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		<title>Future Southeast Asia News [1 Jul 2026]</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-1-july-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 05:09:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://futuresoutheastasia.com/?p=13499</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[China to lend money to Cambodia for Funan Techo Canal construction, Indonesia plans 39 new airports, Malaysia launches LRT3 Shah Alam Line, Cebu’s underground MRT project, Singapore to begin giant project to fight rising sea levels, Thailand&#8217;s three-airport high-speed rail project stalls, Hanoi bets its future on a riverside to rival world’s great cities.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">China to lend money to Cambodia for Funan Techo Canal construction, Indonesia plans 39 new airports, Malaysia launches LRT3 Shah Alam Line, Cebu’s underground MRT project, Singapore to begin giant project to fight rising sea levels, Thailand&#8217;s three-airport high-speed rail project stalls, Hanoi bets its future on a riverside to rival world’s great cities.</p>




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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13499</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Future Southeast Asia Site News: June 2026</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-june-2026/</link>
					<comments>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-june-2026/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:08:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Site News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://futuresoutheastasia.com/?p=13476</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Travel plans (Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia), Chiang Mai installs a bad bike blocker, and latest posts round-up. Travel plans Greetings from Chiang Mai. I&#8217;ve been here for nearly two months, so it is time to move on before my visa expires. I am returning to Vietnam in July to act as a quasi-tour guide for some [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Travel plans (Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia), Chiang Mai installs a bad bike blocker, and latest posts round-up.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Travel plans</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Greetings from Chiang Mai. I&#8217;ve been here for nearly two months, so it is time to move on before my visa expires.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I am returning to Vietnam in July to act as a quasi-tour guide for some Australian friends. The trip includes Da Nang/Hoi An and Hanoi. I will be visiting the main tourist sites in Hanoi with my friends, but I don&#8217;t think they will be interested in seeing the <a href="https://e.vnexpress.net/photo/news/hanois-construction-boom-is-choking-neighborhoods-in-dust-5082774.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">demolition works around the city</a>. I will make time to see some of the construction sites that are reshaping Hanoi.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">After Vietnam, I will stop over in Singapore en route to Indonesia. Singapore and KL are the best travel hubs for getting to anywhere in Indonesia outside of Jakarta and Bali. I&#8217;ve already been to KL this year, so I picked Singapore.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/upcoming_projects/rail_expansion/circle_line_6.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">last section of the Circle Line</a> on the Singapore MRT is opening in July, so I will be checking that out. One of the new stations (Cantonment) is at the old Tanjong Pagar Station (where the Singapore-KL train used to depart). It&#8217;s good that there is a metro station here now, but it is still disappointing that there is no railway service between the two cities with <a href="https://mothership.sg/2025/05/kl-spore-2nd-busiest-flight-route/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one of the busiest flight routes in the world</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I will be in Indonesia for one month, and this is a follow-up from my <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/indonesia-railways-report-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one-month rail-themed trip in 2024</a>. My 2026 trip starts in Padang, where I will be riding the limited railways of West Sumatra. This is the only section of the <a href="https://www.nomadicnotes.com/sumatra-railways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">railways of Sumatra</a> that I haven&#8217;t been on.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">After Sumatra, I will go to Jakarta (which is now the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/26/indonesias-jakarta-now-the-worlds-largest-city-tokyo-falls-to-third-un" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world&#8217;s largest city</a> since my last visit). I will do some updates for my <a href="https://jakartarailtransit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transit guide to Jakarta</a>, and then visit some new-to-me places in Java by rail.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you are in any of those places and would like to meet up, feel free to send a message.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Site news</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Updated: Motorbike barriers of Southeast Asia</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Chiang Mai has now entered the <em>gallery of shame</em> on the <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/motorbike-barriers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">motorbike barriers of Southeast Asia</a> list. A motorbike barrier has been installed at the main city gate (and probably the best-known landmark of the city).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Thailand/Chiang-Mai-2020s/i-bWGKtqb/0/KkMgMgb4DgFNTXdgcbCqqtTwT3PqZpjFRPjpJMJhF/L/20260528_173015-thapae-gate-bike-blocker-L.jpg" alt="Thapae Gate Bike Blocker"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Many of the bike barriers I have listed have at least attempted to allow step-free access. This is just pure laziness.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Weekly news</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I publish the weekly news update every Wednesday for paid subscribers. This is a round-up of news related to transport and urban development in the region.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em><strong>Note:</strong> I have now completed the newsletter migration from news.futuresoutheastasia.com to futuresoutheastasia.com. Some newsletters were still being sent via the old address, but all emails will now be from futuresoutheastasia.com.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you were on a monthly subscription, your subscription was not transferred after the month expired, so you will need to manually resubscribe.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To receive weekly updates from Future Southeast Asia, become a paid subscriber ($5 per month or $50 per year) and help support this site.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://subscribe.wordpress.com/memberships/?blog=63053172&amp;plan=12053&amp;lang=en_US&amp;pid=12962&amp;redirect=https%3A%2F%2Ffuturesoutheastasia.com%2Fnews-may-2026&amp;block_type=payment-button" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade To Premium</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here are the last month’s issues of the weekly newsletter (click article links to upgrade).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">•&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-24-june-2026/">Future Southeast Asia News [24 Jun 2026]</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Raising awareness of city planning in Cambodia, Jakarta builds pedestrian deck to link six transit modes, Philippines weighs return to China for stalled Mindanao railway, the engineering challenges behind the Circle Line loop, single-entry fare system for Bangkok rail network, Hanoi launches construction of five metro lines spanning over 300 km.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">•&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-17-june-2026/">Future Southeast Asia News [17 Jun 2026]</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Indonesia targets 10,524 km railway network expansion, LRT3 Shah Alam Line ready for operations by end June, Manila-Bulacan-Pampanga-Bataan Coastal Road-Dike Project, Bangkok airports target 120 million ‘by 2029’, Vietnam to add 7 new airports by 2030.