4 places to discover
Chong Mek Border Crossing is the permanent Thailand-Laos international checkpoint in Chong Mek, Sirindhorn District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, opposite Vang Tao in Champasak Province, Laos. It is the main overland gateway between northeastern Thailand and southern Laos, notable for its busy border market, duty-free shops, and as a transit point for travelers heading to Pakse and the Bolaven Plateau.
The First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is a 1,174-metre road-rail bridge spanning the Mekong River between Mi Chai Subdistrict in Mueang Nong Khai, Thailand, and Thanaleng near Vientiane, Laos. Opened in 1994 as the first bridge across the lower Mekong, it was funded by Australia and serves as the main international border crossing between the two countries. Notable for its combined highway and metre-gauge railway, it is a landmark for cross-border travel and river views.
Nong Khai Railway Station is the northeastern terminus of the State Railway of Thailand's Northeastern Line in Mi Chai Subdistrict, Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province, near the Mekong River and the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. Originally opened in 1955 and relocated in 2008 closer to the border, it serves as Thailand's main rail gateway to Laos with cross-border services to Thanaleng and Vientiane (Khamsavath) and long-distance services to Bangkok.
The Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is a 1.6-kilometre bridge spanning the Mekong River, connecting Bang Sai Yai in Mueang Mukdahan District, Mukdahan Province, Thailand, with Savannakhet in Laos. Opened in January 2007, it is the second bridge across the Mekong between the two countries and forms a key link of the East-West Economic Corridor. It serves as an international border crossing and a landmark viewpoint over the Mekong River.