Thread: Fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Nears Completion

The construction of the fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, a major connection across the Mekong River linking Borikhamxay province in Laos and Bueng Kan province in Thailand, is on track for completion by the end of the year. The new 1,350-meter bridge is expected to facilitate increased travel and trade between Laos and Thailand, as well as with neighboring countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion.


An official overseeing the project from the Laos side has confirmed that construction is more than 80% complete as of last November, with expectations to finish by late 2024. The project, initially surveyed in 2014 and officially approved in 2018, commenced construction in January 2021.


Financing for the Lao portion of the bridge has been supported by a 1.38 billion baht loan from Thailand's Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), with costs being jointly shared between the two nations.


The segment in Laos involves the building of a 535-meter-long bridge section and the creation of access roads, immigration and customs facilities, and additional infrastructure. The new bridge will become part of a network that includes four other bridges over the Mekong River, facilitating connections at the Vientiane-Nong Khai, Savannakhet-Mukdahan, Khammuan-Nakhon Phanom, and Huayxai-Chiang Khong points.

https://thainews.prd.go.th/nbtworld/.../160992/?bid=1

As far as I am aware only the crossing at Nong Kai can be used by farangs, the other crossings only available to locals. Is this still true?

I have only crossed at Nong Kai, although I have been to the crossings at Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom several times. The other is up around Chang Rai and out of my normal travel area. Bueng Kan is actually the closest to us, I have been there quite often but I guess the crossing is also out of bounds, which is a pity.

Something that I found strange, visiting Vientiane, where the people were so friendly and so familiar, I found fascinating. Speaking French and Laos I felt more at home than I did in Thailand. Saying that, I went to a Thai restaurant in the Latin quarter of Paris (13th Arrondissemont), run by a Thai woman, with Laos husband, and French daughter where my wife and I thought, for a moment, we had travelled through a wormhole back to SE Asia. Two of life's lovely moments.

Originally Posted by Troy

As far as I am aware only the crossing at Nong Kai can be used by farangs, the other crossings only available to locals. Is this still true?

No.

Personally, I have only ever crossed at Nong Kai but I have known several people (not locals) who have crossed at Mukdahan in order to get a visa in Savannakhet.

^ Thanks Nev, I didn't know the other crossings allowed visa runs. Not that they apply to me but maybe others are interested.