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">•&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-10-june-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Southeast Asia News [10 Jun 2026]</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Phnom Penh’s public space shortage, Trans-Sumatra Railway project from Aceh to Lampung, MAHB to invest RM11bil in airport expansion over 5 years, MRT-7 will retain all 14 stations, a first look at 3 new Circle Line MRT stations, Bangkok city plan to unlock rail-linked mega-projects, Hanoi drowns in construction debris.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">•&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-3-june-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Southeast Asia News [3 Jun 2026]</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cambodia vows urban renewal, Vang Vieng old airport development, New Kuching International Airport, no bridge to Boracay, Thailand’s long-delayed three-airport high-speed rail project, Ho Chi Minh City ordered to expand its metro tenfold by 2030.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It (this month&#8217;s articles)</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/hanois-ambitious-5-line-metro-launch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hanoi’s ambitious 5-line metro launch</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/bonifacio-global-city-manila/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bonifacio Global City – The Singapore of Manila, or the Manhattan of Asia?</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/vang-vieng-central-plaza/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Redeveloping the old Vang Vieng CIA airstrip into “The City That Never Sleeps”</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
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			<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13476</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hanoi&#8217;s ambitious 5-line metro launch</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/hanois-ambitious-5-line-metro-launch/</link>
					<comments>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/hanois-ambitious-5-line-metro-launch/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:49:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Urban Rail Transit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hanoi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hanoi metro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vietnam]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://futuresoutheastasia.com/?p=13444</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Hanoi has launched the construction of five metro lines. The lines include the line that will replace the North-South Railway, a line connecting the airport to the old quarter and the world&#8217;s largest stadium, the world&#8217;s longest metro line(?), a circle line, and Tay Ho now gets access to the airport and the old quarter. [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Vietnam/Hanoi-Metro/i-mHgtTph/0/NHMmc9sTHbZXP4HvLzr3cxXBL9BRMnHFqdKjXqPzJ/O/hanoi-5-metro-lines.png" alt="5 new metro lines in Hanoi"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Hanoi has launched the construction of five metro lines. The lines include the line that will replace the North-South Railway, a line connecting the airport to the old quarter and the world&#8217;s largest stadium, the world&#8217;s longest metro line(?), a circle line, and Tay Ho now gets access to the airport and the old quarter.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The historic groundbreaking day</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hanoi held a groundbreaking ceremony on the <a href="https://hanoirailtransit.com/hanoi-launches-construction-of-five-metro-lines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">22nd of June</a> to launch the construction of five metro lines. The combined length of the lines spans over 300 km, with a total investment of approximately VND1.3 quadrillion (US$49.4 billion).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Many of the planned metro lines have been stuck in the planning phase for years, so the swiftness of this mass groundbreaking ceremony was unexpected. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The ground-breaking ceremony was announced a week before the occasion, and some of the lines don&#8217;t feature on the official master plan of the Hanoi Metro. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The new lines are being undertaken by the Vinhomes – VinSpeed consortium as EPC general contractor (design, procurement and construction package). Vingroup&#8217;s involvement helps explain the extensions of some lines and the addition of a new line.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here is a breakdown of the five metro lines that were launched on June 22.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Observations on the new metro lines in Hanoi</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I keep a directory of <a href="https://hanoirailtransit.com/maps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maps of the Hanoi Metro</a>, but so far, no map shows all of the proposed lines. The Hanoi Metro website has a <a href="https://metrohanoi.vn/ban-do-8-tuyen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">master plan map</a> that was already outdated before the latest announcements.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The cover image is from an infographic published in <a href="https://www.vietnam.vn/en/infographic-5-tuyen-metro-tong-dau-tu-1-3-trieu-ty-dong-vua-duoc-khoi-cong-tai-ha-noi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vietnam.vn</a>. For this article, I will reference the map that was posted on <a href="https://vnexpress.net/ha-noi-khoi-cong-5-tuyen-metro-hon-1-3-trieu-ty-dong-5088352.html" target="_blank">VnExpress</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Vietnam/Hanoi-Metro/i-6tR4Rx8/1/Mz2NPCgWv8Djn6VnLKtQ4C9QvMHZ5drnSMsJFmHJx/O/hanoi-metro-5-new-lines-jun-2026.jpg" alt=""><br> [Route map for the 5 urban railway lines that commenced construction on June 22nd. Graphic: Tam Thao]</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Line 1 (the line that will replace the North-South Railway)</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://hanoirailtransit.com/line-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Line 1</a> has been in planning since the metro was first planned, but it got stuck at the starting line while <a href="https://hanoirailtransit.com/line-2a/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Line 2A</a> and <a href="https://hanoirailtransit.com/line-3/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Line 3</a> are already operational.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 1 is the most critical line for Hanoi, and not just because of its flagship number. The line will follow the route of the current <a href="https://www.railvietnam.com/north-south-railway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North-South Railway</a>, which will eventually stop operating in this corridor.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Vietnam is planning to build a high-speed railway that will replace the current North-South Railway. The Hanoi terminus will be at Ngoc Hoi, which is about 10 km south of the current Hanoi Station. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 1 will go from Ngoc Hoi and follow the same route as the current railway. The metro will go around the old quarter on the same route that the &#8220;<a href="https://www.nomadicnotes.com/hanoi-train-street/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Train Street</a>&#8221; train takes, so this ridiculous tourist attraction will go when the railway closes down.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Vietnam/Hanoi/i-jbPtVtL/0/Lg9xB89qgbr6zpvC9WSk5Gdwm4t2fkx2NjS7Gr5P8/L/20251108_100136-train-through-train-street-L.jpg" alt="Train passing through Hanoi Train Street"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/vietnam-high-speed-railway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high-speed railway</a> is expected to start construction in 2027 and be completed by 2035. Ideally, Line 1 will be operational by the time the high-speed railway opens, so passengers can transfer by metro to central Hanoi.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The June 2026 groundbreaking announced that the lines will be ready by 2030, so that is four and a half years. For comparison, Line 2A took ten years to build the 13.1 km line (the <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/comparison-of-first-metro-lines-in-asia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">slowest first metro line built in Asia</a>). </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To be fair, the high-speed railway will most likely face construction delays as well, so maybe the HSR and Line 1 will be ready at the same time.