Vietnam’s 15 most spectacular bridges
VOV.VN -Vietnam has a number of beautiful bridges that not only create a convenient traffic network but have also become a pride among local people for their architectural beauty. Here are the top 15 most impressive bridges, which are some of the nation’s attractive tourist destinations.
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| The Huc Bridge on Hoan Kiem Lake is a beautiful construction that connects the shore of the lake to the small island which is home to Ngoc Son Temple. The bridge has been repeatedly broken and rebuilt over its long history. |
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| Long Bien Bridge was designed by world renowned engineer Gustave Eiffel, who was also the designer of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was constructed between 1899 and 1902 and first opened to traffic in 1903. The steel structure has become an iconic structure of Hanoi throughout the ups and downs of history. |
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| Nhat Tan Bridge, also known as the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Bridge, was inaugurated in January 2015. It is the first cable-stayed bridge in Hanoi, having a total length of 8.9km (5.5 miles) with five spans over the Red River, which represent the capital city's five ancient gates. It is outfitted with 25,000 LED lights displaying a variety of ever-changing colourful designs. |
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| Binh Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Cam River connecting Haiphong city to Thuy Nguyen district. The construction was begun in 2002 and completed in 2005. |
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| Bai Chay Bridge, connecting Bai Chay with Hon Gai in the north-western Quang Ninh province, is 903m long with its main span measuring 435m, and 25.3m wide, with a clearance height of 50m, it accommodates 80 tonne vessels passing underneath. It is one of the five bridges with the longest main spans in the world. |
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| Nhat Le Bridge over the Nhat Le River in Quang Binh province was built in 2002. It is equipped with eye-catching lights. |
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| Truong Tien Bridge has become a romantic symbol of the ancient capital of Hue. In 1897, the French Resident Superior in Central Vietnam - Levecque – assigned Eiffel of France (known for the Eiffel Tower in Paris) to design and build the Truong Tien Bridge. The construction was completed in 1899. To date, the bridge has connected the banks of the Perfume River for 114 years and it is even older than the historic bridge of Long Bien in Hanoi (1899-1902). |
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| Han River Bridge is one the most famous, symbolising Danang’s renovation process. In the middle of the night, traffic is stopped from crossing the Han River Bridge and it swings on its axis to allow shipping vessels to pass along the river. |
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Cau Rong (Dragon) Bridge on the Han River in Danang features 166 metres of curved steel in the shape of a giant fire-breathing dragon flying towards the East Sea. With its unique aesthetic and creative characteristics, the bridge won the Diamond Award at the 2014 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) in the structural systems category. After opening to traffic in March 2013, the Dragon Bridge has become a symbol of Danang and a key tourist attractions. |
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| Tran Thi Ly Bridge is in the shape of a sail on the Han River. Construction was started in April 2010. It is 731 meters long, 34.5 meters wide, and had a total investment of more than VND1.7 trillion. The bridge has emerged as a must-see feature of Da Nang and is an ideal place for visitors who like taking souvenir photos during their stay in the city. |
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| Thuan Phuoc Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Vietnam, includes four lanes, a main span of 650 meters and two approaches of 600 meters each. |
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| The bridge was constructed with a total investment capitalisation of VND1 trillion. It provides 27 meters of clearance for vessels on the river below and safety in strong storms and floods. |
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| Chua Cau (Bridge Pagoda) is considered the “heart” of the ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam. It is a beautiful historical piece, demonstrating the cultural and architectural exchange between Vietnam and Japan. It was built near the Hoai River in the 17th century with donations from Japanese merchants. As a result, Chua Cau is also called “The Japanese Bridge”. |
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| Phu My is the largest cable-stayed bridge in Ho Chi Minh City, linking District 2 and District 7, it has a capacity of 100,000 vehicles per day. The cable-stayed part over the Saigon River is 705 meters long (380m main span) and 27.5 meters wide, supporting six traffic lanes: two in each direction for motor-vehicles, one for motorbikes and bicycles, and a 1.5 meter wide pavement for pedestrians. It has a total investment capitalisation of VND2.076 billion. |
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| The Anh Sao (Starlight) Bridge is located in the heart of the international commercial and financial district of Phu My Hung. Visitors will be able to experience the splendour of a 170m-long walk amongst the LED-lit stars (simulated by the lights on the ground). |
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| The solar powered lights collect energy during the day using specially designed battery panels located on the sides of the bridge. The bridge, with its illuminated path and waterfalls, is a scenic feature drawing a lot of visitors. |
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| Can Tho is a cable-stayed bridge over the Hau (Bassac) River - the largest distributary of the Mekong River in the southern city of Can Tho. The bridge has six lanes measuring 23 meters in width, with 4 lanes for traffic and two for pedestrians. Inaugurated in 2010, at 550 meters, Can Tho Bridge is the longest main span bridge in Southeast Asia, with a construction cost of VND4.842 trillion (roughly US$342.6 million), making it the most expensive bridge in Vietnam. |
