Overview 

Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge No. 3 is an International Border Checkpoint. It is located in the West of Laos’ Thakkek district in Khammoune province that shares a border with Thailand. The checkpoint is about 13 km away from Thakkek district, a capital city of Khammoune province with a population of 412,052 persons. It is opposite to Nakhon Phanom International Border Checkpoint in Nakhon Phanom province, Thailand. The checkpoints have permanent offices at both sides of the borders where immigration offices are located. 

The Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge No. 3 in Khammouane province is linked to Na Phao-Cha Lo International Border Checkpoints at Lao-Vietnam to the East in 146 km.  

Daily Capacity 

There are at least between 100 and 200 freight transport vehicles entering and exiting the checkpoint daily. On average, clearance process per one import shipment at the checkpoint takes 5 hours and 4 minutes. 

There is a warehouse located next to the customs checkpoint where all Inspections take place. 

Customs Clearance 

The Ministry of Finance’s Customs Division, a regulatory authority for imports, requires submission online of tax exemption certificate (in case of humanitarian goods) including supporting documents on NSWA+, a computerized platform of the Lao National Single Window (LNSW) which recently is integrated into Lao customs clearance for import (ASYCUDA) that became known as the NSWA+. The platform can be accessed at https://www.laonsw.net/ 

Charge for NSWA+ is USD14 (or 291,000 Kip) for one transaction, which excludes customs, duties, tax, fees and service fees of relevant agencies. 

Charges per time for importing truck include:   

Remark: charges (round up) in USD are based on BCEL exchange rate USD 1 = 20.752 kip as of 16 October 2023. 

Payment channels and methods: Importers and exporters can pay the service fee electronically at service units of the Bank Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao (BCEL) and the Lao Development Bank (LDB) which includes BCEL i-Banking, BCEL One, LDB Corporate Banking by cash, money transfer, and cheque. 

For more information on customs, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.   

Other Relevant Information 

Under Ministry of Finance, Laos’ Customs Clearance for Imports (ASYCUDA) is implementing smart customs project that the digitalization of imports and exports at international border crossing is being modernized. The ministry adopts the Lao National Single Window (LNSW) and integrates it into the ASYCUDA that became known as the NSWA+.  

The NSWA+ is a computerized platform used to manage the import and export of all types of goods including tax exempted ones. From October 4, 2023, the system is put into force at Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge No.03. 

Documents that are typically required for customs clearance for non-foods and food items are: 

Tax exemption document from relevant partner government ministry, Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Analysis Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate, Fumigation Certificate, Import Permit for Food (issued by Laos’ Food and Drug Department, Ministry of Public Health). 

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.