The historic Long Bien Bridge

In the first glance, it does not appear to be any special kind of bridge; rather it shows its age all across. Rust marks are visible in many places and the walking lanes are narrow. There is graffiti on the side barriers. It is a 2.4 km long bridge, first built in 1899-1902 connecting the north and south side of the city. At that time, it was the longest bridge in Asia. During the American war in Vietnam, the bridge happened to be of critical importance as it was the only connection point between Hanoi and Hai Phong on the other side of the Red river. It was bombed first time by Americans in 1967. Apparently, the breakdown of the bridge did not cause much impact to Hanoi. Today, the bridge has become a symbol of courage and pride to the Vietnamese people. Many newly-wed couples pose for photographs on the bridge, because Long Bien Bridge is the symbol of Vietnam freedom.