Hi, I’m James, and Future Southeast Asia is a site dedicated to transport and urban development in Southeast Asia. The site covers topics such as construction, urban development, infrastructure, and transport in cities of Southeast Asia.
Future Southeast Asia is an independent site written by me (and the occasional guest writer).

[James at Forest City in Malaysia.]
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In addition to the articles, I publish a weekly news roundup for premium subscribers.
The weekly newsletter is published every Wednesday afternoon (Indochina Time), and it includes a roundup of the latest news in the region related to construction, transport, infrastructure, and urban development.
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Where in Southeast Asia
The site covers every country in Southeast Asia. The cities I visit most often are Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. I make trips all over the region, so you can see where I have been in the destination menu bar.
Topics covered at Future Southeast Asia
Future Southeast Asia provides fact sheets on major transport and urban development projects. I compile all known articles, photos, and videos in one place. I’ve found that project information can be fragmented across several sites or be overly promotional (particularly on real estate sites).
Here are some of the topics that are covered at Future Southeast Asia.
Trip reports
I write trip reports of cities in Southeast Asia. These reports include construction updates and urban development observations.

[Visiting an abandoned urban development in Vietnam.]
Future City Series
The Future City series compiles projects in major cities in Southeast Asia. The lists give an overview of major projects that are planned or under construction.

[Bukit Bintang City Centre, featured at Future Kuala Lumpur.]
Project Factsheets
If you have ever looked for information on a big project, the search results can often be awash with the same information, or from sites that only publish to sell property for a commission.
The fact sheets compile all known information and resources for major projects. These pages list all information (good and bad), giving you an overview of the history of the project, without it being a sales pitch.

[Factsheet for the One Bangkok development in the Lumphini area of Bangkok.]
Urban Rail Transit
Reporting on urban rail transit ranges from listing every known transit project to researching the cost and construction times of first metro lines in Asia.
Concept Maps

[Ho Chi Minh City Metro Concept Map.]
One of my side projects has been to make railway maps in Southeast Asia. The map featured here is a concept map of an expanded Ho Chi Minh City Metro (called “If Saigon had a subway like Shanghai“).
See all of the concept maps.
What this site doesn’t offer
This site doesn’t offer investment advice on real estate projects.
This site doesn’t offer guest posts or sponsored posts.
Conference speaking
I’m available for speaking at conferences and events about rail transport and major construction projects in Southeast Asia. Contact me for availability.
About James Clark
I have been running an online travel publishing business since 2003. I’ve been based in Southeast Asia since 2010, where I have taken an interest in transport and urban development issues in the region.
As a digital nomad, I have the flexibility to travel around the region to report on transport projects and construction sites. I write about my travels at nomadicnotes.com.
I have also published a guide to the HCMC Metro and a Vietnam train travel guide, so I am immersed in matters related to Southeast Asia transport.
I am currently based between Chiang Mai and Ho Chi Minh City.

[James at the Bang Sue Grand Station construction site.]
