Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong officially cut a ribbon to put the Vietnam’s largest reinforced concrete bridge (the main section) across the Red River in Hanoi into operation on February 2.

On behalf of the Government, PM Dung highlighted the great efforts made by investors, contractors and consultants in completing the project on schedule. He spoke highly of the State Appraisal Council’s supervision role in ensuring the construction tempo and quality of the project and the capital city’s efforts in moving local people to new resident areas. The PM hoped that the Ministry of Transport, the capital city and construction units will complete the remaining work soon and continue building Vinh Tuy bridge to mark the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

On the occasion, PM Dung expressed his thanks to the Japanese government and people over the past year for giving Official Development Assistance to Vietnam’s important transport projects including the 3,084m long, 33m wide Thanh Tri bridge which has the largest investment capital in Vietnam. The PM emphasised that the completion of Thanh Tri Bridge is a fine symbol of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

According to the Thang Long Project Management, Thanh Tri Bridge and the southern road section of Hanoi’s beltway No 3 which runs from Highway No5 to Highway No1 with a total length of 12.8 km is of great significance to the socio-economic development in the Red River Delta and Hanoi.