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Transport and urban development in Southeast Asia. Dispatches from my travels in the region, and news about future city development, transport, and infrastructure.

A metro system for Vientiane?

Singapore's massive mass timber building, New Manila Airport update, developing North Bali, HCMC revives polluted canal, and more transport and infrastructure news in Southeast Asia.

James Clark

May 25, 2022

Greetings from Muang Xay! I’m visiting every station on the Laos-China Railway that has an express service (there are 5 stations in all). I will be doing a travel report for the railway when I have been to every station. In the meantime, here are some photos from my Vientiane to Luang Prabang trip.

Vientiane Station is about 15km outside the city centre. During the taxi ride to the train station, I got thinking about public transport in Vientiane. There is a plan to build a BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) in Vientiane, which would be useful for connecting the station to the city. In my research on this topic, I found some proposals that included a light rail, and another proposal that included a commuter rail. The light rail/commuter combo could then form a “Vientiane Metro System”. It’s unlikely to happen (very unlikely), but it has been publically proposed so it goes on the record here at Future Southeast Asia.

Vientiane has a population of nearly 1 million people, so it is not big enough to support a metro. Having said that, I looked up what is the smallest city in the world to have a full metro system, and it is Lausanne in Switzerland (population 139,111). When it comes to fiscal matters, Laos is not Switzerland. Another reason why this will not happen.

What do I know about anything though? If you had told me 10 years ago that there would be a train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang I would have choked on my Lao khao soi. So if someone wants to build a light rail, then go for it.

While I’m in Laos I will be featuring articles about places I visit here. This week’s article is a fact sheet on the future Vientiane public transport system, in whatever form it takes.

Latest Posts At Future Southeast Asia

Vientiane BRT – Urban Transit System

News

• Asean HSR rolls on, pandemic or not

• Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila are among top sinking Asian cities

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Opinion: Revitalizing Phnom Penh’s streets as destinations

• Boom in high-end residential projects in Phnom Penh, despite pandemic

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Sandiaga Uno keen on developing North Bali tourism potential

“Since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has had plans to develop North Bali by building a railway line and an airport. The development of North Bali is carried out together with other ministries/institutions,”.

“It’s slated to be the new home for Nanyang Business School, and at 40,000 square metres, it will be one of the largest mass timber buildings in the world.”

• Malaysia exploring ‘new ideas’ for terminated high-speed rail project with Singapore: Vivian

[Updated: Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High-Speed Rail]

• LTA Singapore awards two contracts for Jurong Region Line

🇹🇭 Thailand

• BTS shares drop, BRT future uncertain after Chadchart victory

“Mr Chadchart said during debates prior to the election on Sunday that the maximum fare should be between 25 and 30 baht so that low-income people can afford the ride.”

I have an article in my draft box about the ticketing system and pricing mess of Bangkok’s urban rail transit system. Stay tuned for that!

• Incoming Bangkok Governor Chadchart starts inspecting Lad Phrao drainage problems despite still being unofficial

• Driving from Hua Hin to Bangkok? You’ll be able to use this new 8 lane bridge from next year

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• HCM City to host Smart City Asia 2022

“A Smart City Expo & Forum in Asia (Smart City Asia 2022) will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City from May 26 to May 28.”

• Industrial hub Dong Nai to renovate its capital for $320 mln

• PM orders sped-up launch of HCMC-Mekong Delta railway

[Updated: Mekong Delta Railway]

• HCMC revives polluted canal with $86.2-million project

• Hanoi metro pushed back further

• After renewables frenzy, Vietnam’s solar energy goes to waste