The Transport Co Ltd, under the Ministry of Transport,
introduced its 11th bus route linking Thailand and Laos
via the Fourth Mekong Friendship
Bridge
Transport Minister, Chadchart Sittipunt, said the new bus
service was approved recently by Thailand ’s Ministry of Transport
and the Lao PDR Department of Public Works and Transport.
“The new Chiang Rai-Chaing Khong-Bokeo bus route crosses the
4th Mekong Bridge
connecting Chiang Rai and Huay Xai in Bokeo province in Laos making it
more convenient to travel between the two provinces.”
The minister added: “The service is also in line with the
ASEAN Economic Community policy to build cooperation between Thailand and
neighbouring coutries as well as other countries in the region.”
The Transport Company Limited president, Wuthichart
Kalyanamitra, said the 11th bus route Chiang Rai-Chaing Khong-Bokeo uses
second-class air-conditioned buses with 46 seats offering four to eight trips
daily. The two countries operate three buses each on the route.
The one-way fare from Chaing Rai to Bokeo is Bt220 (55,000
Kip) and from Chiang Khong to Bokeo Bt30 (7,500 Kip).
The bus route ends at the Bokeo bus station. It covers a distance of 166 km and take four hours to
complete the trip between Chiang Rai and Bokeo. The service starts at Chiang
Rai’s second terminal which is on the main highway 1 about 5 km from the town
centre.
There is also a bus transfer across the bridge at least four
times daily with a fare of Bt20 per person (5,000 Kip). Travel across the bridge
is limited to motorised traffic. Cycles are not allowed, they have to be
transported across the bridge on the bus which is very inconvenient for
tourists who use the route to cycle to Luang Prabang.
None of the Friendship bridges allow cycles despite them
being a very environmentally way to travel and popular with tourists who want
to tour the Mekong Region at a leisurely pace. Motor cycles are allowed and
cycle enthusiasts will argue that should have opened the way for cycles.
The 10 bus routes are: Nong Khai-Vientiane; Udon
Thani-Vientiane; Ubon Ratchathani-Pakse; Mukdaharn-Savannakhet; Khon
Kaen-Vientiane; Nakhon Ratchasima-Vientiane; Nakhon Phanom-Khammouane;
Bangkok-Vientiane; Udon Thani-Nong Khai-Vang Vieng; and Bangkok-Pakse.
The Fourth Mekong Friendship
Bridge connecting Chiang Khong in
Chiang Rai province, Thailand
and Huay Xai in Bokeo province, Laos
opened on 11 December.
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