The ternary rare-earth gallium bismuthide LaGaBi2 has been prepared through reaction of the elements. Its structure (Pearson symbol hP24, hexagonal, space group P6/mmm, Z = 6, a = 13.5483(4) Angstrom, c = 4.3937(1) Angstrom) contains columns of La-6 trigonal prisms centered by Bi atoms. These columns are surrounded by ,a framework consisting of three-atom-wide Bi ribbons and Ga-6 rings. Additional Bi atoms are sandwiched between pairs of Ga-6 rings. LaGaBi2 is structurally closely related to La13Ga8Sb21. A retrotheoretical analysis of the structure through extended Huckel band structure calculations suggests an interesting electronic situation in which strong multiple bonding in the Ga-Ga network coexists with weak hypervalent bonding in the Bi-Bi network and confirms the metallic behavior seen in electrical resistivity measurements.