Editing Transport in Laos (section)

==Highways==
[[File:NR13South, Lao PDR.jpg|thumb|National Road 13 South]]
In Laos, there are {{convert|59,963|km}} of roadway, with 1.45% paved with concrete, 12.03% with asphalt concrete and 75.77% with double bituminous surface treatment and 10.75% with gravel road. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Country Presentation – Lao PDR |url=https://uncrd.un.org/sites/uncrd.un.org/files/2025qiws_s1_5_lao-pdr.pdf |website=United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) |date=January 2025 |access-date=2025-05-19}}</ref> [[right- and left-hand traffic|Right-hand traffic]] (RHT) is observed in Laos.<ref name=CIA1/>

Laos constructed a new highway in 2007 connecting [[Savannakhet]] to the Vietnamese border at [[Lao Bao]], with funding from the Japanese government.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Placzek |first1=Jim |title=Observations on the New Highway from Suwannakhet in Laos to Lao Bao in Vietnam |url=http://www.langara.bc.ca/pacrim/laos.html |website=Pacific Rim Studies |publisher=Langara College |date= 5 January 2007|access-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201835/http://www.langara.bc.ca/pacrim/laos.html |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> This has greatly improved transport across Laos. This highway can be traversed in a few hours, while in 2002 the trip took over nine hours.

Laos is connected across the Mekong River to Thailand by [[First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge|First]] and [[Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge]]s. Vientiane is linked to [[Nong Khai]] by the First Friendship Bridge. The [[Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge]] began construction in March 2009 linking [[Nakhon Phanom Province]] in northeastern Thailand and [[Khammouane Province]] in Laos. It was completed on 11 November 2011.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Laos opened a highway connection to [[Kunming]] in April 2008. The [[Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge]] opened to the public on 11 December 2013 linking Kunming to [[Bokeo Province|Bokeo]], Laos and [[Chiang Rai]]. It reduced travel time to five hours.<ref>{{cite web |title=Transportation in Laos: Motorbikes, New Roads and Friendship Bridges |url=https://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Laos/sub5_3d/entry-2984.html |access-date=2025-01-15 }}</ref>

=== Expressway ===
[[File:Vientiane–Boten Expressway - Mapillary (iKVz4HaIRA8GcJGaNrxPP2).jpg|thumb|Vientiane toll station of the Vientiane–Boten Expressway]]
{{Main|Vientiane-Vang Vieng Expressway}}
On 20 December 2020, the [[Vientiane–Vang Vieng Expressway]], the first expressway in Laos, was completed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=1st expressway in Laos inaugurated|url=http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2020-12/20/content_77032384.htm|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>  Construction began at the end of 2018 and was initially scheduled to finish in 2021. The road, which includes twin tunnels almost 900 metres long through Phoupha Mountain,  shortens the route by 43&nbsp;km as compared with the existing Route No 13. The expressway toll is 550 kip per kilometre, or about 62,000 kip for a one-way trip between Vientiane and Vang Vieng. The Vientiane-Vang Vieng expressway is the first section of a planned expressway from Vientiane through the northern provinces to Boten in [[Luang Namtha Province]], which borders China.<ref name="Star-20200613">{{cite news |title=Laos' super highway—the Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway is 70% complete |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2020/06/13/laos039-super-highway---the-vientiane-vangvieng-expressway-is-70-complete |access-date=15 June 2020 |work=The Star |agency=The Vientiane Times/Asian News Network |date=13 June 2020}}</ref>

=== National Route list ===

*Route 1: Rantouy, [[Phongsaly province|Phongsaly]] (China)-[[Attapeu]] (Cambodia)
*Route 2: Thai Chang border-[[Ngeun district|Muang Ngeun]] border
*[[Route 3 (Laos)|Route 3]]: Nateuy-[[Houayxay]] (Thailand)
*Route 4: [[Luang Prabang]]-Kenethao
*Route 5: Tha Heua-Xaysomboun (Vietnam) 
*Route 6: Phou Lao-Namsoi
*[[Route 7 (Laos)|Route 7]]: Phou Khoun-Namcan border
*Route 8: Vienkham-Laksao-Namphao border
*Route 9: [[Savannakhet]]-Lao Bao (Vietnam)
*Route 10: [[Vientiane]]-Bankeun-Phonhone
*Route 11: Vientiane-Paklay
*Route 12: Thakhek-[[Mụ Giạ Pass]](Vietnam)
*[[Route 13 (Laos)|Route 13]]: [[Boten]] (China)-Vientiane-Veunkham(Cambodia)
*Route 14: [[Pakse]]-Champasak town-Cambodia border
*Route 15: Napong-Salavan-Lalay border
*Route 16: Chongmek-Pakse-Paxong-xekong-Namgiang border
*Route 17: [[Luang Namtha]]-Muang Sing-Xieng Kok (Myanmar)
*Route 18: Thang Beng-Attapeu-Phukuea border
*Route 19: Ban Pakha Kao-Boun Neua-[[Phongsali]]-Hatsa
*Route 20: Pakse-Salavan