France partners with Hanoi to embellish and preserve values of Long Bien bridge

The event gathered leading local and international scholars and experts in architecture, urban development, and culture to share insights and propose solutions for the bridge’s urgent restoration, ranging from short-term to medium-term, as well as scenarios for its future use.

According to Mr. Duong Duc Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People's Committee, the 120-year-old Long Bien bridge holds a crucial position in the city’s network of bridges spanning the Red River, facilitating the transportation of passengers and goods from central Hanoi to northern provinces. Due to its age, the bridge has deteriorated, and its restoration has attracted significant attention from officials, the public, and international experts.

Tuan emphasized that the seminar provided an opportunity for Hanoi and French agencies to exchange experiences and finalize restoration plans, with a focus on preserving the bridge's cultural and historical significance.

In his remarks, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet stated that the Long Bien Bridge is the embodiment of a continuously developing city. The bridge serves as a vital artery for the capital’s residents, connecting the past and the present, and is a symbol of French-Vietnamese cooperation.

"The French Embassy is always ready to stand by Hanoi in the comprehensive restoration of the bridge to ensure travel safety, proposing optimal solutions that align with the city's future urban plans," Ambassador Brochet affirmed.

During the workshop, experts proposed multi-phase restoration solutions—from emergency to short-, medium-, and long-term. The most urgent tasks identified, following hydrological studies of the Red River, include repairing and replacing deteriorated metal components, reinforcing the piers, and preventing riverbed erosion.

Proposed future scenarios for the bridge include partially restoring its original 1902 design, preserving the spans rebuilt in 1972, and maintaining the central railway for light tourist trains. Experts also shared insights on building and preserving heritage steel bridges in France, suggesting ideas for extending the Long Bien Bridge railway into central Hanoi and utilizing the bridge’s stone archways.

Previously, in December 2023, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Vietnam, the French Embassy announced a $700,000 non-refundable grant through the FASEP Fund of the French Ministry for the Economy and Finance. The grant aims to provide solutions for ensuring the bridge's structural safety and future use, including for rail, two-wheeled vehicles, and pedestrians.

Originally named Paul Doumer bridge, the Long Bien bridge was built between 1898 and 1902. The French-designed steel truss bridge, spanning 1,691 meters across 19 spans, was the largest bridge in Indochina at the time of its completion. After more than 120 years of use and surviving two wars, the bridge has undergone multiple repairs but continues to show signs of age. Currently, in addition to rail transport, the bridge only allows motorcycles and bicycles.