Ho Chi Minh City construction update – 2020 edition

How Ho Chi Minh City is building its way through the pandemic.

This week I have another annual construction update, this time from my home base of Ho Chi Minh City.

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A summary of major building and infrastructure projects under construction in Ho Chi Minh City in 2020.

Despite the pandemic, there are still some big projects going ahead in Ho Chi Minh City. It helps that the city is not just reliant on tourism, and that some projects are already funded.

There are some landmark buildings underway that may put the city more prominently on the tourist map once travel starts again. There is a new opera house that could become the next Sydney Opera House (At least that’s what the developer dreams of), and an iconic new tower from the same designer as the MahaNakhon tower in Bangkok.

At Ho Chi Minh City’s central square, there are two towers rising that will resemble dragons holding a pearl under their mouth (if rendered as 8-bit dragons). This will overlook a central metro station with a 3-line interchange.

Meanwhile, a new airport is about to start construction that will eventually have 4 runways and be one of the biggest airports in Southeast Asia.

Other News

Asia

“After talks between the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea were first launched in 2012, the 15 countries on Sunday finally signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership on trade.”

Cambodia

“China's rise exacerbates Southeast Asian bloc's inherent tensions, experts say.”

Indonesia

“101 East investigates how swathes of pristine Indonesian rainforest were bought for just $5 a hectare.”

Japan

Laos

Malaysia

“The government said today the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will continue despite the Covid-19 pandemic, and that 19% of the project has been completed up to October.”

This is a good read on the accessibility of public transport in KL.

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

VisitSingapore’s submission for the #howmuchhaveyouchangedchallenge

Thailand

“Corruption will cost Thailand up to THB 100 billion (US $3.31 billion) this year, according to estimates by Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, the nation’s expert on graft.”

“The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has indefinitely postponed considering bids for construction of the subway system's Orange Line western extension.”

Ever wondered what it would look like if all those overhead wires you see in Bangkok caught on fire?

Vietnam

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