The proposed high-speed railway in Vietnam includes a stop in the coastal district of Tuy Phong. Could this fishing port become the next boom town? Edit: A different alignment has been chosen over the original alignment that was originally published. The station in this area is now called Phan Ri, though it is still in […]
Editorial
Will there ever be an airport on Koh Lanta?
The two largest islands in Thailand (Phuket and Ko Samui) have an airport, so has Koh Lanta ever considered building an airport? Koh Lanta is an island district in Krabi Province, Thailand. There are two main islands that make up the bulk of this island group. Ko Lanta Yai (the main tourist island) is the […]
Ranong: Asia’s pathway to the West – The Thai Canal and Land Bridge alternative
Thailand has been debating for decades the idea of digging a canal as a shortcut for shipping through the Strait of Malacca. With the renewed interest in the Thai Canal, there have been proposals to build a cheaper “land bridge” alternative. The Thai Land Bridge would ship cargo between ports on the Andaman Sea and […]
Building better new cities in Southeast Asia
New urban areas and city development projects are being built across Southeast Asia to accommodate a rapidly urbanising population. As the editor-in-chief of this urban development website, I’ve been keeping track of these new projects over the years. As I travel around Southeast Asia I’ve visited many of these new urban areas, and I’m seeing […]
Vietnam’s booming aviation market – 2019 Report
Vietnam’s aviation sector is undergoing a prolonged boom that is opening up the country to new tourism markets, while putting a strain on the airlines and airports of Vietnam. According to Airports Council International, their annual World Airport Traffic Report 2018 [PDF] lists Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the top 10 fastest growing […]
Ten ways to improve Bangkok
Bangkok has changed a lot since I got here in 2001. Back then the skytrain wasn’t yet 2 years old, and the city’s first subway line was still 3 years off. The capital was littered with rusty remains of office towers, remnants of the 1997 financial crash, and international food options were basically pizza and […]
A list of ideas to improve Saigon
Having been based in Ho Chi Minh City for several years I’ve taken a deep interest in matters of urban development. It’s a fascinating time to be here, to see a city undergo such a transformation. As part of my business, I also get to travel throughout the year to other big cities of Asia. […]