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 1 was originally planned to be 36 km, but it has now been revealed that the line will be extended north to Noi Bai International Airport and south to the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnams-vingroup-forges-ahead-with-worlds-largest-stadium-despite-demand-doubts-2026-06-11/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hung Vuong Stadium project</a>. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Vingroup is building the new stadium, which is going to be the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-05/vietnam-hung-vuong-stadium-high-speed-rail-construction-boom/106616160" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world&#8217;s largest stadium</a> (135,000 capacity), so Line 1 will connect the stadium to the old quarter (where most tourists stay).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Vietnam/Hanoi/i-bk33Txv/0/Krt9JfVk7SNJqCFsgqL2zFnCBP87SqbDdkmX3XFXp/L/hung-vuong-stadium-L.jpg" alt="Hung Vuong Stadium"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These extensions of Line 1 will now make the total length 81 km. It also means that there will be three metro lines serving Noi Bai International Airport (along with Line 2 and <a href="https://hanoirailtransit.com/line-6/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Line 6</a>).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Line 2 (connecting the airport to the old quarter and the world&#8217;s largest stadium)</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Construction of Line 2 <a href="https://en.vietnamplus.vn/hanoi-breaks-ground-for-nam-thang-longtran-hung-dao-metro-line-post330111.vnp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">broke ground in October 2025</a>, so the inclusion of Line 2 on this list is confusing.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 2 is being built in stages, so it would have been more accurate to report it as Stage II (or whatever stage it is).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 2 embodies the struggles that Hanoi has faced in building the metro system. The line has been <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/line-2-hanoi-metro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in planning for over a decade</a>, which included a drawn-out debate on where to place the <a href="https://vietnamnews.vn/society/464450/hoan-kiem-metro-station-still-debated-after-15-years.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metro station in the old quarter</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This line will be most useful for visitors, as it will connect the airport to the old quarter. The line will also be extended to Hung Vuong Stadium, so there will now be two lines that run from the airport to the stadium via the old quarter.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Line 8 (the world&#8217;s longest metro line?)</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://hanoirailtransit.com/line-8/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Line 8</a> is the major East-West line of Hanoi. The old Wikipedia listing says the line is 37 km, but there have been no updates about this line for years. I was not expecting Line 8 to be in this lineup.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 8 will now be 91 km, which might be the longest metro line in the world. I have not found a list of the world&#8217;s longest lines, which is odd considering that Wikipedia loves such a listicle. The longest line in China (and possibly the world) is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_6_(Chongqing_Rail_Transit)">Line 6 of Chongqing Rail Transit</a> at 85.6 km.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At 91 km, Line 8 would be better served as a commuter railway. Hanoi should be building commuter lines that connect Hanoi to the capitals of the neighbouring provinces.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A good example of a long metro/commuter line is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Train_eXpress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great Train eXpress</a> in Seoul. The GTX-A line is 81 km in length, and it has an operating speed of 180 km/h (a semi-high-speed railway).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Line 10 is now a circle line </h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 10 is a radical overhaul of the line that features on the official master plan map. The old Line 10 ran parallel to Line 2A, and like Line 2A, it didn&#8217;t continue through the city.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The new Line 10 is now a 43 km circle line, which is a line that every major metro system should have.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 10 isn&#8217;t on the Wiki page or the Hanoi Metro site, so we wait for more information on this line.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the stations on this line is Co Loa, which will be the Hanoi terminus for the <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/hanoi-quang-ninh-high-speed-railway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ha Noi–Quang Ninh high-speed railway</a>, built by &#8211; you guessed it &#8211; Vinspeed. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Railways/Vietnam-Railways/i-bd3TfTb/0/LBfsbWGs8Ln462XpB7Fk8wcrcjxL9q8tkShDKv4Lm/O/ga-co-loa-hanoi.jpg" alt="Ga Co Loa Hanoi"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[Co Loa HSR Station (image <a href="https://thanglong.chinhphu.vn/english/ha-noiquang-ninh-high-speed-railway-to-put-into-operation-in-2028-110260416164338151.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">source</a>).]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One thing I am curious to see is how the future metro map evolves. Having a circle line is a good way to use as a foundation for the map design. It is also worth noting that circle lines are not true circles. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For example, here is the <a href="https://mrt.sg/map/schematic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">schematic map</a> of the Circle Line in Singapore.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Singapore/Singapore-MRT/i-NX7QDS3/0/LhFnrHXPjfvvJGp4hJXHhznbk9Rrq83ZVFfknrxKv/XL/singapore-circle-line-schematic-XL.png" alt="Singapore Circle Line Schematic Map"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And here is the <a href="https://mrt.sg/map" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geographic map</a> of the Circle Line in Singapore.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Singapore/Singapore-MRT/i-WpC2S5X/0/KSfFMspwz4C7KX3cbT54pNkvKG7jrjcxwxXd5L5HC/XL/singapore-circle-line-geographic-XL.png" alt="Singapore Circle Line Geographic Map"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[Note that the maps show dotted lines representing the unfinished section, which will open in July 2026.]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For map designers who are planning to make a Hanoi Metro map, this is a good example of being courageous enough to completely stray from geographic reality.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have been so frustrated by the lack of good maps of the Hanoi Metro that I have considered designing one myself. However, I don&#8217;t feel like I know the city well enough to do it justice. Even though I have lost count of how many times I have been to Hanoi, I still manage to get lost in the old quarter.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the other hand, I have spent years of my life wandering the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, and I have catalogued all of the news about the HCMC Metro. Thus, I felt confident in creating my own <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/future-hcmc-metro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">concept map of an expanded HCMC Metro</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hanoi map makers, I am waiting for your maps!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Line 14 (Tay Ho now gets access to the airport and the old quarter)</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 14 is a new proposal that is not on the official map, and it hasn&#8217;t been mentioned in the media before. The end of the line will be at <a href="https://vinhomes.vn/en/Vinhomes-Ocean-Park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vinhomes Ocean Park</a>, which makes sense considering that Vin is part of the construction consortium.