First glass bridge to open soon
The first glass-bottomed suspension bridge in Vietnam is scheduled to open on April 30 at the Dai Yem Waterfall tourist site in mountainous Moc Chau district in the northern province of Son La, to welcome visitors during the public holiday on Reunification Day on April 30 and International Labor Day on May 1.
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| Photo: Truyenhinhdulich.vn |
Measuring 80 meters long and two meters wide, the see-through pedestrian bridge is capable of handling 50-70 people at one time. With 5D technology, it also boasts a photoelectric sensor system and 30 special effects, such as flowers blooming, fish swimming, and heart shapes, etc., according to the developer, the Pha Luong Company.
Spanning a river and surrounded by immense mountains, hills and forests, the bridge will offer an exotic view resembling a watercolor painting of Moc Chau Plateau.
The bridge is also designed with the theme of Love, with models of hearts and romantic spaces, including a Japanese-style village with cherry blossoms - an ideal place for couples and fans of photography.
The bridge alone cost VND32-35 billion ($1.3-1.5 million) to build and total costs would amount to VND40 billion ($1.7 million) if additional structures were taken into account.
Before the opening, the glass bottom will be hit with a mallet to test its safety, according to the developer.
Glass bridges are found around the world and attract millions of tourists each year, such as the cliff-hugging Tianmen Mountain Walkway in Hunan, China, the Aiguille du Midi Skywalk in Chamonix, France, the Glacier Skywalk in Jasper National Park, Canada, and the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona, US.
About 200 km west of Hanoi at some 1,000 meters above sea level, Moc Chau Plateau is a popular destination in the northwest thanks to its cool, fresh atmosphere with average temperatures of 20C during the year, endless green tea hills, orchards of plums, peaches and apricots, and gardens of various flowers.
The best time to visit is in the spring, when the flowers are in bloom. Its green tea hills and dairy farms are worth visiting year-round, as are Dai Yem Waterfall and the pine forests around Ang village. A trip to the villages of the ethnic Thai and H’Mong people is also worth the time.