Lao Voices

Before the year 2000, the only way to cross from Pakse to Phonthong district in Champassak province was to catch a buk or ferry. Now there is a grand Lao-Nippon Bridge, known to the local as Pakse bridge stretching over the mighty Mekong River to connect the southern region of Laos and the neighboring countries. Since the bridge project was funded by the Japanese government, Lao-Nippon Bridge is the official name for Pakse bridge.

During my stay in Champassak province I crossed Pakse bridge almost daily. The bridge itself is quite impressive with a span of 1,380 meters long and 11.8 meters wide. It has two traffic lanes of 3.5 meters on each lane and a 1.5 meter wide sidewalk for pedestrians on each side.

The construction of Pakse bridge began in October 1997 and was completed in February of 2000, four months ahead of schedule. The bridge is an important link for the southern provinces of Laos and will boost tourism as well as fuel agricultural development in the Bolaven Plateau. You can see the changes already just by observing traffic passing through the Lao/Thai border daily with trucks carrying goods and buses full of tourists.

If you are ever in the area, make sure to take a nice stroll along the bridge. It’s a good exercise and you can get a great view of the city and of the mighty Mekong river.