The new bridge will connect Bueng Kan and Bolikhamxay, boosting trade between Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

The fifth Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos will open in December 2025

Construction of the fifth Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos, connecting Bueng Kan Province in north-eastern Thailand with Bolikhamxay Province in Laos, is nearing completion. The bridge is scheduled to open in December 2025 and will become an important artery for trade and logistics between Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

This infrastructure project is expected to increase cross-border trade between the two countries by at least 5% per year. It will also strengthen transport links within the Greater Mekong sub-region, promoting further economic integration.

Thailand’s Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who presided over the concrete pouring ceremony at the bridge construction site, noted its key role. The bridge will connect Highway 222 in Bueng Khaen with Route 13 in the Pakse district of Bolikhamxay province.

The event was also attended by Lao Foreign Minister Saleumsay Kommasith and Thai Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri. The two countries signed a bilateral agreement defining the ownership rights, use, management, and maintenance of the bridge.

This project is an important part of Thailand’s strategy to develop cross-border infrastructure that promotes long-term economic growth and regional connectivity. The new transport artery will become part of an economic corridor stretching to Vietnam’s deep-water ports, ensuring smoother trade flows and access to global markets.

Currently, the volume of cross-border trade through Bueng Kang is 28 billion Thai baht per year. With the opening of the bridge, annual trade volumes are expected to grow steadily, supported by a projected 5% increase in cross-border traffic.

Surya Jungrungreangkit emphasized that the bridge is not only a physical structure but also a symbol of friendship, shared prosperity, and mutual progress. He expressed his gratitude to all the agencies and local communities involved for their cooperation during the construction despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Construction of the bridge, which began in 2020, is nearing completion. The opening is scheduled for December 2025 to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Laos.

This bridge will join the four existing Friendship Bridges between Thailand and Laos: Nong Khai-Vientiane, Mukdahan-Savannakhet, Nakhon Phanom-Thakhek, and Chiang Khong-Huay Xai. It will be another element in the growing network of cross-border infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening regional ties.

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