A sixth friendship bridge is to be built over the Mekong River between Laos and Thailand. The bridge will connect Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand with Saravan Province in southern Laos. The latest bridge is anticipated to scale back travel times from La Lay International Border Gate in Vietnam to Thailand and vice versa.
The construction of this bridge was a key topic of recent talks between Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in the course of the Thai minister’s visit to Laos on May 30. During the talks, each ministers agreed to keep up the present bilateral agreements between the 2 sides. Countries.
The plan for a bridge between Ubon Ratchathani and Saravan was first proposed in the course of the Thai-Lao Joint Commission talks in November 2021. If implemented, it will be the sixth bridge connecting the 2 countries, with a fifth bridge already nearing completion.
Laos and Thailand are currently completing the development of the fifth Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River, connecting Bolikhamxay Province in Laos with Bueng Kan in Thailand. Construction of this bridge is 69 percent complete and is anticipated to be accomplished by November.
This bridge is anticipated to shorten the travel distance from Thailand to the Cau Treo International Border Gate in Ha Tinh, Vietnam to simply 150 km, making it the shortest land route from Thailand to Vietnam.
Other Lao bridges include those between Vientiane and Nong Khai, Savannakhet and Mukdahan, Khammouane and Nakhon Phanom, and Bokeo and Chiang Rai.
