Bac Ninh opens bridge with highest steel arch in Vietnam

By VNA October 11, 2023 | 04:32 am PT

Kinh Duong Vuong Bridge in northern Vietnam's Bac Ninh Province features 25 spans, including five steel arches, the highest of which rises 67 meters above the Duong River. Photo by VnExpress/Van Chuong

The northern province of Bac Ninh opened Kinh Duong Vuong Bridge, which has the highest steel arch in Vietnam at present, on Wednesday.

The opening ceremony was held in Canh Hung commune of Tien Du district in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang.

The tied-arch bridge, also known as Phat Tich, connecting Thuan Thanh Town and Tien Du District, is 1,232 meters long and has total investment of VND1.926 trillion (US$78.77 million).

It is comprised of 25 spans, with the main body featuring five steel arches, the highest of which rises 67 meters above the Duong River– a distributary of the Red River. The arches resemble the straps of "quai thao", a type of flat palm hats traditionally used by singers of "quan ho" – a folk singing genre in Bac Ninh.

Kinh Duong Vuong Bridge is expected to ease congestion on nearby Ho Bridge and connect National Highway 1, National Highway 17, Provincial Road 287, National Highway 38 and National Highway 18, thereby helping complete the transport network in the northern key economic region and boost socio-economic development in Bac Ninh and others in the Red River Delta.

It also links many relic sites in the province such as the Kinh Duong Vuong Temple, But Thap Pagoda and Dau Pagoda in Thuan Thanh town, Phat Tich Pagoda in Tien Du district, and Do Temple in Tu Son City to contribute to local tourism development.