page_title: Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone
section_title: Transportation
hierarchical_section_title: Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone / Transportation
caption_attribution_description: English: Entrance into the Sam Liam Kham Checkpoint building in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo Province, Laos.
context_page_description: The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone is located along the Mekong River in the Ton Pheung District of Bokeo Province in Laos. The zone has an area about 3,000 hectares and was created in 2007 by the Lao Government together with the Chinese-owned Hong Kong-registered company Kings Romans Group with the hope of generating economic development.
  The zone is dominated by its casino which attracts mostly Chinese visitors, and several hotels. Since its commencement, it has gained a reputation of being a Chinese city rife with illegal activities such as drug, human and animal trafficking although Kings Romans' owner has denied the allegations while Lao authorities have also carried out some enforcement action following the reports.
context_section_description: The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone is linked by road to Houay Xay which lies about 55 km to the east. The road is part of Lao Route 3 which continues from Houay Xay to Luang Namtha and thereafter via Route 13 to the China-Laos border crossing at Boten, a further total distance of 230 km. Houay Xay is also connected to the Thai road network via the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge between Houay Xai and Chiang Khong. Roads also run north of the zone and connects with other villages along the Mekong River in Bokeo Province.
  The zone can also be easily accessed from Thailand by boat from the pier at the Chiang Saen Thailand-Laos Border Crossing Immigration Checkpoint at Ban Sop Ruak. Frequent passenger ferry boats operated by the Kings Romans Group run across the Mekong River between the checkpoint and the Sam Liam Kham Checkpoint in the zone. The boats operate between 6.00am and 8.00pm Thailand Standard Time and cost Thai baht 100 per trip, with the journey taking about 10 minutes.
  The nearest airport to the zone is the Ban Huoeisay Airport in Houay Xay. However, the nearest international airport is the Chiang Rai Airport in Chiang Rai, which lies 60 km from Sop Ruak across the border in Thailand. The airport has direct flight connections with Chinese cities, thus allowing visitors, most of whom are Chinese nationals, a more direct access to the zone.
caption: The Sam Liam Kham immigration checkpoint located in the zone, catering to boat passengers from Sop Ruak.
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