l The iconic Long Bien Bridge – a must-see of Hanoi City | Bonzer Tour

All about the iconic Long Bien Bridge – a must-see of Hanoi City

Cập nhật: 01-01-1970 12:00:00 | Blogs about Vietnam | Lượt xem: 1195

Widely regarded as the “historic witness” of Vietnam, Long Bien Bridge has been through many ups and downs alongside this country and is now one of the most iconic symbols of its capital. It is not merely a traffic structure, but also a significant testimony to Hanoi’s tenacity during the great resistance wars against the French and US armies, as well as the impressive changes that the whole city has undergone in a brand new era. Located right in the heart of Hanoi capital, Long Bien Bridge is a intriguing attractions for your Affordable Vietnam culture and history tours

Needless to say, this bridge is a must-go if you have the chance to visit Hanoi. In addition to being explored as a historic symbol, it is also a perfect destination that gives you a brand new perspective of this city, which is way more nostalgic and romantic. It’s really worth exploring, whether you are on a Vietnam culture and history tour or not.

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First glance at Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi is the very first steel bridge that crosses the Red River, connecting two districts Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh with Long Bien District on the other side of the river. It’s located only 2 km from the city center, and is an unmissable part of any Hanoi city tour. From Hanoi’s Old Quarter, you can reach Long Bien Bridge within 30 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by car.

This bridge is 2,290m long across the river (including the 896 m of stone road that leads up to its western bridgehead), and comprises 19 steel girder spans placed on 20 forty-meter-high supporting pillars. In the early 20th century, it was the largest bridge in the Far East and the second longest bridge in the world, only after Brooklyn Bridge in New York, USA.

Long Bien Bridge features a unique design with a single track for trains in the center and two lanes for vehicles and pedestrians on both sides. Since the bridge is only 4.75 m wide in total, cars are strictly forbidden there. Only bikes and scooters are allowed to cross it.

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History of Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien Bridge was built from 1898 to 1902 by the Paris-based Daydé & Pillé company, and initially named after the then Governor-General of Indochina – Paul Doumer. As the first bridge crossing the vast Red River, it played an important part in the area’s development during that period.

Despite the astonishing architecture and important traffic role, the bridge is most known for its historical significance. This old bridge witnessed Vietnam’s two greatest resistance wars: the war against the French colonialists (1946 – 1954), and then the war against the American imperials (1955 – 1975). However, it was more just an inanimate outsider in the flow of history. Long Bien Bridge was like a Hanoi citizen, a companion of Vietnam during the country’s toughest time. From 1965 – 1968, during Operation Rolling Thunder, it was bombed 10 times by American aircraft, losing 7 spans and 4 pillars. In 1972, during Operation Linebacker II, it was bombed 4 times. 1500m of the bridge and 2 large pillars were severely damaged. 

Despite being heavily devastated in the past, the 120-year-old bridge still stays strong today. It has accompanied Hanoi during the new era after wartime, and will continue to go with the city in the future. Long Bien Bridge is truly a faithful friend that many generations of Hanoians appreciate and respect.

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Interesting experiences with Long Bien Bridge

Admire the sunset over the Red River

Long Bien Bridge bears different kinds of beauty at different times of the day, but it’s at its best when the sun goes down. Under the sunset, the bridge features a gorgeous reddish-orange hue that will capture your heart within a few seconds. The twinkles on the river below it are pretty charming too, not to mention the breathtaking view of Hanoi from above. From there, you will be able to see the broad Red River flowing to the East, the lush banana and corn fields along its bank, and even the hustling city in the distance. The only troublesome thing here is the chaotic traffic during the rush hour, but the fantastic view is definitely worth it.  

Discover Bai Giua Island

Bai Giua – the small island situated right under Long Bien bridge – is where young Hanoians often gather when they need some fresh air to breathe and relax. Many people state that wandering around Bai Giua is one of the most high-spirited things to do in Hanoi, a wholesome experience you simply cannot miss. You can find your way there easily by climbing down the staircase in the middle of the bridge, and the vast green landscape will rapidly soothe your soul. This island is also a perfect place to take some dramatic Instagram shots.

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Get a taste of local street food

When the night falls, there will be several vendors selling street food along the sidewalks of Long Bien Bridge. If you come here in the summer, you can sit on a plastic chair, order some sunflower seeds, have a sip of lemon tea, and chat with your friends like a local. If you choose to visit the bridge in the winter instead, this will be the ideal place to eat grilled corn/sweet potato while enjoying the cool breeze and seeking warmth from the fire. It’s worth mentioning that Long Bien Bridge’s grilled corn is amazingly tasty, given that the corn is freshly picked right from the fields below it.

Enjoy a cup of coffee at a café nearby

Hanoi is filled with countless lovely café, and the area around Long Bien Bridge is no exception. Just go along Tran Nhat Duat Street, and you will find a few cozy cafés that give mesmerizing views of Long Bien Bridge from afar, as well as the busy fruit market at its foot. If you are lucky enough, you will even be able to catch a glimpse of a train passing by the bridge from Long Bien station. 

Further information about the “Eiffel” rumor

Some documents insist that Long Bien Bridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel – the world-famous engineer who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but this statement is not true. In fact, Long Bien Bridge was designed by Daydé & Pillé, the same company that constructed this bridge. Eiffel’s company (which was called Levallois-Perret back then) did participate in the bidding process, but was not selected in the end. It was only in 1938 that the brand was chosen to reinforce the bridge’s beams in order to increase its load.

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