The fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, spanning 1,350 meters, connects Bolikhamxay Province in Laos with Bueng Kan Province in Thailand. The bridge has been fully completed and is scheduled for official inauguration on 25 December.
Funded through a THB 1.38 billion (approximately USD 38 million) concessional loan from Thailand’s Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), construction of the bridge began in January 2021. Once operational, it is expected to reduce travel time between Bolikhamxay and Bueng Kan by up to three hours while supporting Laos’ national development strategy of transforming from landlocked to land-linked.
Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith and Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony.
Once operational the fifth friendship bridge will also facilitate a new highway corridor linking Vientiane Capital, passing through Bolikhamxay Province, and extending to Hanoi, Vietnam, enhancing regional transport and trade connectivity.
Currently, four Lao-Thai Friendship Bridges are in operation.
The first bridge, connecting Vientiane and Nong Khai, is 1,174 meters long and opened in April 1994. The second one links Savannakhet Province with Mukdahan Province in Thailand, and was inaugurated in late 2006.
The third bridge, connecting Khammouane Province and Nakhon Phanom Province opened in November 2011. Lastly, the fourth bridge, so far the longest at 2,480 meters, links Huay Xay district in Bokeo Province with Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai Province and opened in December 2013.
With the fifth bridge set to open, Laos and Thailand are also planning the construction of a sixth Mekong River bridge, which would link Salavanh in southern Laos with Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand, further strengthening cross-border connectivity.