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Vietnam/Hanoi/i-6TfGRZM/0/MKHTZ2CjzJmtw4BJdpkgTdwTVZ5WtT4PnKJFcBTjS/L/vinhomes-ocean-park-landing-page-L.jpg" alt="Vinhomes Ocean Park"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[An earlier advertisement for Vinhomes Ocean Park (which is not by the ocean).]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Vingroup also proposed a <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/ben-thanh-can-gio-railway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new line in Ho Chi Minh City</a>, which is being built to serve the Vin project in Can Gio.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 14 fills in a glaring gap on the metro plan by running the line along West Lake (Tay Ho). Line 2 travels through the urban areas of West Lake West, but the area east of West Lake (the popular expat area) did not have a planned metro line. If you have ever caught a bus or taxi from the airport to the old town, Line 14 follows that same route after the river crossing.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 14 will connect to Line 2 near Thang Long Bridge, which means that the Tay Ho area will now have a connection to the airport with a single transfer.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Line 14 will provide another way to get to the historic Hoan Kiem area, so this is a good addition.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This new line also adds the possibility of a three-line interchange near the old quarter. If you look at the map, it appears that Line 1, Line 2, and Line 14 converge around the Long Bien Station area. That means that Hanoi would have a station like <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/ben-thanh-station/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Thanh in HCMC</a> with three lines.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ben Thanh in HCMC had the luxury of building on the site of a massive traffic circle, so there was enough land to dig a giant hole in the ground to build the station.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://photos.nomadicnotes.com/img/s3/v42/p926450631-4.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="The roundabout"><br>
[Ben Thanh before the metro. Photo via <a href="https://www.nomadicnotes.com/the-changing-face-of-saigon-2017-edition/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">nomadicnotes.com</a>.]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Long Bien Station area is surrounded by small roads, so this will be a more challenging build. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Vietnam/Hanoi/i-VbfjDgX/0/NCbLmzRbftsXgBGkkxdj6jPCZC4QVtXHVjWWn9Lb5/L/20251110_120717-freight-tucks-at-long-bien-L.jpg" alt="Outside Long Bien Station"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Long Bien Station will close down once the railway stops running, so they will be able to demolish the old station (which is too small anyway) and build a purpose-built interchange. They would also need to demolish more properties around the station. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hanoi is currently going through an enormous <a href="https://vietnamnet.vn/en/a-new-hanoi-is-rising-from-the-city-s-largest-construction-wave-in-decades-2520387.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rebuilding campaign</a> that will <a href="https://e.vnexpress.net/photo/news/hanois-construction-boom-is-choking-neighborhoods-in-dust-5082774.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disrupt everyday life</a> for years to come, so expect more demolition work while Hanoi strives to build a <a href="https://dtinews.dantri.com.vn/vietnam-today/hanoi-moves-to-accelerate-nearly-1000-km-metro-network-plan-20260518161316999.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearly 1,000-km metro network for the 2026-2030 period</a>.<br><br></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13444</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Future Southeast Asia News [24 Jun 2026]</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-24-june-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:01:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Raising awareness of city planning in Cambodia, Jakarta builds pedestrian deck to link six transit modes, Philippines weighs return to China for stalled Mindanao railway, the engineering challenges behind the Circle Line loop, single-entry fare system for Bangkok rail network, Hanoi launches construction of five metro lines spanning over 300 km.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Raising awareness of city planning in Cambodia, Jakarta builds pedestrian deck to link six transit modes, Philippines weighs return to China for stalled Mindanao railway, the engineering challenges behind the Circle Line loop, single-entry fare system for Bangkok rail network, Hanoi launches construction of five metro lines spanning over 300 km.</p>




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		<title>Bonifacio Global City &#8211; The Singapore of Manila, or the Manhattan of Asia?</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/bonifacio-global-city-manila/</link>
					<comments>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/bonifacio-global-city-manila/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:24:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Trip Reports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2026 trip reports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bonifacio global city]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is a planned central business district in the City of Taguig&#160;(one of the cities in Metropolitan Manila). I&#8217;ve seen it described as the Manhattan of Asia and the Singapore of Manila. Both of these descriptions sound hyperbolic, so I had to see for myself. I visited Manila in April 2026, and [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-CXgKFCj/0/L9ZscwXqcD8NkkfZsZhrrfwp9cHVMV6L4HCC9Zxnw/L/20260413_095616-bgc-sidewalks-L.jpg" alt="BGC"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is a planned central business district in the City of Taguig&nbsp;(one of the cities in Metropolitan Manila). I&#8217;ve seen it described as the Manhattan of Asia and the Singapore of Manila. Both of these descriptions sound hyperbolic, so I had to see for myself.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I visited Manila in April 2026, and this is my report on Bonifacio Global City.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Getting to BGC</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">BGC is not connected to the metro system (yet), so I got the train to the closest station and walked.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/News/i-QbnMdfk/0/KZN3j75r8LPtvwQH5JCVprXC45FmQVKtqdRRZ7NXF/O/map-of-bgc.png" alt="Map of Bonifacio Global City"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/JREoTcw4ynicPND26" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Map of Bonifacio Global City</a> and Buendia Station.</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I got the train to Buendia Station (MRT-3) and walked along the narrow sidewalk on the main road.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-8r683jD/0/NjLHNCrhv4qfpB5rMH36h4sjVFpfwPdSPPBd5cPDf/L/20260413_091643-service-road-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Google Maps estimated the walk to be about 30 minutes, which is too far for the station to be a useful travel option to BGC.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The walk would have been shorter if it weren’t for a private estate&nbsp;and a golf course blocking the way.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-d39KJSt/0/KDQRjHsnfGqMLK25HVWKH92xKsQwWfMKNwTNhs3sS/L/20260413_091610-barangay-forbes-park-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Manila is littered with private estates that hinder coherent urban planning. I have previously written that&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/new-cities-in-southeast-asia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gated communities should not be located in inner-city areas</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-b9mfKXQ/0/Kbt6vv4BGXw8PnbH2CZBQ32kJkF5cHf5b5MHj7vFJ/L/20260413_091617-forbes-park-private-road-L.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">I shouldn&#8217;t have to ask for permission to walk through the city</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The roads are not in any logical order, but I looked at the Google Map and thought I had memorised the route. I took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in a maze of side streets that surround BGC.