Overview 

Paksan Ferry Border Crossing is an International Border Checkpoint between Laos and Thailand. It is located on left bank of Mekong River in Anousonxay village, Paksan district, Bolikhamxay province. The checkpoint is about 4 km away from Paksan district, the nearest large town and a capital city of Bolikhamxay province with a population of 293,691 persons. It is opposite to Bungkan Boundary Post in Bungkan district, Bungkan province, Thailand on the right bank of the river. The checkpoints have permanent offices at both sides of the borders where immigration offices are located.   

Primary means of cargo transport cross the Mekong River is 300 ton-capacity ferries that can carry up to five 50-ton-trailer trucks at a time.   

The fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, which links Laos’ Bolikhamxay province to Bungkan province in Thailand, is now 90% completed and expected to be open by the end of 2024. 

Customs Clearance 

The Ministry of Finance’s Customs Department, a regulatory authority for imports, requires tax exemption certificate (in case of humanitarian goods) including supporting documents to manage the import of goods and equipment at checkpoint. 

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+.  

However, Paksan Ferry Crossing has not yet been integrated into the project. In other words, the customs clearance is still a paper-based system.  

Documents that are typically required for the 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.