Maiphong Bamboo Bridge Luang Prabang

16/12/2023

Maiphong Bamboo Brudge is closed due to an erosion control project along the banks of the Nam Khan. It is projected that the bridge will be closed all of 2023 and 2024.

14/01/2023

A good video showing the villages across the Maiphong Bamboo Bridge. Saa Paper, wood carving, weaving and textiles, Buddhist temples, and restaurants/street food. An enjoyable 15 minute walk from the other side of the Nam Khan!

ວິໂອນີ້ຖ່າຍຊ່ວງເດືອນມັງກອນ 2023 ຫມູ່ບ້ານຫັດຖະກຳຕ່ຳຜ້າແພ, ແກະສະຫຼັກໄມ້ ແລະ ຜະລິດເຈ້ຍປໍສາແບບດັ້ງເດີມທີ່ໃຫຍ່ສ.....

12/01/2023

Today we installed a new sign to help people walking through Ban Phonsaad find Maiphong Bamboo Bridge.
We have met tourists on the road who are tired of walking and are happy to hear that there is a short way for them to return to the peninsula.

06/01/2023

Beautiful, cool, sunny morning at Maiphong Bamboo Bridge.

30/12/2022

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=5888027137931749&id=100001735635830&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f

26/12/2022

Lots of people crossed the Maiphong Bamboo Bridge this evening to see the sun set over the Mekong from the view point. Come to the bridge about 4:30 for the short walk to the view.

23/12/2022

Christmas poinsettia grows above the Maiphong Bamboo Bridge Luang Prabang.

21/12/2022

Early morning sun warms Nit's father on the bridge.

20/12/2022

The Maiphong Bamboo Bridge is more than a beautiful, interesting, and photogenic means to cross the Nam Khan. It is an important vehicle which helps to sustain families ranging from the countryside to the peninsula of Luang Prabang to the small villages on the other side as well as the island in the Mekong River immediately across from the bridge.
The Phatthana family lives across the bridge in Ban Phonsaad in a designated heritage house. They have been building and managing the Maiphong Bamboo Bridge since 2013. The parents work on the bridge every day and collect the 18,000 kip from tourists and local people to cross both ways. But the bridge entails much more than the small revenue for the Phatthana family.
Each year the process begins with a payment to the village headman for the rights and approval to build the bridge. Those funds are then used to support local improvement efforts in Ban Phonsaad. Once the payment is made and approval is given by the organization responsible for maintaining the World Heritage status and atmosphere of Luang Prabang, the bridge builder is hired and construction materials are bought. The chief bridge builder lives on the island in the middle of the Mekong visible from the bridge. Most of the bamboo and other wood comes from the countryside a few hours up the Mekong. It is floated down the river to the site on the Nam Khan. The head builder assembles his crew of 3 or 4 workers and construction begins. Four or five weeks later the bridge is completed... usually in late November or early December.
The following year, in June, the bridge is disassembled and the wood is stored for re-use later in November. If it were not taken down, the rainy season's rising Nam Khan would sweep it away into the Mekong. Much of the wood can be reused to build the bridge for three years.
The revenue from the bridge project supports:
- People in the countryside who cut and sell the bamboo and wood used for construction.
- The many local merchants on the other side who benefit from tourist visits.
- People from Ban Phonsaad who receive benefits from the payment to the headman from the Phatthana family.
- Tourism in Luang Prabang.
We hope this provides a bit more insight into the Maiphong Bamboo Bridge.

In a future post we will address "What's on the other side?" in more detail.

18/12/2022

Nid Chanhphet Handley and her mom... the Maiphong Bamboo Bridge guardians!😀

14/12/2022

The bridge is busy this evening. Lots of people are crossing the Nam Khan to see the sun set over the Mekong River.

13/12/2022

Good news!
The hand railing on one side of the Maiphong Bamboo Bridge is completed all the way across. Hoping for the other side to be finished today. Come and explore the other side of the Nam Khan and enjoy beautiful views and unique shops.
Come on over, Rod Plant!😄

11/12/2022

Open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day.