Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi: the History of the "Eiffel Bridge" and How to Walk Across It
Long Bien Bridge spans the Red River north-east of the Old Quarter. Built by the French and opened in 1903 as the Doumer Bridge, it is a large steel structure still used by trains, two-wheelers and pedestrians. You can walk across it free of charge, in roughly 30 to 45 minutes one way (our estimate, depending on stops). It is often called "the Eiffel Bridge"; that is a popular legend: sources credit the Paris design firm Daydé & Pillé, not Gustave Eiffel. The bridge was bombed several times during the Vietnam War (from 1967 to 1972 according to one source) and repaired: you can see original girders next to later repairs. See also: the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Bat Trang.
Highlights
The steel structure
The riveted girders, the central railway line and the narrow walkways make a much-photographed setting, especially at sunrise.
Pedestrians and motorbikes
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorbikes share the sides of the railway. Walk on the left of the traffic lanes and keep an eye on the two-wheelers.
The Red River and the sandbanks
From the middle of the bridge you see crops on the sandbanks and the city in the distance; sunset is popular here.
The Long Bien side
After the bridge, the Long Bien district has bus stations; it is the departure point for the bus to Bat Trang.
Practical info
Tips
- The length of the bridge varies by source (about 1.7 to 2.3 km); count on the time needed rather than the distance. Keep a margin on the deck and stay away from the rails: trains still run. Do not go alone after dark and avoid the bridge after heavy rain, one guide advises. On very hot days, go early.
How to get there
Long Bien Bridge, north-east of the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. From Hoan Kiem Lake, 20 to 30 minutes on foot to the access, or a few minutes by Grab.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
Comments
No comments yet.