VietNamNet Bridge – The bridge will be covered by glass to become an exhibition center, while the alluvial ground under the bridge will be covered by stone embankment to become a park for art, a Vietnamese French urban architect suggested.
Nguyen Nga, an urban architect from France, presented a project to preserve and develop Hanoi’s Long Bien Bridge at a workshop held by the Vietnam Urban Planning Association on July 15.

In the future, a new Long Bien bridge will be built to serve trains and the current bridge may be dissembled. Architect Nga wanted to turn the old bridge into the world’s longest contemporary historical museum. To realize this idea, the bridge will be heightened by three meters to enable ships to travel under the bridge.

According to Nga, the bridge will be covered by glass and an old steam-engine train will be displayed on the bridge. Carriages are cafes and restaurants. The lane for railway will become the space for cultural activities while the two lanes for motorbikes and bicycles at present will become pedestrian roads, with trees and lamps.

The highlight of this project is the middle ground of the Red River, under the bridge. The ground will be covered by stone embankment to become a park for art and entertainment, with flower trees, music kiosks, skating ground, etc.

On the right bank of the Red River, where hosts unused 2.5 hectare plot of land will be the home for a contemporary art museum in the shape of a lotus, the flower which is nominated as the national flower of Vietnam.

The museum, built by timber and metal, will showcase contemporary artworks and new technologies of Vietnam and the world. Besides short-term exhibitions and periodical events, the museum will be an open cultural space for visitors, with a library, a theatre, cafes and restaurants. On the ninth floor, telescopes will be installed to serve visitors to enjoy the panorama of Hanoi.

Nga suggested to turn 131 brick-made arches along the railway running to the bridge into showrooms of craft villages, cafes, restaurants or spaces for artists.

The Hang Dau water tower will become a museum for antiques or private collections.
A 4km road for pedestrians named “Peace Avenue” will connect Hanoi’s cultural and historical relics. The road will run from the Hanoi Opera House, through Ly Thai To flower garden to the Hoan Kiem Lake, the old quarter, to the Thang Long royal citadel, Van Mieu, President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hang Dau water tower and Long Bien Bridge.

Nga said that the project will be implemented within ten years, at the cost of VND4.86 trillion ($237 million). Specifically, the Hang Dau water tower project (VND50 billion - $2.5 million) will finalize in 2013, the Lotus-shaped Contemporary Museum (VND100 billion - $5 million) and the Long Bien Bridge – Historical Museum (VND3.9 trillion - $190 million) is scheduled to complete by 2018.

According to Nga, this project will help improve the living environment of Hanoians, change the capital city’s urban space and create more green space for the city.

Many architects and urban experts showed their agreement with this idea.

Long Bien is the first steel bridge across the Red River in Hanoi. The construction was kicked off in September 1898, and finished in February 1902. It was designed and built by France’s Dayde-Pillie Company. The bridge was named after Governor General of Indochina – Paul Doumer. The bridge is 1,682m long, with 896m path. It consists of 19 spans, on 20 pillars of over 40m high. The bridge has three lanes: the middle lane for train and the two other lanes for vehicles and pedestrians.

What experts commented on the idea:

Dr. Vu Thi Vinh, Deputy Secretary General of the Association of Vietnam’s Cities: This is the first time such an idea is introduced. It is creative, daring and feasible. The project takes full advantage of the current facilities, from the space under the bride to the middle ground of the Red River, etc.

When I worked at the Hanoi Architecture University, a group of students won the first prize from a competition on architecture. Before sending their work to the competition, they asked my comments on it. The introduction of that work is: “France has the Seine River, Britain has the Thames River, Hanoi has the Red River but Paris and London are embraced by the rivers while the Red River turns its back to Hanoi. How can we make the river to embrace Hanoi?”

I think the idea to build the middle ground in the Red River into a park for art is feasible because if it is flooded, damage is not much. I image how beautiful the park is if we sit on the bridge and look at trees and flowers below. Perhaps many private investors will build restaurants on the ground because there is no place in Hanoi better than that.

I recently visited Germany and I saw a bridge which is not as beautiful as our Long Bien Bridge, but it was recognized by the UNESCO as the world heritage. Why we do not recognize the Long Bien Bridge as a national heritage?

The Vietnam Urban Planning Association should propose the Ministry of Transport to keep the Long Bien Bridge as a historical site, which serves light vehicles. Hanoi should organize an exhibition to introduce the above project to the people. I believe that many people will support this idea.

Prof., Dr. Nguyen Lan, former chief architect of Hanoi, Secretary General of the Association of Vietnam’s Cities: When I was the city’s chief architect, when the architectural design of the Red River’s two banks was on consideration, I proposed to put the river in the city’s center to easily use the two banks. The local media at that time said that it was an utopian idea and we should not consider the Red River as France’s Seine river.

After listening to architect Nguyen Nga’s presentation, I think that we need to use what the nature gives use and what the 1000-year history of Hanoi gives us. The Hanoi Opera House, the Presidential Palace and the Long Bien Bridge are the three works that I wish to preserve, though some said that they are heritages of the French rule period. The idea to preserve the Long Bien Bridge as a historical site and a pride of Hanoi should be implemented.

Architect Nguyen Nga wanted to resume the ding-dong sound of tramcars and it is very good to resume a tramcar route from the Hanoi Opera House, through five historical sites to the Long Bien Bridge. That tramcar route will remind us about a time in history.

This idea is very good and feasible.

Dr. Luu Duc Hai, chief of the Ministry of Construct’s Urban Development Department: I highly appreciate this idea and I hope the city’s authorities would be interested in it. However, there are some points in this project that need further research.

The Long Bien Bridge is a living bridge now, so the tramcar route should run from the Hoan Kiem Lake to the Hang Dau flower garden, not to the bridge. The railway on the bridge should be maintained to serve steam trains from the Hanoi Railway Station to the Gia Lam Station. The bridge should not become a dead bridge, so I do not agree to heighten the bridge by 3m.

I do not agree to turn the Hang Dau water tower into a museum, because this is a water supply work. Moreover, this is one of Hanoi’s two ancient water towers which must be preserved.

The Hanoi government must see the project as its job and invest in it, not raising all capital from private investors.

Pham Tuan Long, vice head of the management board of the Hanoi’s old quarters: To preserve the bridge, first of all, we must recognize its as a relic and set up a management board of the bridge. At present, this bridge is under the management of several agencies.

As to capital, we should call for investment from the society because the investment in this project is huge, up to several trillion dong and the state budget cannot cover it.

The Long Bien Bridge in the past, the present and the future:


VNE