Vietnam and Thailand have agreed to open the $60m Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge III on 11 November 2011.

The 1.43km-long, 13m-wide bridge spans the Mekong between Khammouane in Laos and Nakhon Phanom in Thailand.

The bridge is expected to boost and integrate economy, investment, tourism, transport, cultural exchange and trade in the Mekong region, according to Lao News Agency.

Construction was started in 2006 and completed 900 days later.