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-vN5Z6hP/0/LPr4g5X6HJdBQj9dCmPPGRjxGzTtsRq6TtpbNVdXD/L/20260413_093241-cinder-brick-tower-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This turned out to be an instructive walk as I saw how the workers who serve BGC live. Among the cinderblock houses are a chain of boarding houses that rent cheap beds by the month.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-v7zWt8Q/0/K4GNmfkqG36LHVKrhFtXZfXtGzcCQ8kzMnKCv3ZJz/L/20260413_093151-my-town-rentals-L.jpg" alt="Rent close to BGC"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Monthly bed rentals near BGC</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I could see the skyline of BGC, but I had to refer back to Google Maps to find my way there.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-x7wXB64/0/MkqC7Z5QD9sVshDdnMtw4bCm9sXgZDtsDWBJDjSXS/L/20260413_094136-general-aguinaldo-st-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found the alley that connects to the BGC area, and it was immediately apparent that this area is a separately managed entity. The roads are wide and lined with trees, and the area features a well-defined street grid.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-JVM79NM/0/MvzrQ45BZK5TrCH5fCtGPkQM2R7VT4S8vJp6d2Fgh/L/20260413_094411-7th-avenue-bgc-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The land at BGC was part of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bonifacio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fort Bonifacio</a>, which was one of the military bases in Manila that was converted for development. The land was privatised in 1994, and by <a href="https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/bonifacio-global-city.941086/">2004</a>, there were fewer than 10 high-rises here.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I met a friend who lives in Manila part-time for a coffee in BGC. He visited BGC 15 years ago and said there was not much here. Now there are only a few blocks left that have not been developed.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-M9DWkWs/0/KcN8JVQpN4gRW2t6dwQNvhHmVZ5zhbTcx4NjB4SpL/L/20260413_094709-7th-ave-empty-lots-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The straight roads with numbered streets and avenues do evoke the Manhattan grid.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-5cg922t/0/NHz5fXD52SHXQ6XKCT7rWQCQrpZq5jjNKCZCQjWm7/L/20260413_095316-7th-ave-and-30th-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There is even a 5th Avenue, though it is nowhere near as grand as <a href="https://fifthavenue.nyc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Manhattan&#8217;s Fifth Avenue</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-sCv623S/0/LHptKTDjF4g96zBBxdB2GHC5FWbQ2rJtvN2NGbc2g/L/20260413_101051-5th-avenue-L.jpg" alt="5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I would say that BGC is more Singaporean in vibe than Manhattan. In fact, out of all the places I have been to that aspire to be <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/the-next-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Next Singapore in Southeast Asia</a>, BGC felt the most like Singapore.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-QN5DwTj/0/LZp4Vsmnt7chJvZw2JzSZN2QbB4LVnzRvcT3NZ54n/L/20260413_095247-global-city-cleaner-L.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cleaners roam the sidewalks of BGC</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tree-lined streets with wide sidewalks should be the bare minimum for any new urban development.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-9BXzJFJ/0/KzBNLrFKFFsnQWdDsK8bHQkqzRGwtXPx3JnzH2jX6/L/20260413_095314-7th-ave-trees-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the centre of the main street grid is Bonifacio High Street. This is a public park that is flanked by shops and restaurants on either side.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-jvLfTTn/0/NXWBhKmhSxvksqp67LHJMKD8WWTpSZf4n3g7KwPT2/L/20260413_095719-bonifacio-high-street-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I considered staying here so I could have a longer look around, but there are no budget hotels here, and I couldn&#8217;t be bothered dealing with an Airbnb apartment for a one-night stay. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I ended up staying in Malate, which is the old area by the Bay of Manila. I mentioned in my <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/manila-trip-report-2022-edition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Manila trip report</a> that Malate should be like the Miami Beach of Manila. Returning to Malate in 2026, it was disappointing to see how run-down it still is, especially after visiting BGC. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Another comparison I was making was with the <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/thu-thiem/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thu Thiem New Urban Area</a> in Ho Chi Minh City. BGC and Thu Thiem have a similar development timeline, yet BGC is almost complete, while Thu Thiem has been bogged down in red tape and scandals.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-MjprPgw/0/NLBPMNHqkhBBpd9qL6ZjdXhKqfR8rx8WrgZsjpQhc/L/20260413_124618-highlands-bgc-L.jpg" alt="Highlands BGC"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Highlands Coffee from Vietnam (majority owned by the Philippines Jollibee Group).</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">BGC was fascinating to visit to see how quickly a new urban area can develop. My main issue with it is that it is a private development and not integrated into the city proper. It feels like a business park, and street vendors are not allowed to operate here.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Walking across BGC, you can see where BGC ends and &#8220;Normal Manila&#8221; resumes.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-wP3mCvZ/0/MfVfrGJCfk7DctcSSL7gDbTvd8kgxXR3JW46TKvBq/L/20260413_113519-walking-to-bgc-L.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">At the boundary of BGC</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BGC transport</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">BGC is not connected to the <a href="https://www.nomadicnotes.com/metro-manila-mass-transit-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban rail transit system of Manila</a>, but it will have two stations on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Manila_Subway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Metro Manila Subway</a> (MRT-9). This map from Wikimedia shows the line in relation to the current system and other lines under construction.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Philippines/Manila-Urban-Rail-Transit/i-5Mz8MLs/0/2b5b7902/O/metro-manila-rail-network.jpg" alt="Metro Manila Rail Network"><br>
[Map by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Metro_Manila_rail_network.svg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Itsquietuptown</a> via Wikimedia.]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">MRT-9 will have a branch line to NAIA Terminal 3, so it will only be three stops from BGC to the airport. The current construction only goes to Terminal 3, while the Wiki map shows the proposed extension to Terminal 1 and 2 and extension to an extended LRT Line 1.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The BGC subway station will be next to the Market! Market! mall. Work reportedly began on the BGC station in <a href="https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/mobility/construction-kicks-off-for-kalayaan-and-bgc-stations-on-the-metro-manila-subway-a5229-20260216-bsc?utm_campaign=20260415-fbnp-newsfeatures-construction-kicks-off-for-kalayaan-and-bgc-stations-on-the-metro-manila-subway-a5229-20260216-bsc-fbprom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">February 2026</a>, though there was no sign of construction when I was there in April. The mall is going to be completely redeveloped when the lease expires at <a href="https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/756425-market-market-mall-in-bgc-to-get-a-makeover#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the end of 2027</a>, so it would make sense to build the station along with the redevelopment. The line is expected to open in 2032.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-rB5JLqw/0/LtqFsNnsvdZxFqBjwDddFNm7QkJBQg897RhVPq53C/L/20260413_112431-market-market-L.jpg" alt="Market! Market! BGC"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Market! Market! at BGC</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There is a transit centre next to Market! Market! mall. The jeepneys that converge here look out of place in this modern corner of Manila, so maybe they will be <a href="https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/10/the-jeepney-phase-out-explained" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phased out</a> before the subway line opens.