Vientiane – Nong Khai Cross-border Cable Car

Country: Thailand
City: Vientiane, Nong Khai

CDIA SupportUS$ 550,000

Expected Downstream FinancingPPP

Infrastructure sectorsUrban Transport

CDIA priority impact areasEnvironmental Improvement; Good Governance; Poverty Reduction

Key City Development Issues

Northeastern Thailand and Lao PDR have become fast-growing tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. However, these areas are challenged by transport connectivity particularly cross border crossing, lengthy immigration procedures, and complicated security and public health-related checking. At present, travelers between these two cities use a succession of three or four transport modes: one to the first checkpoint at the bridge, a shuttle van across the Friendship Bridge to the other checkpoint, and another vehicle from that point.

Given the rapid increase of tourists and commuters traversing both countries, there is a need to facilitate a more efficient public transport system that is convenient, safe, and environmentally friendly.

Details of Cooperation

The objective of the CDIA-financed project preparation study (PPS) was to prepare a pre-feasibility study and preliminary design for a cross-border cable car project that crosses the Mekong River linking Lao PDR and Thailand. The study assessed the potential demand for a cable car service and identified various financing options. To evaluate the viability of implementing a cable car system considering the Vientiane-Nong Khai context, the assessment encompassed a comprehensive analysis of its relevance relative to existing cross-border transportation modes, specifically road and rail.

The CDIA PPS for the proposed Vientiane-Nong Khai Cross-Border Cable Car Project included a broad-based technical, financial, economic, legal, institutional, and safeguards due diligence necessary to support the governments of Lao PDR and Thailand to take the project to procurement.

The CDIA PPS was based on the initial work carried out by the Sustainable Mobility in Metropolitan Regions in ASEAN (SMMR), which was instrumental in the evaluation of the existing international border crossing between Lao PDR and Thailand; and the active engagement of stakeholders in both countries in a common visioning process.

Expected Development Impacts

When implemented, the cable car system will provide a convenient transport and mobility experience in the cross-border area. Climate change mitigation and better air quality are the co-benefits expected from the efficiency of passenger travel. Further improvements can also be explored by adding intermodal transport facilities. Thus, the cross-border cable car system can trigger other initiatives to have a more integrated and sustainable mode of public transport.

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