LONG BIÊN BRIDGE (FORMER PAUL-DOUMER BRIDGE)

In the words of P. Doumer: " The most remarkable work that has been done in the Far East. " For others, it is the "dragon that straddles the Red River".

The bridge changed its name after the revolution of August 1945. Twenty 40-metre-high piers supporting the 1,682-metre-long bridge are supported by caissons buried up to 30 metres below the low-water level. Some of them are not original and were added due to damage to the bridge. The bridge was designed by the Gustave Eiffel company, and the work was carried out by Daydé et Pillé, a company based in Creil, at a cost of 10.5 million francs at the time. The work lasted a little over three years. The work was inaugurated in 1902 (some fifteen years after the Eiffel Tower) by Emperor Thanh Thai (Nguyen dynasty) and Paul Doumer, then Governor General. The bridge was to bear witness to " the power of French civilization in the works of peace".

For the Vietnamese, it is today a symbol of unity, endurance and patriotism. It was bombed 14 times by the American air force and each time it was repaired. This also explains why only six of the original 19 arches remain. In the beginning, the bridge was only intended to be used for railroading. The roadway, added in 1923, is no longer in use today.

Phu Xua Island (known as Banana Island) separates the capricious river course into two main branches. It was formed by the accumulation of alluvial deposits carried by the river, and the land is very rich and naturally suitable for agriculture. The inhabitants of the capital maintain market gardens and fruit tree plantations. At all times, the Sông Hông (Red River) has posed problems for engineers, problems due to the tons of alluvium carried by the river (the delta of the river stretches on average 10 km per century). In spite of a rather demanding maintenance, navigation remains difficult because, during a monsoon flood, the sandbanks are extremely shifting.

The venerable bridge has suffered the ravages of time and history (the effects of age and rust are added to those of the bombardments...) and renovation work is becoming urgent. Several scenarios are being considered - restoration, partial or complete reconstruction, relocation. The question is not decided but unleashes passions because of the historical and symbolic charge linked to the work.