Formely known as the Paul Doumer Bridge, the Long Bien Bridge – one of Hanoi icon – is a historical witness for 12 decades and has become a symbol of courageous capital in wars. Visiting Hanoi, tourists will have chance to contemplate the beauty of this bridge.
History
Over a hundred years ago, in 1899, Long Bien Bridge was completed and became one of the longest bridges in Asia. Designed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame, the bridge sustained significant damage during the Vietnam war. It was named Paul Doumer, but the Hanoians still call it as Long Bien Bridge or Cai River Bridge.
Designed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame,
the bridge sustained significant damage during the Vietnam war.
With the 3000 finest and skillful Vietnamese workers, under the guidance of French engineers, Long Bien Bridge was built certainly with 20 spans, 30m depth, and 13.5m height from the lowest water level. The detail made the unique of this bridge was the railway at the middle.
More than 100 years with decades of war, Long Bien Bridge was bombed many times by air attacks by American army in 1967, 1972 due to its strategic placement in connecting Hanoi to the port city of Hai Phong; and many spans of the bridge were destroyed. The left spans still remaining today remind us of an unforgettable past. Nowadays, only half of the bridge retains its original shape, but a rebuilding project supported by the French government is currently in progress to restore the bridge to its original appearance. The bridge, hence, is not only a traffic construction, a nice architecture, but also a living historical relic.
Location
The location chosen to build Long Bien bridge was right at the place that French battleship opened fire to North Gate and Quan Chuong Gate. Long Bien Bridge is now located at Dong Xuan ward, and easily found on Yen Phu street (along with Tran Nhat Duat street).
Starting from a busy local market of Hanoi Old Quarter, Long Bien Bridge is the way to get out the hustle city to explore serene villages on the other side of Song Hong. You can combine your visit to Long Bien Bridge with half day or full day tour to Bat Trang and Kieu Ki villages, two famous handicraft villages in Hanoi suburb. Here you explore another face of Hanoi when study the secret of handicrafts and even can try your hand with some items.
Long Bien Market
Travelers can also visit Long Bien market – a wholesale market famous for fruit, vegetable, and fresh food – which is located under the bridge and on Yen Phu street. This is the second-biggest wholesale market in Hanoi after Dong Xuan market. However, visitors who are not wholesalers can also buy fresh food, fruit, or veggie.
About nearly 2km along Yen Phu street is Thanh Nien street, where travelers can admire both West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. West Lake is the biggest lake in Hanoi with a peace and tranquility of the lakeside walk of 17km (about 10.6 miles), and numerous café, pagoda, and shopping areas nearby.
What to do
Long Bien is one of the five bridges crossing the Red River, connecting the centre of Hanoi with some provinces. It is a unique bridge with the history of over 100 years, witnessing Vietnam historical times. Long Bien is also the only bridge in Hanoi where all the riders have to go on the left hand side, where tourist can take a walk and taste mouthwatering desserts offered by vendors, where Hanoians can buy fresh vegetable or fish for the dinner from the small afternoon market on the bridge opened by vendors and housewives living under the bridges.
A beautiful and ancient background for bride and groom wedding album
Due to many travelers, the best time to admire this majestic bridge is at the sunrise or sunset, when you can take lots of nice photos of alluvial patch. Therefore, it is a favorite place of youngsters and teenagers who want keep their memories of youth by photos. Long Bien Bridge is often chosen as a nice background for wedding albums, so if you visit this place, you can see many beautiful couples, brides and grooms in traditional costumes or glamorous wedding dresses. Travelers can also ride a bike or take a walk on the bridge, enjoying the scenes of daily life of Hanoians, and the peaceful moments at the present but not forgetting memorable past.
The best time to admire this majestic bridge is at the sunrise or sunset
How to get there
Long Bien Bridge is about 1km far from the Old Quarter of Hanoi, and over 2km from HoanKiem Lake. If you are at Hoan Kiem Lake, you can go straight Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, and Dong Xuan street.
You can rent a motorbike (5-10USD/day) and remember go on the left hand side of the bridge. If you want to discover both Old Quarter and Long Bien Bridge, you had better take a walk.
1 comments:
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