Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 2
Mukdahan → Savannakhet → Vietnam

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge opened in late 2006, linking the Thai side at Ban Song Pueai, Bang Sai Yai sub-district, Mueang Mukdahan district, with the Lao side at Kaysone Phomvihane city in Savannakhet province. The bridge is about 1,600 meters long and 12 meters wide, with two lanes, sitting roughly 7 kilometers north of Mukdahan town. What sets it apart is that it was designed as part of Route 9 (R9), the East-West Economic Corridor that connects the Andaman Sea on the Myanmar side all the way to the South China Sea on the Vietnam side.

Honestly, the bridge itself isn't an attraction you'd set aside half a day for. Most people stop for a few photos along the Mekong and then move on. What makes this bridge more interesting than your average river crossing is that it's the gateway into Savannakhet, a Lao town with walkable old French-colonial buildings, and it's the start of the overland route that continues into Vietnam. If you like multi-country overland trips, this is a natural starting point.

How to cross the border and what documents you need

The Mukdahan border checkpoint on the Thai side is open daily, roughly 06:00–22:00. During festivals or long holidays it's worth checking the times again, as they can change. The key thing to know is that on this bridge you can't walk across and can't just drive your own car over freely. You have to take the scheduled bus or complete the proper vehicle-export paperwork.

• Use a passport — Thai travelers can enter Laos on a passport and stay up to 30 days, traveling anywhere in Laos, not just Savannakhet.
• Use a Border Pass — for people with residency registered in Mukdahan province; valid only within Savannakhet province for a set period. Good for a there-and-back day trip, and you can apply for it at the district office.
• Foreign nationals — many nationalities can get a visa on arrival at the Lao checkpoint. It's best to fill out the immigration form online (LDIF) in advance and bring a passport photo and the fee in US dollars — it's faster than sorting it out on the spot.

How much is the bus across the bridge?

The easiest and cheapest way is to take the international Mukdahan–Savannakhet route bus (Route 4) from the Mukdahan provincial bus terminal. The bus runs across Friendship Bridge 2 straight to the Savannakhet bus station. The fare is around 45 THB per trip, the distance is about 17 kilometers, and it takes roughly 1 hour including immigration on both sides.

• Departures — there are several runs per day. From the Mukdahan side, buses leave roughly 07:30–18:30; from the Savannakhet side, roughly 08:15–19:30. Morning runs have shorter queues.
• Where to board — the Mukdahan provincial bus terminal, in town. You can get there by songthaew or motorbike taxi.
• Bring cash — carry both Thai baht and Lao kip. The fare, visa fee, and small checkpoint fees are sometimes cash only.

Photo spots that actually look good

It's hard to take photos at the checkpoint itself, since it's a controlled zone. The spots with better views of the bridge are further out along the Mekong, especially in the evening when the golden light falls on the river.

What to see across the border in Savannakhet

Savannakhet is a mid-sized Mekong town with an old-world feel, with an old quarter where many French colonial buildings still stand. It's easy walking and photo-taking for half a day to a full day. For food there's Lao cuisine, Vietnamese pho, and hot coffee at the old shops.

• Old quarter by the Mekong — the town square, St. Theresa Church, and old French buildings. Pleasant to wander and photograph.
• That Ing Hang Stupa — an ancient stupa outside town, revered by the people of Savannakhet, with architecture similar to Phra That Phanom on the Thai side.
• Savannakhet Dinosaur Museum — small, but with real fossils excavated in this province. Good if you're traveling with kids.
• Morning market and pho shops — try Vietnamese pho and Lao coffee at the old shops in town. Prices are easy on the wallet.

The onward route to Vietnam via R9

This is the reason a lot of people choose to cross at Mukdahan. From Savannakhet, Route 9 (R9) runs straight east through Seno and out to the Dansavanh checkpoint on the Lao side, which connects to the Lao Bao checkpoint in Quang Tri province, Vietnam. From there you drop down to Dong Ha and continue on to Hue and Da Nang. From Savannakhet to the border is about 255 kilometers, and the drive takes roughly 5–5.5 hours.

There are international buses running Savannakhet–Hue and Savannakhet–Da Nang directly, and the staff onboard handle the border procedures for you on both sides. The full trip takes about 10–11 hours, with buses leaving mainly in the morning. Schedules change with the season, so it's best to ask at the Savannakhet bus station ahead of time. The Lao Bao checkpoint on the Vietnam side is open roughly 07:00–18:00 — don't plan to hit it on the same day as your flight home.

How to get to the bridge from town

• Private car/rental — from Mukdahan town, drive about 7 km north; it's clearly signposted and takes roughly 10–15 minutes. If you plan to drive across, you'll need vehicle-export paperwork.
• Motorbike/songthaew — handy if you just want to photograph the viewpoint and loop back into town.
• Cross-border bus — if you're set on crossing to Savannakhet, just take the Route 4 bus from the Mukdahan bus terminal. No fuss with vehicle documents.