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France’s financial assistance to accelerate the renovation of Hanoi’s iconic Long Bien Bridge

The Hanoi People's Committee will receive more than 700,000 euros (US$762,740) in non-refundable assistance from the French government to carry out a feasibility study for the refurbishment and repair project of the Long Bien Bridge, which has a history of 120 years.

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24 December, 2023

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The French side is expecting the bridge to undergo repairs as soon as the France-sponsored feasibility study is completed. The French Embassy in Vietnam made this announcement on Friday, stating that the aid is being granted during the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The financial assistance, provided by France’s Directorate General of the Treasury, aims to ensure the safety of commuters and the sustainability of the historic structure, which is one of the iconic bridges in Hanoi, according to the French Embassy in Vietnam. The feasibility study will be conducted by France’s consultancy, engineering, and project management group Artelia. The study, along with the renovation project, will guarantee the safety of the structure and transform the iconic bridge into a tourist site that will benefit the city’s socio-economic growth in the future. The French Development Agency has also pledged its support to Hanoi agencies in discussing financial assistance for other projects. The Long Bien Bridge, built from 1898 to 1903, has a design similar to that of the Eiffel Tower and is an iconic structure in Hanoi’s cityscape and heritage, according to the French Embassy in Vietnam. Additionally, the bridge symbolizes the ties between Vietnam and France. However, over time, the Long Bien Bridge has deteriorated significantly. It was heavily damaged by bombing in 1967. In 2004, during a visit to Vietnam, the late French President Jacques Chirac announced that France would finance the renovation of the bridge. As a result, several groups of French experts and workers traveled to Vietnam to assist the city in studying the rehabilitation of the bridge. The renovation and preservation of the Long Bien Bridge have been a topic of discussion for local authorities, relevant agencies, and experts for the past few decades. However, no decisions have been made yet. Recently, Vietnamese agencies have expressed their desire to transform the bridge into a pedestrian bridge with a cultural space. The Long Bien Bridge, which spans 2,290 meters across the Red River, connects Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh Districts with Long Bien District.