French Ambassador to Việt Nam Olivier Brochet speaks at the seminar. — VNS Photo Lê Việt Dũng

HÀ NỘI — The renovation of Long Biên Bridge must be approached as both an engineering necessity and a cultural mission, according to Hà Nội People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dương Đức Tuấn.

Tuấn made the statement at an international seminar on the project, which he said offered an opportunity for experts to share insights and strengthen cooperation between Việt Nam and France.

The seminar, held on Tuesday under the theme 'Research on the Renovation and Enhancement of the Historical and Cultural Value of Long Biên Bridge,' was co-organised by the Hà Nội Department of Construction and Artelia Vietnam.

It unveiled the conclusions of a study by FASEP, a French government-backed private sector fund, and invited managers, researchers and architects to discuss ways to safeguard the bridge while ensuring its continued use in a rapidly modernising city.

French Ambassador to Việt Nam Olivier Brochet said he hoped the seminar would generate proposals that balance technical repairs with creative new uses for the bridge, "from its railway function to the appreciation of its distinctive architecture."

Long Biên Bridge, originally known as Paul Doumer Bridge, was completed in 1902 by the French engineering company Daydé & Pillé. Spanning the Red River, it linked the heart of Hà Nội to the north of the country and became a vital artery for goods, people and trains.

Beyond its practical role, it has borne witness to colonial history, wartime bombings and national resilience. Today, it remains part of the daily rhythm of Hà Nội life, as motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians cross its spans, while visitors linger to admire sunsets over the river.

After more than 120 years, however, the bridge is in a state of serious decay. Artelia Vietnam project director Pierre-Yves Guarini presented the final FASEP study, warning of urgent risks. Detailed inspections have revealed that many of the French-era spans are heavily corroded, with significant material loss, perforations and structural deformations.

The study classified bridge elements into three conditions: green (intact), orange (moderately corroded) and red (severely damaged). Most French-era spans fell into the latter two categories. Even after structural recalculations, the bridge failed to meet standard load requirements, highlighting the need for immediate repairs and reinforcements.

Guarini noted that additional piles inserted during wartime repairs were especially problematic, as decades of riverbed erosion, or scour, have left foundations unstable.

Bathymetric surveys comparing conditions in 2002–2003 and 2023 revealed that the Red River bed had dropped by up to 12m in some areas, particularly around piers P15–P17.

"This is a relatively alarming situation," Guarini concluded, recommending urgent reinforcement of piles with sheet metal curtains and large-diameter supports.

The renovation plan focuses on the French-era spans, aiming to restore their original 1902 form while ensuring technical safety. Two reconstructed spans from the wartime period will be preserved as heritage markers. Longer-term works envision two movable spans, allowing larger vessels to pass along the Red River.

Guarini emphasised that repairs must use methods compatible with the bridge’s riveted steel construction, such as adding riveted plates and angles rather than welded reinforcements. Superstructures, including sidewalks, guardrails and wooden railway sleepers, will also be gradually replaced.

Long Biên Bridge with movable spans, a plan proposed by the research team. — VNS Photo Lê Việt Dũng

Beyond engineering, the seminar explored how Long Biên Bridge could be reintegrated into Hà Nội’s urban life. Emmanuel Cerise, director of PRX-Vietnam, cautioned that heritage protection does not mean freezing a structure in time. Instead, it offers "an opportunity to redefine its function and reintroduce it into city life."

Architect Trần Huy Anh of the Hà Nội Association of Architects recommended using GIS and BIM technologies to assess socio-environmental impacts before any change of function, warning that bottlenecks at railway crossings, floods at the bridge base and encroachments along the rail corridor must be resolved.

Nguyễn Minh Hải, general director of real estate firm Taseco, proposed turning the stone arches beneath the bridge into a cultural promenade linking the Red River banks with the Old Quarter, housing cafés, shops and exhibition spaces. A pilot project covering arches 61 to 64 would test public response and ensure technical safety before expanding further.

Participants agreed that the bridge’s future must reconcile three priorities: structural safety, transport efficiency and preservation of cultural value. The recommendations from the seminar will be submitted to the Hà Nội People’s Committee as a basis for selecting an optimal plan.

"The renovation is not only about preserving a 120-year-old bridge," the closing statement read. "It also opens the way to redeveloping the Red River banks and promoting sustainable urban growth in the capital."

For many in Hà Nội, Long Biên Bridge is more than steel and stone – it is memory, identity and a bridge between past and future. — VNS