Future Southeast Asia News #263

50 years of development in Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau construction report, Penang LRT update, 3 proposed railways for the Isaan region

Author

James Clark
April 30, 2025

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

Hello from Ho Chi Minh City. April 30 is Reunification Day in Vietnam, and today marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. As you would expect, it’s a big deal here, and people have filled the streets to see the parade and be part of history.

Some news articles have reflected on 50 years of infrastructure and urban development in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City. Realistically, the development period is 30 years when you consider that the US trade embargo wasn’t lifted until 1994.

Another article by the NY Times covers the buildings left behind by the Americans (archive).

Future Southeast Asia articles

This week’s main article is about the beach city of Vung Tau, near Ho Chi Minh City. Vung Tau was the base for the Australian armed forces during the war, and it’s now the hub for the oil and gas industry of Vietnam.

I visited in February, and after my visit, it was announced that Ba Ria-Vung Tau province would merge with Ho Chi Minh City. This could bring about new rail connections to the city, and with that comes the prospect of commuting from the beach to the city.

Latest article

Vung Tau construction report, featuring the proposed merger of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province into Ho Chi Minh City, Front Beach projects, Back Beach redevelopment, and updates on proposed urban and inter-provincial railways.

Future vision of Vung Tau Back Beach, soon to be part of Ho Chi Minh City

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News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Systemic port failure [The Jakarta Post]

"If the government truly cares about addressing this gridlock, then it should start thinking about moving goods from production hubs in West Java and Banten to Jakarta by rail, which remains woefully underutilised."

🇱🇦 Laos

🇲🇾 Malaysia

"Replacing the underwater pipeline that supplies treated water to Langkawi could cost billions of ringgit, making a full overhaul financially unviable for now."

 🇲🇲 Myanmar

🇵🇭 Philippines

🇸🇬 Singapore

🇹🇭 Thailand

"The Board of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has granted a 201-day extension for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project between Saraburi and Kaeng Khoi, citing structural constraints, including the need to obtain land-use permissions from the Royal Irrigation Department."

"...three new railway projects are planned:

-A 247-km railway from Udon Thani to Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom

-A 316-km railway from Nong Khai to Bueng Kan and Nakhon Phanom

-A 173-km railway from Mukdahan to Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani"

"The government is pushing legislation to support the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) and the Land Bridge megaproject linking the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea."

"Our governments and politicians are known for pushing the envelope when it comes to costly development projects, often at the expense of nature.

A glaring example is the government's latest mega-infrastructure plan: the Land Bridge project, part of the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC), which spans four southern provinces."

“The ambitious plan envisions constructing a station directly through the former Merry King Department Store, aiming to forge a distinctive new landmark for the capital.“

🇻🇳 Vietnam

"The central province of Quang Ngai plans to reclaim over 127 hectares of sea area to develop Ly Son Airport on the island district of Ly Son."

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