The cable car cabal of Vietnam

Introducing a new newsletter for Southeast Asia railways, island developments in Cambodia and Thailand, and Don Muang airport expansion.

Mar 29, 2023

Hello from Ho Chi Minh City! I was recently reading about a new cable car in the Mekong Delta, which sent me down a rabbit hole about the cable cars of Vietnam. There are so many here compared to the rest of Southeast Asia, and more have been proposed. It got to the point where the most ridiculous proposals were being offered, such as one through the world’s largest cave, and another to the airport at Ho Chi Minh City (instead of just building a proper metro).

I’m reminded of that saying, “when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”. And thus, when you are a cable car builder, every mobility problem can be solved with a cable car.

This week’s article is all about cable cars in Southeast Asia, which is dominated by world record-breaking cable cars in Vietnam.

I’ve also started a monthly newsletter which will be of interest to readers of this site…

New Newsletter: Southeast Asia Railways

I’m starting a new newsletter this month for railways in Southeast Asia.

Subscribe at

Southeast Asia Railways

This will be a monthly newsletter that is more focussed on travel. I already collate articles about Southeast Asia railways for this site and via the Southeast Asia Railways Facebook Group.

With the articles already found, it should take less than an hour a month to put the newsletter together. It will have travel articles I don’t post on Future Southeast Asia, so there will be new content in this newsletter.

If that interest you then sign up for the first issue, out later this week.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• Cable cars in Southeast Asia

News

• HK, Yunnan to boost links between mainland and ASEAN

“Three corridors - the China-Vietnam Corridor, the China-Laos Railway and the China-Myanmar Pacific Ocean Corridor, will integrate Yunnan more closely with Indochina, an official said.”

• Debt fears could hobble China’s belt and road plans in Asean, economists warn

• U.S. needs its own 'ASEAN center'

🇧🇳 Brunei

• Ministry to review Brunei's public transportation plan to meet current needs

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Resort owners on Koh Rong Saloem seek resolution to plight

“Three resort owners on Koh Rong Sanloem are resisting a February eviction order by the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration to close business.”

• Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority asks customers to ‘understand, tolerate, forgive’ current Phnom Penh water shortages

• NagaCorp to begin main building works on Naga3 expansion by mid-2023

• Real estate giants sign deal to develop Koh Pich

“Several overtures have been received by the government from the private sector over its intent to build the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) using private financing, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.”

• ECRL project 39.64 pct completed

• Malaysia hopes major revamp will put KLIA back among world’s top 10 airports by 2028

• Singapore's HDB system: Why some are unhappy about Malaysia implementing it

• Penang Technology Park will be the state's next exciting 'satellite city', says Ideal Property Group head

• Woman spends 3 hours riding new Putrajaya MRT line, round trip spans 103km & over 60 stations

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Residents seek halt to condo construction in Manila's heritage zone

• Government wants China to fund P300 billion railways

• Firm proposes to build ‘podcar’ transport system in Mandaue city

• MIAA: NAIA 2 a domestic airport by July

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Marina Bay Sands given until April 2024 to start work on S$4.5 billion expansion

• JB-Singapore RTS Link 45% completed on S’pore side, service to start by end-2026: Iswaran

• 7 ways the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rail Transit System (RTS) may benefit Singapore’s economy and people

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Don Mueang expansion ready to begin

“AoT says B36.8-billion project will increase annual passenger handling capacity to 40m from 30m.”

• U-tapao expansion likely delayed

• Thailand to invest $1.4 billion in 7 new airports

• Cabinet leaves Chao Phraya Promenade for next government

• Double-track rail to open next year

”The double-track railway between Hua Hin and Prachuap Khiri Khan stations looks set to be opened next year, as most of the project's civil engineering work has been completed, according to the State Railway of Thailand.”

• Air pollution chokes Thailand as campaigners call for stricter laws

• Adang Island in Satun is set to be developed as world-class tourism destination