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Asia/Philippines/Manila/i-pj7bmW7/0/MmdM4Q9Rq4rBG74gC3jt57v22wdN9sdF9JFDSjnzn/L/20260413_112926-market-market-jeepneys-L.jpg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kalayaan Avenue Station on the Metro Manila Subway will be at <a href="https://insiderph.com/manila-subway-project-enters-bgc-with-uptown-bonifacio-groundbreaking">11th Avenue next to the JPMorgan Chase Center.</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Another transport proposal is the <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/makati-taguig-skytrain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Makati-Taguig Skytrain</a>, which is a privately proposed 1.87 km people-mover/monorail that would connect BGC to Guadalupe Station on Line MRT-3 in Makati.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">BGC and Makati are neighbours, but it is hard to travel between these two economic powerhouses of Manila. The Skytrain would connect to the proposed <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/makati-intra-city-subway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Makati Intra-city Subway</a>, which would operate within Makati City. What Manila needs is a mass transit line that passes through Makati and BGC and connects to other points in Manila. Instead, Manila has these privately proposed lines that are not integrated into a planned citywide network.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Part of the problem is that the cities of Manila operate as cities unto themselves, instead of working towards benefitting greater Manila. Perhaps Manila should have a governor who oversees all of the cities, like how <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Bangkok" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bangkok has a governor</a>, and the cities of Manila should be more like districts. Anyway, that is a topic beyond the scope of this site.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have a list of every urban rail line planned for Metro Manila here: <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/future-metro-manila-mass-transit-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Manila mass transit system</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13266</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Future Southeast Asia News [17 Jun 2026]</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-17-june-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 06:32:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://futuresoutheastasia.com/?p=13322</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Indonesia targets 10,524 km railway network expansion, LRT3 Shah Alam Line ready for operations by end June, Manila-Bulacan-Pampanga-Bataan Coastal Road-Dike Project, Bangkok airports target 120 million &#8216;by 2029&#8217;, Vietnam to add 7 new airports by 2030.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Indonesia targets 10,524 km railway network expansion, LRT3 Shah Alam Line ready for operations by end June, Manila-Bulacan-Pampanga-Bataan Coastal Road-Dike Project, Bangkok airports target 120 million &#8216;by 2029&#8217;, Vietnam to add 7 new airports by 2030.</em></p>




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		<title>Future Southeast Asia News [10 Jun 2026]</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-10-june-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:08:57 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://futuresoutheastasia.com/?p=13120</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Phnom Penh&#8217;s public space shortage, Trans-Sumatra Railway project from Aceh to Lampung, MAHB to invest RM11bil in airport expansion over 5 years, MRT-7 will retain all 14 stations, a first look at 3 new Circle Line MRT stations, Bangkok city plan to unlock rail-linked mega-projects, Hanoi drowns in construction debris.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Phnom Penh&#8217;s public space shortage, Trans-Sumatra Railway project from Aceh to Lampung, MAHB to invest RM11bil in airport expansion over 5 years, MRT-7 will retain all 14 stations, a first look at 3 new Circle Line MRT stations, Bangkok city plan to unlock rail-linked mega-projects, Hanoi drowns in construction debris.</p>




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		<title>Redeveloping the old Vang Vieng CIA airstrip into &#8220;The City That Never Sleeps&#8221;</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/vang-vieng-central-plaza/</link>
					<comments>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/vang-vieng-central-plaza/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:47:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[New Urban Areas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[laos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[old airport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vang vieng]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://futuresoutheastasia.com/?p=13079</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Vang Vieng Central Plaza is a planned tourism development on the site of the old CIA airstrip in Vang Vieng. A proposal to develop the site was announced in 2018, and land clearance was ordered in 2023. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on the 1st of June 2026. From the Lao News Agency: &#8220;Developed by [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Laos/Vang-Vieng/i-nJck2qS/0/LsjwMFP45vbtLxDds4QCKkrnMPrW7LFPgNCGshwXR/O/vang-vieng-airport-redevelopment.jpg" alt="Vang Vieng Airport redevelopment"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Vang Vieng Central Plaza is a planned tourism development on the site of the old CIA airstrip in Vang Vieng.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A proposal to develop the site was announced in 2018, and land clearance was ordered in 2023. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on the 1st of June 2026.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">From the <a href="https://kpl.gov.la/EN/detail.aspx?id=101425" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lao News Agency</a>:</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;Developed by China Engineering Construction Laos Co., Ltd., the USD 216 million project will cover 210,000 square meters and feature a comprehensive commercial complex integrating tourism, dining, culture, and entertainment under the concept of “Vang Vieng – The City That Never Sleeps.”&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There is also mention of a casino, pending approval by authorities.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Official images haven&#8217;t been released yet, so I will post images and official websites when they become available.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Laotian Times posted an image of the project model.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Laos/Vang-Vieng/i-4QTVm2B/0/K46GFFVdMP2xNmZnRr3W2vLLb2HkD4CFKnDtSxSc5/X2/vang-vieng-central-plaza-model-X2.jpg" alt="Vang Vieng Central Plaza Model"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[Model of Vang Vieng Central Plaza (via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18piTNmPpM/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Laotian Times Facebook page</a>).]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Note that the model shows the development surrounded by trees, which gives the impression that the airport is outside of the city. The actual location is in the city centre (refer to the map below).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vang Vieng Central Plaza Map</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The old airstrip is in the town centre. I have pinned the Bureau de Poste de Vangvieng as the arbitrary centre of town. The map also includes the location of the Vang Vieng Railway Station. </p>



