Sihanoukville, the tourist city without tourists

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

Hello from Hoi An. This week’s news cycle is all about the Trump tariffs. Countries in Southeast Asia have been among the hardest hit, so I’ve linked to some articles for reference. I will wait to see if an economic downturn (recession? Asia Financial Crisis 2.0?) affects future infrastructure spending in the region.

Future Southeast Asia articles

Latest articles

• How to fix Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville should be a booming beach resort comparable to coastal cities in Vietnam. Instead, it's better known for its abandoned towers, scam compounds, and shady casinos. Here is how to fix it.

• Merging provinces in Southeast Asia

Vietnam is planning to merge 63 provinces and municipalities into 34. Should other countries in Southeast Asia consider provincial mergers?

Recent articles

• Sri Racha Trip Report

The Little Osaka of Thailand, bad design of Sukhumvit Road (like Bangkok), seaview apartments (shame about the beach), and the future high-speed railway to 3 airports.

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News

• Why are Trump’s tariffs in Southeast Asia highest among Indochina countries? [CNA]

"The varying levels of US tariffs could see investors move away from the likes of Vietnam and Cambodia and turn to countries like Singapore and Philippines, economists told CNA."

• Trump’s tariffs crush the ASEAN economic model [FP]

"Southeast Asia is panicking as free trade vanishes."

• Asian countries riven by war and disaster face some of steepest Trump tariffs [The Guardian]

"Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos hit with rates over 40% as experts say the real target is China."

• China Power: White elephants or lifelines? Southeast Asia weighs Beijing’s investments and intentions [CNA]

"China’s clout in Southeast Asia is powered by billions of dollars poured into infrastructure. As the US turns inward under Trump, how will regional perceptions of Beijing shift? CNA explores in part one of a series on China’s influence."

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• PM sets aside 70 hectares of land for public park in Phnom Penh [Kiripost]

• Kingdom lays out aviation target: 25 million passengers by 2035 [The Phnom Penh Post]

• Abandoned and inactive Cambodian island projects reclaimed [Khmer Times]

• PM calls for higher construction standards amid earthquake fears [CamboJA News]

• Tonle Bassac River Bridge construction hits 30% milestone [Khmer Times]

• Two-storey Morodok Techo flyover officially inaugurated [Khmer Times]

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• President Prabowo orders construction of giant seawall from Banten to Gresik [Social Expat]

• East Kalimantan refutes rumors of stalled Nusantara City construction [Antara News]

• Rats roam future capital Nusantara, triggers public complaints [Jakarta Globe]

🇱🇦 Laos

• Bus-Rapid-Transit road rushing to be completed before Lao New Year [The Laotian Times]

• Vientiane to get real-time bus tracking with ViaBus [The Laotian Times]

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• How the East Coast Rail Link could boost Malaysia’s economy & connectivity [CNA]

"The East Coast Rail Link has been touted as a game changer for the movement of people and goods in Malaysia, but it comes with certain challenges."

This is a great interactive presentation of the ECRL project.

• New sandbags to be placed along Batu Feringghi shoreline to tackle erosion [The Star]

• Chinese residents of Malaysian ‘ghost city’ and indebted developer spot a few green shoots ($) [SCMP]

"Luxury compound still has no supermarket, but more Singaporeans are making day trips on weekends."

• Land acquisition for Penang highway project done according to law [New Straits Times]

 🇲🇲 Myanmar

• Centuries of history and culture reduced to rubble after Myanmar earthquake [National Geographic]

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Substandard steel, deadly risks: Bangkok collapse a warning for PH [INQUIRER]

• Japan keen on funding Bicol train study [The Manila Times]

"Japan is very interested in doing a feasibility study on a high-speed rail project from Metro Manila to Bicol, according to Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte."

• Railway blitz reaches Bataan [The Philippine Star]

"Based on initial studies, the Bataan Railway Project will be built parallel to the Bataan Provincial Expressway—now known as the Roman Superhighway—that connects the northern and southern segments of the province. The highway spans 68 kilometers between Dinalupihan in the north to Mariveles in the south."

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Jalan Besar Town Council launches five-year masterplan for greener, more elderly-friendly town [The Straits Times]

• 6 foreign worker dorms with total capacity of 45,000 beds to be built in next few years [The Straits Times]

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Over 3,000 govt buildings affected by earthquake, 34 severely damaged [The Nation]

• Bangkok's condo oversupply problem may worsen over quake fears [Bangkok Post]

• Collapsed building expected to be cleared out by the end of April: BMA [The Nation]

• High-speed rail steel up to scratch [Bangkok Post]

"SRT tests quality following earthquake."

• Bangkok commuters required to register for 20-baht railway fare in August [The Nation]

"Thai commuters must register in August to enjoy 20-baht electric rail fare, starting 30 Sept; cash payments and tourists not eligible for the discount."

• Transport ministry threatens to scrap airport terminal contract, blacklist joint venture Including China Railway [The Nation]

"Thailand's Ministry of Transport has issued a stark warning to a joint venture responsible for the construction of a new passenger terminal at Narathiwat Airport, threatening to terminate their contract and blacklist them from future government projects due to significant delays."

• Pattaya Mayor denies claims of Chinese investment in high-rise construction; confirms monorail project still under study [Pattaya Mail]

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• PM requests construction on trans-Vietnam high-speed railway to begin in late 2026, a year ahead of schedule [The Investor]

• Hoi An leader remorseful about losing coastline to resorts [VnExpress]

• Resorts are blocking beach access, and I can no longer see the sea in Phu Quoc [VnExpress]

• Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City ordered to reduce air pollution to safe thresholds within 5 years [Tuoi Tre News]

• Building and expanding transport infrastructure links in economic development cooperation [Da Nang Online]

A big info dump from the Da Nang People's Committee includes some interesting updates about future railways:

"The construction of a public transport route (such as an urban railway or an equivalent system) to connect Da Nang with Hoi An in Quang Nam Province and Lang Co Town in Hue City will be carried out.

Regarding railways, a high-speed railway and a national regular railway will be built along the same corridor, running parallel to the expressway to the east. Additionally, the Da Nang - Kon Tum railway will be planned to connect with the North-South national railway at the new Da Nang Station after 2030."

• Successful lifting of Long Thanh International Airport central terminal steel roof structure [Vietnam Investment Review]

Thanks for reading the Future Southeast Asia Newsletter. Feel free to leave a like or comment on the topics of this week’s news.