The 1st Thai – Lao Friendship Bridge

The 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge crosses the Mekong from Nong Khai to Laos, 1,174 metres of road, footpath, and single-track rail line about 3 km from central Nong Khai. It opened on 8 April 1994, officiated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Lao President Nouhak Phoumsavanh, and Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating — Australia’s AusAID programme covered roughly 42 million AUD of the design and construction cost, with UK contractor John Holland Construction building it alongside Thai partner Kin Sun.

Trucks, motorcycles, and buses queue at the Thai immigration checkpoint before crossing; pedestrians can’t walk the bridge itself, but clear immigration on foot and then ride a shuttle bus (about 35 THB) across to the Lao side, departing every 10-15 minutes. The single metre-gauge rail line down the bridge’s centre carries passenger trains only as far as Thanaleng station, roughly 20 km short of central Vientiane, so onward travel into the city means a taxi or bus transfer from there. From the Thai side, you can see the bridge’s steel trusses against the brown Mekong current and, on a clear day, the rooftops of Vientiane in the distance.

Insider Tip: Bring your passport (not just a photocopy) and small baht notes for the shuttle bus — card payment isn’t an option at the immigration booths or bus counter.

The crossing runs daily from 06:00 to 22:00 and is busiest around Thai and Lao public holidays, when queues at both immigration posts lengthen considerably. From central Nong Khai, it’s a short taxi or tuk-tuk ride out along Kaeo Worawut Road; there’s a viewing area near the Thai checkpoint if you just want to see the bridge without crossing. Combine a visit with Phrathat Bang Phuan, the riverside Lao-style chedi a few kilometres downstream, or Wat Pho Chai in town, both easy add-ons to a day exploring Nong Khai.