The Mekong River is one of the world's 10th rivers in its river length and has great influences upon nature and societies of the Indo-china Peninsula. The name "MEKONG" originate in Thai language, Mae Nam Khong From the Tibetan Plateau this river runs through China's Yunnan province, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. All these areas except China and Burma belong to the Mekong River Commission.
The Mekong River borders the whole region on its eastern and northern frontiers with the Lao Peoples' Democratic Republic while the western and southern frontiers are marked by the mountains that rim the plateau. The region is more easily discussed if divided into three main areas: upper, lower and central Isan, the latter compromising an area south of Khon Kaen to Buri Ram in an east-west band and including the Mekhong River Basin. Mekhong River is one of the mighty rivers of the world and it winds its way through northern Cambodia passing through Phnom Penh and flowing south to Vietnam.
The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Thai: สะพาน มิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว Saphan Mittaphap Thai-lao) connects Nong Khai city with Vientiane in Laos. The 1,170-metre (3,840 ft)-long bridge has two 3.5-metre (11 ft)-wide lanes with an unfinished single railway line in the middle. On March 20, 2004 the Thai and Lao governments agreed to extend the railway to Tha Nalaeng in Laos.
The Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connects Mukdahan to Savannakhet. The two-lane, 12-metre (39 ft)-wide, 1,600-metre (5,200 ft)-long bridge opened to the general public on January 9, 2007.
