Except for Long Bien bridge over the Red River, which was severely damaged by fierce American bombardments during wartime, fulfilling its great role of transportation during the past century and becoming a cultural heritage, newly built, modern bridges seem to be lacking the architectural creation that would make them works of art.

Long Bien Bridge.

Pham Thanh Tung, an architect in Hanoi, made this statement in his article posted on www.baotintuc.vn, saying that when he was at primary school at the end of the 1950s, his neighbouring childhood friends knew by heart and avidly read the simple and memorable poems about Long Bien Bridge, with their images of leisurely travelling vehicles and people. At that time, Hanoi only had the Long Bien Bridge, which connected Bo De pier (Gia Lam district) to the ancient streets of Hoan Kiem district.

The steel structure was designed by world renowned engineer Gustave Eiffel, who was also the designer of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was built by the contractor Dayde & Pille with the participation of 40 French architects and foremen and over 3,000 Vietnamese workers between 1899 and 1902. In the shape of a winding dragon, the 2,290m bridge, comprising 19 steel 13.5m spans placed on 20 concrete piers, was one of the four biggest steel bridges in Asia and the most beautiful and unique structure in the region.

The appearance of Long Bien bridge at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century opened a new era of urbanisation in Hanoi, as well as that of commercial links between northern and northeastern provinces. Eighty-three years later, Hanoi has two more bridges, with Thang Long and Chuong Duong. Thang Long bridge was designed and constructed with aid from the former Soviet Union.

The bridge is 3,250m long and comprises two decks, 25 main and 46 bridge path spans. The first deck is for human-powered vehicles and a railway line, while the second deck is for motor vehicles, with two pedestrian lanes. It was built from 1974 to 1985, connecting Noi Bai airport and Hanoi through South Thang Long highway. Thang Long bridge, the century’s iconic bridge, is currently the biggest in the capital and symbolises the Vietnam-Soviet Union friendship.

Thang Long bridge over Red River, a strong image of a modern capital.

Over a month after Thang Long bridge’s inauguration, Chuong Duong bridge was opened to traffic on June 30, 1985 following a record 21-month construction. It was the first bridge totally designed and constructed by Vietnamese architects and workers. Architect Bui Danh Luu, who is famous for the bridge’s design, later became Minister of Transportation.

The 1,230m bridge comprises 11 steel and 10 concrete spans, two lanes for cars and two lanes for motorbikes. It is over one kilometre east of Long Bien bridge, connecting Long Bien district with Highways No. 1A and 5.

Turning to the renewal period of open door and international integration, Hanoi’s architecture has changed rapidly in a civilised and modern manner. To meet the city’s development requirements, 16 more bridges will be built in the transportation system development strategy to 2030 with a vision to 2050. So far, four bridges, namely Vinh Tuy, Thanh Tri, Vinh Thinh and Nhat Tan bridges, have been constructed over the Red River and will be put into operation soon.

Romantic image of a modern capital

Hanoi, a city of trees and water, has seen developments attached to the great Red River during its one-thousand year history and most of ancient rivers and lakes, which still exists, including Sword Lake, West Lake, To Lich River and Kim Nguu River, have been created by the river’s changes.

The Red River originates from the north and brings alluvial soil to the northern delta region, winding like a pink silk scarf around Hanoi and creating a feature for the city’s urban landscape.

Hanoi was known as a riverside city during the 20th century and now with its master plan to 2030 with a vision to 2050, the Red River is going to be inside the city, so the construction of 16 or more bridges connecting the two banks will stimulate the city’s development and make its urban landscape further outstanding.

Fields of maize and rice or poor villages on the other side of Long Bien, Vinh Tuy and Chuong Duong bridges now have been replaced by new urban areas with hundreds of high-rise apartment buildings and modern villas, including Vincom Village, Viet Hung and Sai Dong. They have also been turned into commercial centres, hotels, offices and cultural and sports facilities. Far away are such traditional craft villages as Bat Trang pottery village.

Chuong Duong bridge from a helicopter.

Nhat Tan bridge.

Thousands of people commute to the city’s centre every day. The bridges not only facilitate transportation between the Red River’s two banks, but also make prices of land and real estate in Long Bien districts skyrocket. Thanks to these changes, the contemptuous look of city-dwellers to people from the country side has faded away!

Hanoi will have further huge bridges as romantic images of a civilised and modern capital in the 21st century. But today, while the old Long Bien bridge with seven steel spans and four concrete piers damaged by US bombardments during wartime, whose status quo has not ever been repaired and restored, has fulfilled its great role of transportation during the past century and become a cultural heritage, newly built, modern bridges seem to be lacking the architectural creation that would make them works of bridge architectural art with a Red River cultural identity.

The bridges are gates to the capital across the Red River. Anyone travelling by road or by aviation from the west, the north or the east to the city must pass the bridges. As a result, the image of unique monumental bridges, with their own identities, silhouetted against the river, will create a romantic impression on visitors. The city must become more beautiful thanks to bridges.

If so, some day somewhere in the world people will mention bridges over Hanoi’s Red River like they used to talk about the Long Bien bridge, the Great Belt in Denmark, London Bridge spanning the River Thames in the UK, Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, Millau in France or Gold Gate in the US.

These days, Hanoi has sped up construction of the 2A Cat Linh-Ha Dong elevated urban railway. This type of bridge is not over any river, but through the heart of the city. Together with overpasses at such crowded intersections as Le Van Luong-Lang, Dai Co Viet-Tran Khat Chan and Lang Ha-Thai Ha-Chua Boc, elevated railways will be built in the future, creating a complete vivid picture of Hanoi’s urban transformation.

At that time, will children of the 2020s and the 2030s still sing songs about Hanoi’s bridges like the earlier generations?

Tin Tuc/Nhan Dan