Ho Chi Minh City has joined the growing list of Southeast Asian metropolises to introduce environmentally friendly buses. The south Vietnamese city has taken delivery of an initial order of 23 buses which run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
Authorities in Thailand have banned ferry operators in Bangkok from using gas-powered boats following an explosion on one early on Saturday. Ormsin Chivapruck, the national transport-minister is due to chair a meeting today to formulate better safety measures for passengers using public transport in Bangkok.
Final preparations are underway for the annual seafood festival in the Gulf of Thailand seaside town of Cha-am. The festival is staged to pay homage to the surrounding region’s ubiquitous blue crab and has evolved into a popular event with eclectic delights.
Thailand’s tourism authority has announced that Phuket will be the venue for an exciting powerboat race tourney later this year. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ local director said the agency is collaborating with Singapore in staging the watersports spectacular.
Bangkok’s metropolitan authorities have announced that all public telephone boxes will be removed from streets and other locations. A spokesperson for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) stated earlier this week that there are still around 4,000 phone booths in areas under its jurisdiction.
The governor of Phuket has announced a mooted boat-taxi service from the island’s airport has passed an initial environmental study. Chamroen Tipayapongtada told local reporters that the airport link to the key resort town of Patong was looking like a distinct possibility as the plan has been passed by the Environmental Impact Assessment agency inspectors.
The committee with the remit of bringing Bangkok’s public transport system into the 21st century has okayed two new electric train routes. The working group known as the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) has given the green light for the Yellow and Pink lines and is in the process of forwarding the proposal to the Thai government for final approval.
Bangkok authorities are in the process of wiping another one of the city’s popular street markets from the face of the earth. This time, the target is the Pratunam fashion and clothing market in the central Ratchathewi District of the Thai capital.
Final preparations are in progress for an annual Phuket festival staged in honour of two remarkable women who lived more than 200 years ago. The venue for the fest, which launches on Saturday, is Thalang Historical Park on the west coast of the Thai holiday isle.
Cambodia’s biggest amusement park closed yesterday after opening to great fanfare just five years ago. KNN Cambodia ploughed US$10 million into developing Phnom Penh’s Dreamland, but now says its lease has expired and the site’s owners have already earmarked the plot for a 133-storey skyscraper.
On Friday, Bangkok Municipality’s transport division inaugurated a prototype electric bus service. The three-month-long test runs will see the 35-seat bus ply a route between the city’s Morchit Bus Terminal and Don Muang Airport.
The Minister in charge of Thailand’s tourism bureau has announced a plan
to build a cable-car system to one of the nation’s most popular
mountain tops. Thanasak Patimapragorn is also the deputy PM and he says it would offer
an easy means of reaching the summit of Phu Kradueng and would attract more
tourists.
The northern city of Chiang Mai is preparing for the launch of the annual Thailand International Balloon Festival. The ninth balloon fest in the series is being staged on the campus of the city’s Payap University on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 March 2016.
Foreign tourists will have to start paying admission fees to visit Chiang Rai’s famous White Temple later this year. Citing soaring operations costs, owner Chalermchai Kositpipat said that from October international visitors will have to pay fees to enter two parts of the complex.
A technical breakdown on the Bangkok BTS Skytrain yesterday caused severe disruption and holdups for commuters and tourists. A switch failure at Chit Lom Station that occurred at 06:00 in the morning was not fixed until late last night.
Global taxi provider Uber yesterday inaugurated its debut service on two wheels in Bangkok. The taxi provider launched UberMOTO and in a press release said commuters and tourists will now be able to book motorcycle taxis in the same way that they do taxis.
Bangkok’s municipal authorities have announced additional measures in the ongoing campaign to return Bangkok’s footpaths to pedestrians. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has confirmed that it will hold a meeting with the aim of removing market stalls from Pratunam and key roads including New Petchaburi and Ratchathevi.
The management team at one of the most popular national parks on the coast of southwest Thailand has said it is banning cliff diving. The campaign to outlaw cliff diving trips in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park begins today and will target tour operators who offer the risky activity as part of their excursion packages.
Thailand’s public rail operator has announced it plans to install x-ray bag scanners at stations in the far south of the country. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) says it will initially set up the machines at four key stations before installing them at the other 23 stations in the region.
Colourful ceremonies at the weekend marked the start of the annual heritage festival at one of the best-known temples in Laos. Senior Lao government officials and local dignitaries presiding over the ceremonies and parades that kicked off the annual festival on Saturday.