<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/embed?mid=1yK3i-qf85E-qImt5__WVZEG-CC7RNwM&#038;ehbc=2E312F" width="640" height="480"></iframe>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[Map of <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1yK3i-qf85E-qImt5__WVZEG-CC7RNwM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vang Vieng Central Plaza project</a>.]</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">About the old Vang Vieng Airport</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The old Vang Vieng Airport is a former CIA airstrip known as Lima Site 16. After the war, the airport was managed by the Ministry of National Defense.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/News/i-jsZPQ7t/0/LZQf534sKLFjtRFXSTd5VN8QQfGrLSwWqcksN6T4G/L/air-america-airstrip-vang-vieng-L.jpg" alt="Air America Air Strip, Vang Vieng, Laos"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[Air America Air Strip, Vang Vieng (photo: Mark Bowyer, <a href="https://www.rustycompass.com/laos-travel-guide-244/vang-vieng-53" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rusty Compass</a>).]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">News reports refer to it as the old Vang Vieng Airport, which suggests it was a functioning civilian airport (it wasn&#8217;t). The airport had the IATA Code VGG and ICAO<strong> </strong>Code&nbsp;VLVV, though these codes no longer show up on the official IATA website.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Could the old Vang Vieng Airport be redeveloped into a new commercial airport?</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The old runway is located in the city centre, so it cannot be repurposed into a modern airport.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The arrival of the <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/boten-vientiane-railway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laos-China Railway</a> means that it only takes 52 minutes to travel by train from Vientiane, which is the nearest city to Vang Vieng with an airport.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[<strong>Edit:</strong> Wikipedia has listed the airstrip as Lima Site 6, but according to Air America’s site listing, <a href="https://www.threads.com/@rjhintz/post/DZVBXpkm4Py" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VV was L16</a>.]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Further Reading</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_covert_sites_of_the_Laotian_Civil_War" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">List of covert sites of the Laotian Civil War</a> [Wikipedia]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://fareasttravels.com/travel-ideas/air-americas-legacy-laos-lima-site-6-airstrip/#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Air America’s Legacy – Vang Vieng, Laos – Airstrip Video Tour</a> [Far East Travels]</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">News archive</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2026</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://laotiantimes.com/2026/06/02/vang-vieng-gears-up-for-usd-216m-tourism-overhaul-as-old-airport-transforms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vang Vieng gears up for USD-216M tourism overhaul as old airport transforms</a> &#8211; [02/06/26]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;Lao Yijin Group Co., Ltd. is leading the project, which received government approval after passing feasibility and regulatory reviews, according to state media. The company signed a concession agreement with Vientiane provincial authorities and plans to complete construction within five years on 16.24 hectares formerly managed by the Ministry of National Defense.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Laos/Vang-Vieng/i-CdrSqxW/0/NdCdbhW993ZG3znNPLgPv78XCP7Gfd7Q6LndXsNzB/L/vang-vieng-central-plaza-goundbreaking-L.jpg" alt="Vang Vieng Central Plaza groundbreaking ceremony"></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2023</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://laotiantimes.com/2023/04/24/authorities-to-clear-commercial-area-for-tourism-spot-in-vang-vieng/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Authorities to clear commercial area for tourism spot in Vang Vieng</a> &#8211; [24/04/23]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;The government of Vang Vieng&nbsp;issued&nbsp;a notice, calling for the closure of businesses within the commercial area of the old airport to pave the way for Yijin Engineering Construction Lao Co., Ltd’s ambitious new tourism project.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Future-Southeast-Asia/Laos/Vang-Vieng/i-NH6tsgn/0/KmJszF53WvfLsDKfSTbzv84s2nnHvg5wBspchmXQ9/L/old-vang-vieng-airport-L.jpg" alt="Old Vang Vieng Airport"><br></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2018</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://kpl.gov.la/en/detail.aspx?id=31902" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese firm authorised to develop Vangvieng Airport as tourism complex</a> &#8211; [15/02/18]</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;The authorities of Vientiane Province has authorized the Chinese company Ichin Engineering &amp; Construction Lao a 50-year concessional right to develop abandoned Vangvieng Airport as a US$ 200-million tourist complex featuring a five-star hotel, a hospital, a tourism school, a multi-ethnic cultural theater, and a casino, among others.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13079</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Future Southeast Asia News [3 Jun 2026]</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-3-june-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:54:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://futuresoutheastasia.com/?p=13040</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Cambodia vows urban renewal, Vang Vieng old airport development, New Kuching International Airport, no bridge to Boracay, Thailand’s long-delayed three-airport high-speed rail project, Ho Chi Minh City ordered to expand its metro tenfold by 2030.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Cambodia vows urban renewal, Vang Vieng old airport development, New Kuching International Airport, no bridge to Boracay, Thailand’s long-delayed three-airport high-speed rail project, Ho Chi Minh City ordered to expand its metro tenfold by 2030.</em></p>




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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13040</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Future Southeast Asia Site News: May 2026</title>
		<link>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-may-2026/</link>
					<comments>https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-may-2026/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[James Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 09:59:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Site News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://futuresoutheastasia.com/?p=12962</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Cleaning up broken links from major news sites, trying to extract myself and Future Southeast Asia from the clutches of Google, a new (to me) news source, and an update on the weekly news round-up. Greetings from Chiang Mai! I&#8217;m back in my semi-home base to recuperate from months of travel and to work through [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Cleaning up broken links from major news sites, trying to extract myself and Future Southeast Asia from the clutches of Google, a new (to me) news source, and an update on the weekly news round-up.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Greetings from Chiang Mai! I&#8217;m back in my semi-home base to recuperate from months of travel and to work through a backlog of trip reports from around Southeast Asia.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This post is my monthly update on what is happening at futuresoutheastasia.com.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Site news</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Link maintenance</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I occasionally run a broken link check on futuresoutheastasia.com to clean up dead links. The report usually shows sites that no longer exist or sites that haven&#8217;t bothered to redirect to a changed URL.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This time around, I have been disturbed to discover that <a href="https://phnompenhpost.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Phnom Penh Post</a> has nuked its archive of old articles. I thought it might have been that they changed the URL, but the content of the article doesn&#8217;t appear when I search on the site. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have seen URL changes on other news sites, such as when <a href="https://news.tuoitre.vn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tuoi Tre News</a> changed its URL structure without redirecting the old links to the new address.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What is concerning about The Phnom Penh Post removing old articles is that they are the closest that Cambodia has to a newspaper of record. Although you cannot rely on a Cambodian publication for editorials on politics (no hot-takes on Hun Sen at the PPP), the newspaper is useful for recording the nation&#8217;s development history. News on when an airport opened, construction updates on a bridge, or when a fire burned down a historic building should be preserved on a reliable platform.