Route 3 (Laos)

{{Short description|Road in Laos}}

{{Unreferenced|date=January 2012}}

{{Infobox road

|country = LAO

|type = Route

|route = 3

|image =

|caption =

|maint = Government of Laos

|established =

|length_km = 197

|direction_a = East

|terminus_a = Nateuy
40px Route 13

|direction_b = West

|terminus_b = Huai Xai
30px Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
{{flag|Thailand}}30px Route 1152

|junction =

|divisions =

|cities = Nateuy, Luang Namtha, Huai Xia

|map =

|ahn = {{Jct|country=ASIA|AH|3}}

}}

Route 3 is an important link in the north of Laos between China and Thailand. The 197 km route begins in the provincial capital Luang Namtha, Louang Namtha Province, Laos, which is connected to Mohan, China and the Chinese G8511 expressway by Laos Route 13.

It runs southwestwards reaching the provincial capital of Ban Houayxay, Bokeo Province, on river Mekong, where it crosses the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. China is interested in improving traffic routes to Southeast Asia, to be jointly financed with Thailand. China has the main share in the expansion of highways in Laos. The Laotian section is part of the Kunming–Bangkok Expressway, which is part of the Asian Highway AH3.