on oversupply ($) [Nikkei Asia]

"Demand hit by fading purchasing power and gambling policy U-turn."

• Dizon wants to solve right-of-way issues that delay gov’t infra projects [Philippine Daily Inquirer]

• Sana naman: Villafuerte hopes DOTr chief Dizon fast-tracks Bicol Express, Naga Airport upgrade [POLITIKO]

• Antique governor urges PBBM to prioritize airport development [Manila Bulletin]

"Antique Gov. Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao has urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prioritize the development of the Antique Airport."

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Agencies studying plans for new integrated transport hub as part of Tampines Regional Centre rejuvenation [CNA]

• New flyover connecting Bayshore with ECP to be completed by 2030 [The Straits Times]

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Bangkok bus terminals face relocation in transport hub revamp [The Nation]

"Transport ministry orders feasibility study of Mor Chit, Ekkamai and the Southern bus terminals to Krung Thep Aphiwat."

• Bangkok monorail spur test run in June with free rides [Bangkok Post]

• AOT eyes private investment for airport expansion as passenger numbers soar [The Nation]

• Development of U-Tapao Airport to proceed but on a smaller scale [The Nation]

• Bangkok office market to take years to recover, experts warn [Bangkok Post]

• Bangkok administration renovates Klong Toey Market [Bangkok Post]

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Construction of Hanoi’s fifth metro line to kick off in 2025 [The Investor]

• Hà Nội to construct three bridges crossing Red River [Viet Nam News]

• MoT aims to start HCM City-Can Tho railway construction before 2030 [VietNamNet Global]

• The Mekong Delta’s highway conundrum [Mekong Eye]

"Expansion of the delta’s high-speed roads has been rocky, while the alternative, elevated highways, poses separate challenges."

• $353mn canal renovation project in Ho Chi Minh City to be completed this year [Tuoi Tre News]

• Int’l airport on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc to have 2 new passenger terminals, 1 runway by 2050 [Tuoi Tre News]

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