Long Bien bridge to undergo renovation with French aid

Long Bien bridge serves as a vital transport route and popular tourist attraction. (Photo: VNA)

France has pledged nearly 20 billion VND (approximately 775,876 USD) in non-refundable aid for a research project on renovating Hanoi’s Long Bien bridge.

The Hanoi People’s Committee has approved the project, funded by the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Vietnam through the FASEP Fund under the French Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The project, slated for completion late this year, aims to assess renovation solutions to ensure the bridge’s structural safety and future use. It will focus on protecting pedestrians, two-wheeled vehicles, and railway operations, preserving the bridge’s heritage value, and exploring future usage scenarios.

Divided into three components, the project includes surveying, data collection and analysis, short-term renovation proposals to ensure traffic safety, and future usage plans once the national railway line ceases operations and the bridge is handed over to Hanoi’s administration.

Long Bien bridge, the first steel bridge over the Red River, connects the districts of Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, and Long Bien. Built by French company Daydé & Pillé, construction began on September 12, 1898, and finished on February 28, 1902. The bridge was initially named Doumer after Paul Doumer, then Governor-General of Indochina.

Built by French company Daydé & Pillé, construction began on September 12, 1898. (Photo: VNA)

Once one of the world’s longest bridges at 2,290 metres, Long Bien bridge features a central railway track flanked by lanes for motor vehicles and pedestrians.

For over a century, the bridge has witnessed many pivotal moments in Vietnamese history, particularly during the wars against France and the US. Despite repeated bombings and damage, it has been repaired and remains a symbol of Hanoi’s resilience.

Today, Long Bien bridge serves as a vital transport route and popular tourist attraction. Visitors can enjoy views of the Red River, especially at sunrise or sunset, and the area around the bridge is known for its cafes and picturesque spots.

More than just a transport structure, Long Bien Bridge stands as a historical witness and cultural icon, holding deep emotional significance for generations of Hanoians./.