Discover Ban Nakham

In Ban Nakham, the New Nam Hai Bridge, also known as Khounkham Bridge, is a specific landmark. Its official opening ceremony took place on 9 March 2021 in Ban Nakham, in Khounkham District, Khammuan Province. The date and the two names help identify the structure clearly. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Ban Nakham, you can include this clearly named local landmark in your travel plans.

The New Nam Hai Bridge: dimensions and construction

The bridge is 50.6 metres long and 7.5 metres wide. It is made of I-shaped iron girders and has a reinforced-concrete roadway; it is designed to carry a load of 43 tonnes. The length and width describe its dimensions, while the figure in tonnes refers to its designed load. Its construction can also be described precisely: I-shaped iron girders and a reinforced-concrete roadway. Those interested in engineering will find exact details about the structure’s form, materials and scale, as well as its name and the historical ceremony.

When choosing a location, the bridge offers a different point of reference from the road description: here, the focus is on a specific structure and its construction. The two names—New Nam Hai Bridge and Khounkham Bridge—refer to the same bridge and give you two names by which to recognise it when making your plans.

A road description to help you find your way

In a described motorbike route, after reaching the town of Ban Nakham, there is a stretch of road that runs almost due south and nearly straight for about 10 kilometres. This gives you the direction and approximate length of the stretch. Check current road conditions before setting out. For your planning, the bridge and the road are different points of reference: one is a structure with precisely specified dimensions, and the other is an approximate direction description in the motorbike route.

Khammuan: nature and culture in the wider destination

In the wider destination of Khammuan, Hin Nam No National Park offers a natural point of interest. In 2025, it was inscribed together with Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park as a transboundary natural World Heritage Site. The park includes pristine rainforests, waterfalls and complex cave systems. The combination of World Heritage status and these landscape features gives nature lovers specific topics to consider as they plan the rest of their trip.

Xe Bang Fai Cave is another feature of Khammuan’s limestone landscape: over millions of years, the Xe Bang Fai River carved this large river cave through the limestone mountains. It lies in the lush protected area and limestone karst landscape of Boualapha District. Kong Lor Cave is located in Phu Hin Bun National Park, in Khoun Kham District, Khammouane Province. There, boat services and local guide offerings provide direct income for the community; specific local arrangements may change.

For those interested in caves, Khammuan offers different features to help you find your way: the entrance to Xiang Liap Cave is 30 metres high; the cave is near Xiang Liap village on Route 12, about 14 kilometres northeast of Thakhek District. At Nang Aen Cave, visitors can climb up and down stairs to view natural rock formations. It lies on National Highway 12, 18 kilometres northeast of Thakhek city.

Khammuan’s cultural themes range from religious sites to crafts and festivals. Tham Pa Fa Cave, also known as Buddha Cave, is an important cultural and religious landmark in Khammouane Province. The Phou Tai people of Khammouane are associated with traditional handicrafts and are known for their fine weaving. The That Sikhottabong Festival is held annually at That Sikhottabong in the third lunar month; dates vary according to the lunar calendar.

Discover more destinations: Thakhek, Ban Namsanam, Nam Theun, Na Hi, Ban Lao

Back to the wider travel overview: Khammuan.