Trip Reports

Trip reports of cities I visit in Southeast Asia, featuring construction updates, transit reviews, and observations on urban development.

Jun 15, 2025

Vietnam's most provincial international beach city

Quy Nhon trip report (2025 edition). A review of apartment and hotel towers under construction, the resort project that will be connected to the city by cable car, the abandoned Japanese-themed new urban area, and prospects for the city with the future high-speed railway.

James Clark

VietnamVietnam

+2+2

Jun 01, 2025

Da Nang construction update – 2025 edition

Da Nang and Hoi An to join forces, Japan’s Aeon Mall, Robert De Niro’s waiting (for his hotel to be built), the riverfront apartment boom, the resort coast, and would you still love Da Nang if the beach were gone?

James Clark

Da LatDa Lat

+2+2

May 11, 2025

Da Lat construction and transport report

Da Lat (Central Highlands of Vietnam), featuring a new international hotel, the greenhouse problem, the old Governor’s Palace, build too big and ask for permission later, an old military airport that would make a great park, international flights, and the proposed railway restoration.

James Clark

Vung TauVung Tau

+2+2

Apr 27, 2025

Vung Tau: The future beach district of Ho Chi Minh City

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.

James Clark

ThailandThailand

+2+2

Apr 14, 2025

Pattaya construction and transport report

Trip report from January 2025: Walkability and bad street layouts, Pattaya construction notes, the ghost tower, future high-speed railway and monorail, Jomtien Beach as a future apartment hotspot, and air quality

James Clark

ThailandThailand

+2+2

Mar 30, 2025

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.

James Clark

ThailandThailand

+2+2

Mar 16, 2025

Bangkok construction update (2025 edition)

Another mall at Siam, the future “Shinjuku of Bangkok”, more classic hotels that have been lost, the South Sukhumvit Innovation District, and a mega project in Chinatown.

James Clark

KampotKampot

+3+3

Mar 02, 2025

Kampot and Kep (Cambodia) construction and tourism development

Trip report from my visit in December 2024, including the two-tower apartment project in Kampot Town, the Tiktokification of tourism landmarks, and land reclamation in Kep.

James Clark

CambodiaCambodia

+2+2

Feb 23, 2025

Sihanoukville report: abandoned towers and seaside redevelopment

An update on one of the biggest mixed-use developments under construction in Cambodia, prominent abandoned projects, and the redevelopment of Ochheuteal and Otres Beach.

James Clark

Phnom PenhPhnom Penh

+2+2

Feb 09, 2025

Phnom Penh construction report

Heritage buildings update, the temple-shaped National Bank building, the fake Paris on Diamond Island, bad urban planning on the Tonle Sap riverfront, a new urban area rises on a disappeared lake, the bird nest towers, and booming BKK1

James Clark

PoipetPoipet

+2+2

Jan 26, 2025

Poipet trip report: Construction and urban development in Cambodia's wild-west casino city

Poipet has plans to transform this border town associated with casinos and scam compounds into an enthralling civilized city to attract national and international tourists. I spent a night in Poipet to see what it was like.

James Clark

VietnamVietnam

+2+2

Jan 19, 2025

Ho Chi Minh City construction report

The HCMC Metro and Transport Oriented Development, the many boxy blue towers, Saigon is getting a Nobu, the Thu Thiem New Urban Area is showing signs of life, and bridges update

James Clark