Long Bien Bridge, Railway and pedestrian bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Long Bien Bridge is a railway crossing in Hanoi, Vietnam, that extends 1,680 meters and links the western city center with the eastern shore. The structure rests on 19 steel spans, each roughly 45 meters wide, that stretch over the Red River.
Built between 1899 and 1902 by French engineers Daydé & Pillé, it was the first steel construction over the Red River. During the Vietnam War bombing campaigns, it sustained heavy damage multiple times and was later repaired with replacement sections.
This crossing carries the name of the district on the eastern shore of the Red River and sees daily use by commuters traveling by bicycle or motorbike to work. Many residents walk across early in the morning when traffic remains calm and the sun rises over the water.
Pedestrians can use the outer lanes while trains run on the central track, so it helps to listen for announcements. Access is available at both ends, and walking across takes around 20 to 30 minutes depending on pace.
The original steel beams still carry stamped markings from the French workshops where they were manufactured more than 120 years ago. Some of the side pillars also show bullet holes from air raids during the 1960s and 1970s.
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