Long Bien Bridge was built between 1899 and 1902 by the French colonial government, designed by the Dayde and Pille company. It was for many years the only bridge crossing the Red River at Hanoi, and the primary link between the city and the northern provinces. The cantilever truss structure stretches nearly 1,700 meters across the river, with 19 spans; it was one of the largest bridges in Asia when it was completed.
Today the bridge carries cyclists, motorbikes, and a railway line across the river while car traffic was diverted to newer crossings. Walking or cycling across it takes about twenty minutes and offers views of the Red River, its broad sandy banks, and the vegetable gardens cultivated on the riverine islands below. The bridge is best visited in the late afternoon when the light is on the water, or at dawn when fishermen are on the banks and the city noise hasn't yet built up. Go on foot if you can — it's not possible to fully appreciate the patched structure from a moving vehicle.