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have seen countless websites come and go since I first started publishing travel websites in 2001 (including some of my own websites). According to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240912-the-archivists-battling-to-save-the-internet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this report</a>:</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;Research shows 25% of web pages posted between 2013 and 2023 have vanished. A few organisations are racing to save the echoes of the web, but new risks threaten their very existence.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It is disappointing to see major news sites remove the archive of their old posts. Fortunately, the old Phnom Penh Post articles are saved at <a href="https://web.archive.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">web.archive.org</a>, but the Internet Archive is also <a href="https://theweek.com/tech/internet-archive-ai-scraping-wayback-machine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in danger</a>. At this point, paper archives are still more reliable for long-term historical preservation.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The impending Google AIpocalypse and deGooglefying myself</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This Month, Google committed to going all-in on AI-powered search results (see <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/google-search-as-you-know-it-is-over/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Search as you know it is over</a>). The new search format has been switched off and on when I search in Thailand, and the AI results are so aggravating that I am now looking at other search alternatives.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have a fine-tuned system of curating news for the <a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weekly newsletter</a>, so this new search format is disruptive to my workflow. Perhaps this AI-era Google is a good time for me to start weaning myself off The Big G.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I usually have two browsers open on my laptop. I use Brave browser for my logged-in Google account, and I use Firefox with <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DuckDuckGo</a> set as the default search engine.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I am now looking at <a href="https://vivaldi.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vivaldi browser</a>, which uses <a href="https://www.startpage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Startpage</a> as the default search engine. Vivaldi also has a built-in feed reader and other features that aren&#8217;t on Brave.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I&#8217;m so committed to the Google ecosystem that it will be hard to fully de-Googlefy. I open a Gmail account every time I start a new site, and Google Maps are still the most useful way to embed a map on a website.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While I am trying to de-Googlefy myself, I noticed that most news sites in the region now have a Google News button on each page. Here is an example from <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/changi-airport-t3-to-undergo-major-upgrade-tender-to-be-called-in-second-half-of-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Straits Times</a> with an &#8220;Add as a preferred source on Google&#8221; button.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Any site that is indexed by Google can add this link, so here is my link if you want to add me as a source in Google News.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=futuresoutheastasia.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.google.com/preferences/source?q=futuresoutheastasia.com</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Yes, here I am trying to break my Google addiction while encouraging you to add me as a source on Google News. Google remains my number one source of traffic, and second place is not even close.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I get a pitiful trickle of traffic from ChatGPT and Gemini, even though they steal content from my site to answer questions.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This month, I started seeing traffic from <a href="https://www.smartnews.com/en">SmartNews</a>, which I had never heard of until I checked my (urgh) Google Analytics. SmartNews is sending more traffic than all of the AI sites combined, which is to say not much traffic, but good to know that there is another news alternative.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When I opened the SmartNews link in my analytics, it took me to a Japanese landing page. It turns out they are from <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartnews-inc-/posts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tokyo</a>, so this is another site to consider if you are looking for <a href="https://european-alternatives.eu/alternatives-to" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alternatives to US tech services</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have now downloaded the SmartNews app to test it out in my quest to diversify away from Google.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Weekly news</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have not posted many new articles this month as I have been fixing up old articles. I publish the weekly news update every Wednesday for paid subscribers, which is a round-up of news related to transport and urban development in the region.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you want guaranteed weekly updates from Future Southeast Asia, become a paid subscriber ($5 per month or $50 per year) and help support this site.</p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here are the last month’s issues of the weekly newsletter (click article links to upgrade).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">•&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-27-may-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Southeast Asia News [27 May 2026]</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Indonesia pushes Giant Sea Wall plan, major upgrade of Wattay International Airport, Malaysia’s longest river-crossing bridge opens, Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge, missing link railway could end Bangkok crossing crashes, swathes of Hanoi demolished for development.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">•&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-20-may-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Southeast Asia News [20 May 2026]</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Phnom Penh’s heritage is under threat, Jakarta MRT Phase 2A on track for 2029 operation, Penang exploring bridge option as alternative to undersea tunnel project, research on the construction of underground railways in Yangon, why US is backing Philippine airport at former naval base, MRT stations on Circle Line to open on July 12, Bangkok rail crossing safety overhaul planned after deadly crash, Central Hanoi becomes giant construction site.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">•&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-13-may-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Southeast Asia News [13 May 2026]</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ratanakiri Airport plan in northeastern Cambodia, Jakarta’s remarkable urban transit transformation, Vientiane approves 93 km of concrete roads, proposed Johor rail system, feasibility study for Sangley airport development, Thailand lines up six new airports, Vietnam bets on colossal capital renewal to drive growth.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">•&nbsp;<a href="https://futuresoutheastasia.com/news-6-may-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Southeast Asia News [6 May 2026]</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Indonesia fast-tracks 575 km sea wall, transport plan drives Laos closer to becoming regional hub, ‘Second Dubai’ vision for Perlis, Bangkok’s Orange Line due to open in January 2028, Hanoi to Ha Long Bay in 23 minutes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks for reading Future Southeast Asia!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9jH4DMT/0/M3c7Jd6m6RjRvq8FK9ThCBpqzSxsF7gf7pZsP6PZF/L/i-9jH4DMT-L.jpg" alt="James in Chiang Mai May 2026"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">James in Chiang Mai &#8211; May 2026</figcaption></figure>
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