It is the district capital and is on the Mekong River,[2] opposite the Laotian town of Pakxan of Bolikhamsai province.

Bueng (บึง) means marsh; Kan (กาฬ) is associated with the Hindu deity Kāla, or the colour black.

[7] Wisit subdistrict, west part of Bueng Kan town municipality are plains interspersed with undulating, uneven slopes.

Construction of the bridge at about 4 km west of the city centre is expected to take 3 years for a completion in 2023.

The project will link the cities of Bueng Kan in Thailand and Bolikhamxai in Laos across the Mekong River.