Long Biên Bridge

Long Bien Bridge

Cầu Long Biên
Coordinates21°02′36″N 105°51′32″E / 21.0433°N 105.8589°E / 21.0433; 105.8589
CarriesTrains, motor vehicles, pedestrians. and bicycles
CrossesRed River
LocaleHanoi, Vietnam
BeginsBồ Đề Ward (formerly part of Long Biên district)
EndsHồng Hà Ward (formerly part of Hoàn Kiếm district)
Named forLong Biên district
Characteristics
DesignCantilever bridge
MaterialSteel
Total length2,290 m (1.42 mi)
Width13.5m
Height43.5m
No. of spans19
History
ArchitectDaydé & Pillé
Constructed byOver 3000 Vietnamese workers
Construction start1899
Construction end1902
Rebuilt1973
Location
Interactive map of Long Bien Bridge
Panoramic view of the bridge
The bridge shortly after its completion
The bridge in 2010
The constructor panel of Daydé & Pillé, Paris

Long Biên Bridge (Vietnamese: Cầu Long Biên) is a historic cantilever bridge across the Red River that connects two districts, Hoàn Kiếm and Long Biên of the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. It was originally called Paul Doumer Bridge.

History

During French regime

The bridge was built in 1899–1902 by the architects Daydé & Pillé of Paris, and opened in 1903. Before North Vietnam's independence in 1954, it was called Paul-Doumer Bridge, named after Paul Doumer, the governor-general of French Indochina and later the French president. At 2.4 km (1.5 mi) long, it was then one of the longest bridges in Asia. For the French colonial government, the construction was of strategic importance in securing control of northern Vietnam. From 1899 to 1902, more than 3,000 Vietnamese took part in the construction.

Vietnam War

It was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War becaue of its critical position; it was the only bridge across the Red River that cinnected Hanoi to the main port of Haiphong. The first attack took place in 1967, and the central span of the bridge was felled by an attack by 20 United States Air Force (USAF) F-105 fighter-bombers on 11 August. CIA reports noted that the severing of the bridge did not appear to have caused as much disruption as had been expected. During the war, many anti-aircraft artillery were placed on the top of the bridge ito protect it from attack.

On 10 May 1972, the bridge was attacked in the first Operation Linebacker attacks in response to the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive. On 13 May the USAF announced that several spans of the bridge had been destroyed by laser-guided bombs (LGB).: N-3  On 9 August, the USAF announced that another LGB attack had disabled the newly-repaired bridge.: N-5  On 11 September, the USAF attacked the bridge again as repairs were nearing completion.: N-5 

Modern day

Some parts of the original structure remain intact, and large sections have been built later to repair the holes. Only half the bridge retains its original shape. A project with support and loans from the French government is currently in progress to restore the bridge to its original appearance.[when?][needs update]

Today, trains, mopeds, bicycles, and pedestrians use the dilapidated bridge, and all other traffic is diverted to the nearby Chương Dương Bridge and other bridges: Thanh Trì Bridge, Thăng Long Bridge, Vĩnh Tuy Bridge, and Nhật Tân Bridge.

Under the bridge, poor families live in boats on the Red River. They come from many rural areas of Vietnam.

References

  1. ↑ "Long Bien Bridge - the iconic French construction in the heart of Hanoi". vietnamtourism.gov.vn (in Vietnamese). 2021-01-06. Archived from the original on 2026-01-05. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  2. 1 2 Long Bien: Historic Hanoi bridge with an uncertain future by Petroc Trelawny, BBC News Magazine, 18 August 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Sources: 388th TFW official history & Rolling Thunder Digest (CINCPAC) Edition Five, Jul–Sep 1967
  4. ↑ "Bombing of the Cau Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi on 11 August and the effect of the closing of the bridge on transportation in Hanoi CIA Intelligence Cable 1 September 1967 Doc No/ESDN: 0000505896" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency. 1 September 1967. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Command History January 1972 - March 1973 Volume II" (PDF). Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 15 July 1973. Retrieved 12 September 2021.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

21°2′36″N 105°51′32″E / 21.04333°N 105.85889°E / 21.04333; 105.85889 (Long Biên Bridge)