The bridge was built to replace the Neak Loeung ferry, which was once a major bottleneck on the route between Phnom Penh and the Vietnamese border.
The project was financed by the Japanese government, resulting in the name 'Tsubasa' (Japanese for 'wing') to symbolize the bridge's shape and the future growth of Cambodia.
It is a key infrastructure piece of the Greater Mekong Subregion Southern Economic Corridor.
The bridge's height provides a vertical clearance of 37.5 meters, ensuring it does not impede large cargo ships navigating the Mekong river.
Tsubasa Bridge, also known as the Neak Loeung Bridge, is a 2,215-meter-long cable-stayed bridge spanning the Mekong River in Cambodia. It connects Kandal and Prey Veng provinces as a vital component of the Asian Highway 1, linking Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. The bridge was inaugurated in 2015 to replace the slow ferry service that previously served as the primary transit method across the river. Construction was funded through a Japanese Official Development Assistance loan, reflecting the partnership between Japan and Cambodia. The structure features a main span of 640 meters, allowing for significant navigational clearance for vessels traveling the Mekong. It remains the longest cable-stayed bridge in the country, significantly reducing travel time for trans-border freight and passenger logistics.
From the riverbanks near the bridge footings on the Kandal side to capture the full scale of the cables and pylon architecture.
Stop at the local markets on the Neak Loeung side to try local river fish snacks.
If traveling by road, ensure you have your passport and visa documents ready as the route leads toward the international border crossing.
Avoid standing on the bridge shoulders, as traffic moves at high speeds for long-distance transit.
Attempting to walk across the entirety of the bridge, as it lacks dedicated pedestrian sidewalks and carries heavy, fast-moving highway traffic.
